Solar2D vs GameMaker
Side-by-side comparison for macOS
Solar2D
8.0Lua-based game engine
GameMaker
7.0Complete development tool for making 2D games
| Metric | Solar2D | GameMaker |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| AI Score | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 30-day Installs | 2 | 18 |
| 90-day Installs | 8 | 43 |
| 365-day Installs | 62 | 227 |
| Version | 2026.3729 | 2024.14.4.222 |
| Auto-updates | No | No |
| Deprecated | No | No |
| GitHub Stars | 2.8K | 444 |
| GitHub Forks | 307 | 30 |
| Open Issues | 179 | - |
| License | MIT | CC0-1.0 |
| Language | C++ | — |
| Last GitHub Commit | 1mo ago | 2mo ago |
| First Seen | Oct 21, 2020 | Aug 30, 2022 |
Reviews
Solar2D
Solar2D is a Lua-based game engine designed for ease of use and rapid iteration, making it ideal for game developers seeking a straightforward solution for cross-platform deployment. It offers a robust scripting environment, extensive community support, and a variety of plugins, catering to those focused on efficient game development.
Solar2D is a game engine used for developing 2D games using Lua scripting.
Pros
- + Lua scripting for ease of use and integration
- + Cross-platform support for various devices
- + Rapid prototyping capabilities
- + Active community and regular updates
- + Permissive MIT license
Cons
- - No automatic updates available
- - Some open issues in the GitHub repository
GameMaker
GameMaker is a comprehensive tool for creating 2D games, offering a complete set of features for game development. It is particularly beneficial for non-commercial developers who can use it for free, with a one-time fee for commercial purposes.
GameMaker provides a complete set of tools for developing 2D games.
Pros
- + Complete game development toolset
- + Free for non-commercial use
- + Active community support
Cons
- - No auto-update feature
- - Limited commercial use