Defold
Free game engine with Lua scripting and a small runtime footprint
- #4 of 12 in best game engines
- Free
- Free to use
- WindowsmacOSLinux
Ranked 4 of 12 in best game engines
Free forever with no runtime fees and a small footprint, but the source-available license bars selling modified editor or engine builds. Game logic is written in Lua, which narrows the choice.
Best for Small Lua-based games that ship to many platforms
About Defold
Defold combines a small engine with an editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. Game logic is written in Lua, native extensions can be added, and hot reload and a profiler speed up iteration. The publishing list on the vendor's site includes PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and HTML5.
Defold is free forever with no runtime fees, and its source code is published under the Defold License. That license is derived from Apache 2.0 but limits commercial use of the editor and engine: you may sell games and tools built with Defold, but you may not sell original or modified copies of the editor or engine itself. Teams that want a light engine and Lua will find it a direct alternative to GameMaker and Godot for 2D work.
Key features
- Lua scripting
- Hot reload and profiler
- Live Update support
- Consoles, Steam and HTML5 publishing
- Source available under the Defold License
Strengths
- Free forever with no runtime fees
- Small engine footprint with Live Update support
- Publishes to consoles, Steam and web from one project
Limits
- Game logic uses Lua, which limits the choice of languages
- Modified editor or engine builds cannot be sold
Where Defold ranks
How Defold compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Scripting language | 3D support | Workflow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#2 Unity | 92.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WindowsmacOSLinux | C# | Yes | Editor and code |
#3 Unreal Engine | 91.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WindowsmacOSLinux | C++ and Blueprints | Yes | Editor and code |
| #4Defold | 89.5 | Free | WindowsmacOSLinux | Lua | Yes | Editor and code |
#5 GameMaker | 88.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WindowsmacOS | GML | No | Editor and code |
#6 Cocos Creator | 86.5 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOS | TypeScript and JavaScript | Yes | Editor and code |
The full comparison table for best game engines has all 12 products.
Alternatives to Defold
All 11 alternatives
Godot EngineIs open source.- UnityCross-platform game engine with a free Personal plan and paid Pro plans
- Unreal EngineEpic Games' real-time 3D engine for games, film and visualization
- GameMaker2D game engine with a free tier and paid tiers for commercial release
- Cocos CreatorIs open source.
BevyIs open source; also runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Related rankings
Questions about Defold
- Is Defold free?
- Defold can be used without paying: Free forever with no runtime fees; source available under the Defold License. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Defold open source?
- No. Defold is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Defold support?
- Defold is available on: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- What is Defold best for?
- Small Lua-based games that ship to many platforms. In our ranking of game engines it is number 4 of 12 with a score of 89.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Defold?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Godot Engine, Unity, Unreal Engine, GameMaker.
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<a href="https://listme.name/software/defold"><img src="https://listme.name/badge/defold.svg" height="28" alt="Ranked #4 of 12 game engines on listme.name"></a>