# Phaser review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/phaser
Website: https://phaser.io/

Open source HTML5 game framework for 2D games that run in browsers

Phaser is a free, MIT-licensed 2D game framework for making HTML5 games that run in the browser. It is a JavaScript library installed through npm, with a create-game tool that sets up a project for you.

Phaser is a framework rather than an editor. You write game logic in JavaScript and build with your own toolchain, and the project's README shows setup through npm, Yarn, pnpm and Bun. It also lists integration guidance for Vue.js, React, Angular and Next.js.

Phaser's scope is 2D games and browser delivery, so teams that need 3D or native console builds should look at other engines. The MIT license allows commercial use. The repository's latest commit is dated August 21, 2026, and the project added a 4.3 changelog that month, so it is actively maintained.

- Free and open source | Web | open source (MIT)
- Price: MIT licensed; free to use in commercial games
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## Strengths

- MIT licensed with commercial use allowed
- Runs in the browser with no native install
- Templates and integrations for popular frameworks

## Limits

- 2D focus, with no native console builds
- Requires JavaScript development skills

## Rankings

- #10 of 12 in [best Game engines](https://listme.name/best/game-engines), score 80.5: MIT-licensed 2D framework for browser games, with templates for popular frameworks. It has no native console builds and needs JavaScript skills, so it suits web-first teams.

## Alternatives

- [Godot Engine](https://listme.name/software/godot), score 94.0
- [Unity](https://listme.name/software/unity), score 92.5
- [Unreal Engine](https://listme.name/software/unreal-engine), score 91.5
- [Defold](https://listme.name/software/defold), score 89.5
- [GameMaker](https://listme.name/software/gamemaker), score 88.0
- [Cocos Creator](https://listme.name/software/cocos-creator), score 86.5
- [Bevy](https://listme.name/software/bevy), score 85.5
- [MonoGame](https://listme.name/software/monogame), score 84.5