Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RPG Maker VS Cocos Creator

Compare RPG Maker VS Cocos Creator 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!

Cocos Creator logo Cocos Creator

Cocos Creator is more than a efficient, lightweight, free, open-source, cross-platform graphics engine: it's also a platform to create 3D content in real time.
  • RPG Maker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Cocos Creator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-25

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.

Cocos Creator features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    Cocos Creator allows for the development of games across multiple platforms such as Android, iOS, and web browsers, making it versatile for reaching a broad audience.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source engine, Cocos Creator offers the flexibility to modify and customize the engine, which can be beneficial for advanced development needs.
  • Integration with Cocos2d-x
    Cocos Creator integrates well with Cocos2d-x, a widely-used 2D game engine, which can be advantageous for developers familiar with and reliant on Cocos2d-x.
  • Rich Plugin Ecosystem
    A large number of plugins and extensions are available to enhance functionality, which speeds up development time and improves the end product.
  • Ease of Use
    The user-friendly interface and comprehensive documentation make it accessible for beginners while providing powerful tools for advanced users.
  • Visual Editor
    The visual scene editor is highly intuitive and allows developers to build game scenes with drag-and-drop ease.

Possible disadvantages of Cocos Creator

  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues, particularly with larger projects, which can be a limiting factor for resource-intensive games.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    While Cocos Creator supports 3D development, its capabilities are not as advanced as other engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, limiting its use for complex 3D games.
  • Smaller Community
    Compared to giants like Unity and Unreal Engine, Cocos Creator has a smaller community, potentially making it harder to find resources and support.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although it's easy to get started, mastering the advanced features can have a steep learning curve, which might be challenging for some developers.
  • Inconsistent Documentation
    Some users find the documentation to be inconsistent or lacking detail in certain areas, which can hinder the learning process and development.

Analysis of RPG Maker

Overall verdict

  • RPG Maker is a good choice for those looking to create 2D RPGs quickly and with minimal technical barriers. While it may not provide the flexibility or power of more advanced engines for creating 3D games or more complex mechanics, it excels in its niche and has a strong community for support.

Why this product is good

  • RPG Maker is a popular game development tool that allows users to create their own role-playing games with relative ease. It offers a wide range of features including a user-friendly interface, built-in graphics, and sound assets, and a scripting language for more advanced customization. Its strength lies in enabling both beginners and experienced developers to bring their game ideas to life without needing in-depth programming knowledge.

Recommended for

  • Beginners interested in game development
  • Fans of retro-style and 2D RPG games
  • Indie developers looking for a quick prototyping tool
  • Educators teaching game design concepts
  • Creators who want to focus more on story and less on programming

Analysis of Cocos Creator

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Cocos Creator is a solid choice for those looking to develop 2D and simple 3D games with a strong emphasis on mobile platforms. Its ease of use, flexibility, and strong community support make it a viable option for many developers.

Why this product is good

  • Cocos Creator is considered good by many game developers because it is a comprehensive, open-source game engine that supports 2D and 3D game development. It offers an easy-to-use visual editor that helps streamline the development process, particularly for indie developers and small teams. The engine allows for cross-platform publishing, which means developers can easily launch their games on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Additionally, Cocos Creator has a strong community and extensive documentation, which can be very helpful for both beginners and experienced developers.

Recommended for

  • Indie game developers
  • Small game development teams
  • Developers focusing on mobile platforms
  • Developers seeking an open-source engine
  • Beginners in game development

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

Cocos Creator videos

Cocos Creator 3.0 -- A New 3D Game Engine Enters the Ring

More videos:

  • Review - Cocos Creator 3 -- Now in Glorious 3D! 3.0 Release is a MASSIVE Improvement

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RPG Maker and Cocos Creator)
Game Development
77 77%
23% 23
Game Engine
69 69%
31% 31
3D Game Engine
80 80%
20% 20
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 Cocos Creator

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.

Cocos Creator Reviews

We have no reviews of Cocos Creator yet.
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing RPG Maker and Cocos Creator, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

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

Orx - Orx - a portable open source game engine

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