The term Game Engine is used everywhere and if you are interested in creating a game you will undoubtedly ask the question what exactly is a game engine and do you need one?
A Game Engine is a platform that allows you to create a game or other interactive mediums. This is done by giving you the tools to use visually or via code. Some of these tools include rendering images on screen, creating sound, calculating physics and assisting with game AI.
In this article we will discuss what features a game engine has, if you really need one and what game engine may be best for you and your game.
What Do Game Engines Do
This solely depends on the Game Engine you are using. If you choose to use a pre-existing game engine such as Unity or Unreal there are heaps of features. They aim to allow you to create almost any game imaginable. Some key features include:
- Level Editors
- Importing and Using Models and Textures
- Ways to Import and use Sound
- Physics Systems
- Animation Editors
- Editing code either by using nodes or code itself
- Particle Systems
If you are creating a game engine yourself you may only create the features that are required for the game, so features are very limited.
Do You Need a Game Engine
Yes you absolutely do, but this may not be an intentional decision. A game engine is a very broad term. If you are creating a game without a pre-existing engine, even the most basic of games you will undoubtedly create tools to create the game. While it may only be a few tools you have essentially created a game engine.
If your question is whether to use a pre-existing game engine or create one yourself then I recommend you check out my article here. There is a case for using either but as a personal recommendation, I would use a pre-existing engine.
Do Big Game Studios Use Pre-Existing Game Engines
A lot of big studios do use pre-existing game engines as it simply isn’t feasible to create their own. It can take a lot of time and money.
Some companies do create their own in-house game engines as it means they have the ability to create whatever they like, reuse it for other games, have intimate knowledge of its workings, and don’t pay royalties to other game engine companies. Some companies that have done this include Bethesda, Capcom and Blizzard.
This is a lot less common as it can be a big investment.
What Game Engines are Available for Anyone to Use
There are quite a few game engines available for anyone to use and best of all some of them are free (Or at least until you earn a certain amount from them). Some of the most popular game engines include.
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- Gadot
- GameMaker Studio 2
- Cry Engine
- Amazon Lumberyard
I’ve used both Unity and Unreal Engine and I can say they are both great. They are easy to pick up and can create almost anything.
Game Engines Good for 2d
Not all game engines specialize in the same thing. Some are great at 2d but not great at 3d and vice versa.
If you are creating a 2d game then Unity and Game Maker Studio would be my reccomendation.
Game Maker Studio 2
If a 2d game is our goal then GameMaker Studio 2 is a great option it is extremely beginner-friendly, however its functionality can be a little limited depending on the scope of your game.
Full indie games have been made and released using GameMaker Studio 2. It is great if you are just starting out as it has a lot of drag and drop options and an easy to follow coding language.
Unity
Probably the best option for a 2d game is Unity. This has a bigger learning curve than GameMaker Studio 2 and it requires a bit more coding. However If you get past the learning curve you can create almost anything.
Lots of games have been released using Unity. It has a very useful marketplace where people trade game assets to assist with any parts of a game you can’t or don’t have the time to make.
You can create almost anything with Unity and best of all it also is great for 3d. You don’t need to learn a whole new program once you move on from your 2d game project.
Game Engines Good for 3d
There are many games capable of creating a 3d game but probably the most popular are Unreal Engine & Unity.
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine in my opinion is the best program when it comes to creating 3d games. It has seen the most advancement in technology over the past few years.
I has a large number of free assets it gives away to developers who use the engine through the Quixel Megascans Library.
Recent updates have even seen significat advancements. For example the Nanite System which makes it extremely easy to create game models by not requiring you to reduce the poly count. For more information on this please check out my article here.
It does have a learning curve but there are a lot of resources available. It has a node-based coding system called Blueprints so you actually do not need to write a line of code at all. If you are more comfortable with code than you can also use C++ as well.
Unity
There is no doubt Unity has made its place as one of the best game engines not only for 2d but 3d as well. Most of what you can accomplish in Unreal Engine you can accomplish in Unity.
It is extremly versatile and has a lot of resources available to help you out with whatever you could possibly need.
It does require some knowlege of coding but it utilizes C# which is a really easy language to pick up.
Conclusion
Hopefully you now have some idea of what a game engine is and that it is essential to creating a game. Pre-existing game engines are loaded with almost any tool you could possibly need an they are constantly evolving and changing with technology.
Game development is fun and learning or creating a one is the most important part. It is worth while being comfortable with what they are and how they work. I can guarentee you will become intimatly familiar with them over the many hours you will spend using them.