GameMaker Studio 2
Create 2D games quickly with drag‑and‑drop or code.
Alternatives
Choose Godot if…
- you need a completely free engine with no export add‑on
- you want native 3D support alongside 2D
- you prefer C# or GDScript over a proprietary language
- you rely on community‑driven updates and extensions
Choose RPG Maker MV if…
- you need a pre‑made RPG framework and event system
- you prefer a one‑time purchase over freemium add‑ons
- you want built‑in export to Steam or itch.io
- you rely on JavaScript plugins instead of GML
Choose GameMaker if…
- you need a one‑time purchase to avoid ongoing subscription
- you plan to publish on Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5
- you want direct publishing to GX.games or GameMake from the
- you are okay with Windows or macOS‑only desktop IDE
Choose GDevelop if…
- you need a fully open‑source engine you can fork or extend
- you want to avoid any paid export add‑ons for mobile and
- you prefer a no‑code event system over learning a
- you plan to add multiplayer lobbies or leaderboards without
Choose Defold if…
- you need a completely free engine with no royalties
- you want instant hot‑reload for rapid testing
- you prefer a single editor to avoid switching tools
- you’re comfortable scripting in Lua rather than GML
- you plan to export to consoles and can handle separate
How to Decide
GameMaker Studio 2 is best known for its drag‑and‑drop workflow paired with GML scripting, and it’s widely used by indie developers and small studios. The alternatives split into a few clear camps: GDevelop leans on its open‑source, no‑code event system for beginners and educators; Godot emphasizes a free, open‑source engine with multi‑language scripting and built‑in 2D / 3D support plus an API; GameMaker (the other offering) highlights a freemium model with a one‑time‑purchase professional licence and direct publishing to its own GX.games hub; Defold is chosen for being completely free with no royalties, a lightweight Lua‑based workflow and hot‑reload for rapid iteration.
When weighing GameMaker Studio 2 against these options, focus on (1) the licensing and pricing model – freemium with paid export add‑ons versus fully free or one‑time‑purchase licences; (2) the scripting and visual‑logic flexibility – drag‑and‑drop + GML versus no‑code events, multi‑language support, or Lua scripting; (3) the breadth of platform export, especially console support and whether it’s bundled or requires separate agreements; and (4) the openness of the engine – proprietary versus open‑source – which influences community extensions, asset marketplaces, and long‑term control over the code base.
All Alternatives
“Free, cross‑platform engine supporting 2D games with visual scripting and code options.”
“Drag‑and‑drop 2D game engine with visual scripting, enabling RPG creation without deep coding.”
“Another GameMaker version offering the same 2D drag‑and‑drop + GML workflow.”
“Open‑source, no‑code 2D engine with visual scripting, targeting indie creators like GameMaker.”
“Lightweight free engine focused on 2D development, uses Lua scripting and visual tools.”
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