As every year mobile gaming is growing in popularity, app creators are always on the search for game engines that can provide the most favorable set of features, speed, and openness. With this in 2024, there are some excellent engines that you can use in developing mobile games regardless the kind of graphics you want, 3D or 2D. Below is a list of the most popular mobile game engines to watch this year with specific features all developers should consider.
1. Unity
It has remained relevant as one of the best and most popular engines for creating mobile games that are feature-rich, flexible, with powerful tools, and a massive asset store. When it comes to indie developers and large studios, they employ Unity, which offers solutions to create games that run well on both, iOS and Android.
Key Features:
Still, cross-platform development capabilities are the main advantage.
Offers, thousands of resources in the vast store.
The use of Bolt for constructions of visual programming for individuals who are not inclined to computer programming.
The source provides great support when it comes to integration of AR/VR.
Pros:
Aimed at newcomers to the field, and including comprehensive references
Strong community support
Small and new additions to the platform
Cons:
May be too much for more basic 2D games
Licensing expenses when the team is large
This flexibility of this framework means it can be used in all different kinds of mobile games ranging from simple puzzle games to complex RPGs.
2. Unreal Engine
Unreal, especially with the upgraded vesion Unreal Engine 5 is one of the most popular tools for programmers who consider creating impressive 3D games on mobile. Unreal is mainly used for graphically complex games since it can produce amazing graphic quality that might be difficult for ordinary hardware of a mobile phone to handle.
Key Features:
Nanite and Lumen higher fidelity visuals
Blueprint visual scripting to enhance quicker prototype development
Acid physics and animation
Built-in multiplayer support
Pros:
Especially suitable for games which require a lot of focus on visuals.
Free until your game earns thousands of dollars
Usually released with the newest technologies on board
Cons:
Slightly steeper learning curve than when compared to other engines
Demanding with resources which can be an issue with less equipped mobile devices
Aside from the tri-Ace game studios, Unreal is also popular this day among independent developers especially those who have big dreams for their notions but with a tight budget; or those mobile developers who aim to bring console like graphics to hand held devices.
3. Godot Engine
For that reason, it has become very popular among indie developers due to its open source approach, light and easy to use. It is full of recent updates, which enriched the SDK for mobile development and make it appropriate for both 2D and 3D games.
Key Features:
Node based designing for better management of games
Fast and very light; ideal for phone.
It supports both 2D as well as 3D designs.
Much writing and much practice = more evidence and much progress
Pros:
Free and open-source
Allows user scripting by JScript and duel-sharp scripting languages C# and visual scripting.
They both need to be updated and improved more often.
Cons:
Lack of the number of resources available in Unity or Unreal
Little community and low levels of tangible resources
Godot is suitable to indie developers who seek a non expensive, modular and customizable engine, specially for the 2d domain in which the engine stands out.
4. Cocos Creator
Cocos Creator is a 2D game engine under the Cocos2d-X framework that has many people familiar with it which mainly comes from Asia. Cocos Creator is built with an IDE for mobile games and has all the tools necessary to create fluid, reactive games for both operating systems.
Key Features:
Built specifically for purely 2D game development
JavaScript and TypeScript support
Software tools that are included to the framework to support animations, physics and user interface creation
Open source uses with with possible add-ons available intended for paid use.
Pros:
Slim in design and easily capable of high speed.
Mobile, 2D games specifically
simply being able to have strong community in Asian markets
Cons:
Compared to the Unity or Unreal, Unagile has less support for 3D.
Every problem tackled has diminished resources and assets available
Another argument is that Cocos Creator is designed for 2D graphics, and, therefore, it is convenient for the companies that would like to develop games for smartphones with no complications and more time-consuming process on their way.
5. Birdbox
Buildbox is a visual game development tool that does not involve coding in any way, making it perfect for new comers or those interested in limited and simple games and rapid prototyping. It is designed to make simple 2D and 3D games very rapidly and is in widespread use amongst casual game developers.
Key Features:
This can be done through simple drag and drop of different parts of a game in order to create another.
Integrated asset library
Real-time preview of games
Advertisement within the application and products for sale within the application.
Pros:
Probably one of the most simple and easy to use applications for people who are not that good with technology or programming languages.
Fast development times
Free purchases for app elements and ads are included into the application
Cons:
Little customizations and control
Not ideal for complex games
A subscription-based model can turn into expensive.
Birdbox is ideal for casual and easy going games and the best part it is commonly used by those who wish to prototype or publish a game with less effort as an entry into the mobile game industry.
6. Game Maker Studio 2
GameMaker Studio 2 has been around for years now and specifically has very powerful 2D game creation utilities. While it has implemented some basic 3D to an extent, its bold area is 2D gaming, which makes it a perfect fit for mobile developers who fall under the side-scrolling genre of games prefect for the extended engaging play in less time civilization building games.
Key Features:
Drags and drops functionality with an added possibility to script in Game Maker Language or GML
Combined tools for building physics and animating brilliant visuals
Cross platform support which includes mobile
Pros:
Quick learning curve
Ideal for 2D game development
Affordable license options
Cons:
Limited 3D capabilities
The character editor isn’t as complex as it can be for defining detailed movement and interactions within a game.
Y if you are a developer who is interested in 2D game development then Game Maker Studio 2 is one of the most reliable solutions that can be used even by beginners.
Choosing the Right Engine for Your Mobile Game in 2024
So still in 2024 choosing a game engine is all about what you want to achieve with your game, number of developers, how much you’re willing to spend, and, more importantly, the type of game that you want to make. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose:
For high-quality 3D games: When it comes to photorealism, Unreal Engine is the one to choose among all the options.
For versatile 2D and 3D games: One moves with the other, and as we see, Unity provides the greatest of both worlds, a wide range of assets and powerful tools.
For indie and open-source projects: Godot is highly recommended as it has flexibility in use and has a zero cost license.
For casual and quick mobile games: Cocos Creator and Birdbox are easily understandable and little heavy for 2D games.
All of these engines have something different that benefits the mobile game development letting developers come up with new ideas. With a proper selection, you can develop a set of unique and highly performing mobile games for a very competitive world of 2024.