Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Stencyl VS Amazon Lumberyard

Compare Stencyl VS Amazon Lumberyard and see what are their differences

Stencyl logo Stencyl

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

Amazon Lumberyard logo Amazon Lumberyard

Amazon Lumberyard is a free AAA game engine deeply integrated with AWS and Twitch – with full...
  • Stencyl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Amazon Lumberyard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-24

Stencyl features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Stencyl features a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for beginners and non-programmers to create games.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Stencyl allows you to publish games across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and HTML5.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The platform offers a wealth of tutorials, guides, and community support to help users navigate its features and troubleshoot issues.
  • Integrated Graphics Editor
    Stencyl includes built-in tools for creating and editing game assets, which is convenient for users who do not want to use external software.
  • Free Version Available
    Stencyl offers a free tier, allowing users to explore the platform and create games without an initial financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of Stencyl

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While great for beginners, Stencyl may lack some advanced features and customization options that experienced developers might need.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, especially when creating more complex games, which can affect the game's final quality.
  • Cost of Full Version
    The more advanced features and publishing capabilities come with a subscription fee, which might be a barrier for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    Although easier than some other engines, Stencyl still has a learning curve, particularly for those completely new to game development.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    Stencyl is primarily focused on 2D game development, which might not meet the needs of developers looking to create 3D games.

Amazon Lumberyard features and specs

  • Free to Use
    Amazon Lumberyard is available for free, with no seat fees, subscription fees, or requirements to share revenue. You only pay for the AWS services you choose to use.
  • Integration with AWS
    Lumberyard is tightly integrated with AWS cloud services, making it easy to build cloud-connected games with features like cloud processing, storage, and analytics.
  • AAA Quality
    Lumberyard provides high-quality graphics and features suitable for developing AAA games, including advanced visual scripting, physics, and animation tools.
  • Twitch Integration
    Direct integration with Twitch allows developers to include rich interactive and social functions within their games, enhancing the player experience and engagement.
  • Open Source
    With access to Lumberyard’s source code, developers have complete control over customization and optimization to fit specific project needs.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Lumberyard supports multiple platforms including PC, consoles, and mobile, allowing developers to reach a larger audience.

Possible disadvantages of Amazon Lumberyard

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The engine has a complex interface and extensive features, which may present a steep learning curve for newcomers and small teams.
  • Limited Documentation
    Compared to more established engines, Lumberyard’s documentation and tutorials are limited, which can make learning and troubleshooting more difficult.
  • Relatively New
    Being a younger engine, Lumberyard may not have the same level of community support and third-party resources as more established game engines.
  • AWS Dependency
    Although cloud integration is a pro, it also means a dependency on AWS services, which could complicate costs or lock-in for developers who want to use other cloud providers.
  • Performance Overhead
    Due to its rich feature set and high-quality graphics, Lumberyard may have higher performance overhead, requiring powerful hardware for development and testing.
  • Lack of Asset Store
    Unlike some other engines, Lumberyard does not have a comprehensive, built-in asset store, limiting immediate access to ready-made assets for prototyping and development.

Analysis of Stencyl

Overall verdict

  • Stencyl is a good choice for aspiring game developers, particularly those who are new to coding or looking for an intuitive tool to quickly build and publish games. Its ease of use and extensive support make it a solid platform for hobbyists and indie game developers.

Why this product is good

  • Stencyl is a popular game development platform known for its user-friendly interface and robust capabilities. It allows users to create games using drag-and-drop mechanics, eliminating the need for extensive programming knowledge. The platform supports cross-platform publishing, enabling developers to deploy games on multiple systems such as iOS, Android, Windows, and more. Its comprehensive library of resources and active community provides ample support for new and experienced game developers. Moreover, Stencyl integrates well with popular tools like Adobe Photoshop and Tiled, streamlining the design process.

Recommended for

  • Beginners in game development
  • Indie game developers
  • Educators teaching game design
  • Hobbyists interested in creating 2D games
  • Developers looking for cross-platform publishing options

Analysis of Amazon Lumberyard

Overall verdict

  • Amazon Lumberyard is a powerful engine with unique strengths, particularly if you plan to leverage AWS services. However, it might not be the ideal choice for beginners or small teams without AWS expertise.

Why this product is good

  • Amazon Lumberyard is a game development engine that offers deep integration with AWS Cloud services, providing scalable and reliable infrastructure options. It features a robust developer environment with tools like Twitch integration and a flexible platform for building multiplayer and interactive games. However, its adoption has been limited compared to other engines like Unity or Unreal, partly due to its somewhat steeper learning curve and fewer community resources.

Recommended for

    Amazon Lumberyard is best suited for developers looking to build server-based, multiplayer games or large-scale projects that can utilize AWS’s cloud services. It's also a good fit for teams who want integrated Twitch features or who are already familiar with AWS infrastructure.

Stencyl videos

Stencyl 4 Game Engine Released -- Hands On with the "No Code Required" Game Engine

More videos:

  • Review - Stencyl vs Construct 2
  • Review - Stencyl Pros and Cons

Amazon Lumberyard videos

Where does Amazon Lumberyard currently stand? (Review)

More videos:

  • Review - Amazon Lumberyard 1.21 Released

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Stencyl and Amazon Lumberyard)
Game Engine
61 61%
39% 39
Game Development
59 59%
41% 41
3D Game Engine
54 54%
46% 46
Development
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 Stencyl and Amazon Lumberyard

Stencyl Reviews

Trending 10 BEST Video Game Design & Development Software 2021
If you have fairly good programming skills and a proclivity for 2D games, then you can rely on Stencyl. The software’s record speaks for itself. Stencyl has a long list of number one and top-ranked games on Google Play and App Store to its name.

Amazon Lumberyard Reviews

The Best Gaming Engines You Should Consider for 2023
Powered by Amazon Web Services, a secure cloud platform built and maintained by Amazon, integration through Lumberyard means it’s significantly easier to build games with online play. It has good native support for C++, P2P, and client topology. Lumberyard also supports Autodesk Maya and Adobe Photoshop.
What Are the Best Game Engines?
CryEngine is a cross-platform engine. You can use it to create photorealistic first-person games, especially shooters. CryEngine is used in all games from CryTek, as well as other studios. As mentioned above, CryEngine was licensed and reworked to create Amazon Lumberyard.
The Top 10 Video Game Engines
Amazon Lumberyard is the engine built by Amazon (as the name suggests). According to the site, Lumberyard is “Free. Powerful. Fully Customizable.” The game engine has “no royalties or seat fees, frictionless integration with Twitch and AWS, plus much more on the horizon.”
Top 10 Mobile Game Development Tools For Intellectual Games
Amazon Lumberyard wrote in C++ and Lua scripting language and launched by Amazon. It is a cross-platform AAA game engine based on CryEngine with easy AWS and Twitch integration. Lumberyard is free, and it doesn’t require seat licenses, royalties, or subscriptions but only standard AWS fees for acquired AWS services.
Source: unaryteam.com
11 tools to get you started making video games
Learning tools: There is a free series of getting started tutorial videos and video talks on more specific features in the engine. There is also a free training course on how to use Lumberyard with AWS.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Amazon Lumberyard should be more popular than Stencyl. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Stencyl mentions (5)

Amazon Lumberyard mentions (9)

  • Do you think that Star Atlas could be a worthy competitor to Star Citizen?
    Although, whatever the deal might've been, Amazon has since donated Lumberyard to the Open 3D Foundation which renamed it to the Open 3D Engine (O3DE) so they probably don't care nearly as much about upstream fixes anymore if they ever did. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Unity fires manager who tweeted the company is "out of touch"
    When I Googled Amazon Lumberyard, this was the first hit: https://aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What are some of the most impressive uses of photogrammetry in games that you've seen?
    Some of the game engines we have now have photogrammetry technology built-in, meaning that developers can easily integrate it into their games. This allows for even more detailed and realistic environments to be created in 3D games. The most prominent being Unreal, Unity, and Lumberyard -- including new and beginner-friendly ones like Panda3D and Yahaha. All of these game engines have photogrammetry at their core... Source: about 2 years ago
  • By the time the patch hits all servers will be dead
    It really doesn't help that it started development on Lumberyard which is now a dead product. https://aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is PES unique?
    Amazon has apparently declared Lumberyard dead, incidentally: https://aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Stencyl and Amazon Lumberyard, you can also consider the following products

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.

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

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

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

CryENGINE - The most powerful game development platform is now available to everyone. Full engine source code.