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Stencyl VS GDevelop

Compare Stencyl VS GDevelop and see what are their differences

Stencyl logo Stencyl

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

GDevelop logo GDevelop

GDevelop is an open-source game making software designed to be used by everyone.
  • Stencyl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • GDevelop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

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.

GDevelop features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GDevelop provides a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for beginners who don't have prior coding experience.
  • Cross-Platform Export
    Games created with GDevelop can be exported to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web.
  • Free and Open Source
    GDevelop is completely free and its source code is open for anyone to modify and improve.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The platform provides a wide range of tutorials, examples, and thorough documentation, making it easier for developers to learn and utilize the tool.
  • Vibrant Community
    An active community forum and resources are available, providing support and opportunities for collaboration.
  • No-Code Solution
    GDevelop allows game creation without any coding, making it highly suitable for rapid prototyping and educational purposes.

Possible disadvantages of GDevelop

  • Performance Limitations
    The engine may struggle with performance issues for more complex games, especially those with high-end graphics and intensive computations.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While suitable for 2D game development, GDevelop lacks advanced features found in other engines, potentially limiting more experienced developers.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Usage
    Although easy for beginners, mastering the platform for more complex projects can have a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Integration
    Integration with third-party tools and services is not as extensive as in some other, more established game development engines.
  • Project Collaboration
    Collaborative features are relatively basic, potentially making it less ideal for larger, team-based projects.
  • 2D Only
    GDevelop focuses exclusively on 2D game development, which can be a downside for those looking to develop 3D games.

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

GDevelop videos

GDevelop 5 -- Ultimate Beginner Game Engine?

More videos:

  • Review - Clickteam Fusion 2.5 Vs GDevelop 5 - (Game Engine REVIEW 2019 )
  • Review - Clickteam Fusion 2.5 Vs GDevelop 5 - (Game Engine REVIEW 2020 )
  • Tutorial - Beginner Multiplayer Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Stencyl and GDevelop)
Game Engine
32 32%
68% 68
Game Development
29 29%
71% 71
3D Game Engine
33 33%
67% 67
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 GDevelop

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.

GDevelop Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
Beginners who don’t have any programming skills but still want to create some games can quickly access one of the best platforms based on the open source network to help them develop games named the GDevelop. This platform lets users release their creative skills to quickly build games, such as puzzles, shoot-em-ups, strategy, racing, adventure, and more. It can even permit...
20 Best Scratch Alternatives 2023
GDevelop is described as a “free and easy game-making app.” It’s similar to Scratch in that it’s a no-code platform; it doesn’t require using programming languages. GDevelop is also free and open source.
Trending 10 BEST Video Game Design & Development Software 2021
Open-source free software, GDevelop allows developers to make games without programming skills. It allows you to create objects for games such as sprites, text objects, video objects, and custom shapes.
Best Game Engines for Linux in 2021
Construct 3 is free with limits. After that, you have to sign up for a monthly subscription. If you can not afford to pay for it, you can use GDevelop, an alternative to Construct 3 for Linux.
Source: kerneltips.com
Trending 7 Best Game Development Software 2021
GDevelop is the best game making software for beginners & professionals. GDevelop provides you easy and simplistic interface, which most developers like in GDevelop.
Source: vilesolid.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GDevelop seems to be a lot more popular than Stencyl. While we know about 77 links to GDevelop, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Stencyl. 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)

GDevelop mentions (77)

  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    Humble Bundle has a Godot bundle is available for the next day or so. That might be a good one to look at if you're ok with leaning into code a bit (gdscript is very very similar to python). https://www.humblebundle.com/software/learn-godot-43-complete-course-bundle-software Also check out the RPG Maker bundle. That's pretty point-and-click. You can have something basic up and running in a couple minutes... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Exploring Raylib and Open Source
    I selected this library as I normally use much higher-level tools to develop games such as p5.js, or GDevelop. Both these tools are amazing in their own right; however, I want to learn how these processes operate on a much lower level. These tools take care of a lot of issues for you ranging from asset to memory management. Raylib is still cross-platform but does not handle these tasks for the programmer which I... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Unity’s New Pricing: A Wake-Up Call on the Importance of Open Source in Gaming
    It's not as monolithic as you'd think. There are lots of engines out there but their communities aren't very vocal compared to Unity, Unreal, and especially Godot's community. Take a look at: https://itch.io/game-development/engines/most-projects And https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/the-generous-space-of-alternative-game-engines-a-curation- If you look at both of these you'll see just how many engines there are... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Favorite Game Engine?
    I'm not really a game maker, but would like to give a shout out to the fabulous https://gdevelop.io/ It has everything you need, is free and its VISUAL PROGRAMMING is fab... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Godot or GameMaker studio 2
    Another engine that you can consider is GDevelop https://gdevelop.io. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

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

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

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

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!

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