Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RPG Maker VS Cocos2d-x

Compare RPG Maker VS Cocos2d-x and see what are their differences

RPG Maker logo RPG Maker

Make your own PC game with RPG Maker. Our easy to use tools are simple enough for a child, and powerful enough for a developer. Try it free today!

Cocos2d-x logo Cocos2d-x

Cocos2d-x is an open-source and cross platform open source free 2D game engine for mobile game development known for its speed, stability, and easy of use
  • RPG Maker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Cocos2d-x Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

RPG Maker features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    RPG Maker offers a highly intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it accessible even for beginners with no programming knowledge.
  • Rich Asset Library
    The platform includes a vast library of pre-made characters, music, and tilesets, helping users to get started quickly and create professional-looking games.
  • Scripting Flexibility
    Advanced users can utilize Ruby or JavaScript scripting to customize and extend the functionality of their games.
  • Community Support
    RPG Maker has an active and supportive community that offers a wealth of tutorials, plugins, and forums for troubleshooting and sharing ideas.
  • Cross-Platform Export
    Games created on RPG Maker can be exported to various platforms including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, broadening the potential audience.

Possible disadvantages of RPG Maker

  • Limited Scope
    The engine is primarily designed for creating 2D RPGs, limiting its use case for other game genres or 3D game development.
  • Performance Issues
    Games created in RPG Maker can suffer from performance issues, particularly with larger projects that include many assets or complex scripts.
  • Asset Restrictions
    While the asset library is extensive, it can still be restrictive. Custom assets usually need to be created or purchased separately, adding to the development cost.
  • Licensing Costs
    Although there is a free trial, the full version of RPG Maker requires a paid license, which could be a barrier for hobbyists or small developers.
  • Learning Curve for Scripting
    While the basic interface is easy to learn, fully leveraging the engine's capabilities through scripting (Ruby or JavaScript) can have a steep learning curve.

Cocos2d-x features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    Cocos2d-x allows developers to build games that run seamlessly on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it highly versatile and enhancing its reach.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source framework, Cocos2d-x provides full access to its source code, which can be modified to suit specific project requirements. This fosters a collaborative community and encourages continuous improvement of the framework.
  • Performance
    Cocos2d-x is written in C++, which generally offers better performance compared to other languages commonly used for game development, such as JavaScript or C#. This can lead to smoother and more responsive gameplay.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Cocos2d-x comes with a robust set of features including physics engines, particle systems, skeletal animation, and more. These features make it easier for developers to create complex and visually appealing games.
  • Community and Documentation
    The framework boasts a large and active community, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting and getting help. Additionally, it has extensive documentation and tutorials which make it accessible to both beginners and advanced users.

Possible disadvantages of Cocos2d-x

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Given its extensive feature set and use of C++, Cocos2d-x can be intimidating for beginners. The complexity of its systems often requires a more in-depth understanding of programming concepts.
  • Limited Built-in Tools
    While Cocos2d-x is powerful, it lacks some of the built-in tools and editors provided by other game development frameworks like Unity or Unreal Engine. This often requires developers to rely on external tools for tasks such as level design and asset management.
  • Manual Memory Management
    Unlike some of the higher-level languages and frameworks that handle memory management automatically, Cocos2d-x requires developers to manually manage memory. This increases the risk of memory leaks and other related bugs.
  • Smaller Asset Store
    Compared to giants like Unity, Cocos2d-x has a relatively smaller asset store, which means fewer pre-made assets and plugins are available. This might lead to longer development times as assets often need to be created from scratch.
  • Lack of High-Level Scripting Support
    While Cocos2d-x does support Lua and JavaScript bindings, it is primarily a C++ framework. This can be a drawback for developers who prefer or are more efficient using higher-level scripting languages.

RPG Maker videos

RPG Maker MV: IN-DEPTH USER REVIEW

More videos:

  • Review - RPG Maker MV Hands-On Review
  • Review - RPG Maker Games - GC Positive

Cocos2d-x videos

Cocos2D-x 4.0 Released

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RPG Maker and Cocos2d-x)
Game Development
76 76%
24% 24
Game Engine
74 74%
26% 26
3D Game Engine
77 77%
23% 23
Gaming Software
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare RPG Maker and Cocos2d-x

RPG Maker Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
RPGMaker deals with building-based services where users can develop high-range games into simple 2D games in real-time. This platform can let its users bring their imagination and creativity into reality with the help of some skills related to programming. It can even permit clients with detailed customization with the help of accessing a user-friendly interface so beginners...
Trending 10 BEST Video Game Design & Development Software 2021
RPG Maker MV is the latest installment and best version out of several options. This version builds upon the philosophy of developing games without programming expertise. An abundance of Sample data, Character generators, Sample maps, and other resources have been included in the engine to streamline projects.
The Top 10 Video Game Engines
The best thing about RPG maker is the same reason why it occasionally gets a bad rap—just about anyone can use it to create a game.

Cocos2d-x Reviews

Best Game Engines for Linux in 2021
Cocos2d-x is an open-source game framework written in C++, with a thin platform dependent layer. It is widely used to build interactive apps and games for Android. There are also JavaScript and Lua bindings included.
Source: kerneltips.com
The Best 15 Mobile Game Engines / Development Platforms & Tools in 2020
Cocos2D-x is a package of 2D game development tools. released by Facebook. One of its best features is that Cocos 2D-x allows you to create very small size games: 1.5 MB. It comes with detailed documentation and it has a large support community. Read and learn how to use it.
Source: thetool.io

What are some alternatives?

When comparing RPG Maker and Cocos2d-x, you can also consider the following products

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

GDevelop - GDevelop is an open-source game making software designed to be used by everyone.

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.

Phaser - Desktop and Mobile HTML5 game framework. A fast, free and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL powered browser games.

Stencyl - Make iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android, Flash, Windows & Mac games without code using Stencyl.