gamedev

Godot vs Unity vs Unreal vs GameMaker: which game engine should a beginner pick?

TUREFF• •0
Asking which engine to learn first starts more arguments than almost any other question in game development. The honest answer is that all four of the big beginner-friendly engines have shipped successful games, and the skills you learn in one carry over to the others. What changes is how quickly you get something on screen and which kinds of game each one makes easier.

Godot

  • What it is: a free, open-source engine for 2D and 3D games, released under the MIT licence. There are no royalties or fees, and you own your game and can even modify the engine.
  • Language: GDScript, a Python-like language designed for the engine, which many beginners find easy to read. C# is also supported.
  • Good for: 2D games especially, small 3D projects, and anyone who wants a lightweight download that opens quickly.
  • Trade-offs: a smaller library of ready-made assets and tutorials than Unity, and its high-end 3D is less mature than Unreal's. Console releases usually involve a third-party porting service.

Unity

  • What it is: a long-established engine used for a huge range of 2D, 3D and mobile games.
  • Language: C#.
  • Licensing at a high level: the free Unity Personal plan covers individuals and small teams below a revenue and funding threshold, with paid plans above it. The controversial per-install Runtime Fee announced in 2023 was cancelled in 2024. Check Unity's own site for the current thresholds before you commit.
  • Good for: mobile games, 3D projects of most sizes, and learners who want the largest pool of tutorials, courses and asset store content.
  • Trade-offs: the editor is heavier than Godot's, and the sheer number of features and packages can overwhelm a beginner.

Unreal Engine

  • What it is: Epic's engine, known for high-end 3D graphics.
  • Language: C++, plus Blueprints, a visual scripting system where you connect nodes instead of writing code. Many beginners start with Blueprints.
  • Licensing at a high level: free to download and use. A royalty applies only to released games that earn above a lifetime revenue threshold (currently 5% of gross revenue above the first $1 million per product), with some exceptions such as sales through the Epic Games Store. Read the current licence for the details.
  • Good for: realistic 3D, first- and third-person games, and anyone aiming at larger studios that use it.
  • Trade-offs: demanding on your computer, large downloads, and more complexity than a first small 2D game needs.

GameMaker

  • What it is: an engine focused on 2D games, with a long track record of successful indie releases.
  • Language: GML (GameMaker Language), with a visual coding option for beginners.
  • Licensing at a high level: free for non-commercial use; selling your game requires a paid licence, and consoles a further subscription. Check the official site for the current terms.
  • Good for: 2D action, platformers and pixel-art games, and getting a playable prototype quickly.
  • Trade-offs: not designed for serious 3D work.

How to decide

Answer three questions:
  1. 2D or 3D? For 2D, Godot and GameMaker are the quickest starts. For 3D, Unity and Unreal have the most learning material, with Godot a lighter alternative.
  2. Code or visual? If code puts you off, try Unreal's Blueprints or GameMaker's visual mode. If you want to learn programming properly, GDScript or C# are gentle starts.
  3. What does your computer handle? Unreal needs a reasonably powerful machine. Godot runs comfortably on modest hardware.
If you still cannot choose, spend one weekend each following an official beginner tutorial in two engines, and keep the one that felt less frustrating. That feeling is a better guide than any comparison table.

First projects that suit any engine

  • Pong or Breakout: movement, collisions and a score.
  • A one-screen platformer: jumping, gravity and a goal.
  • A top-down arena game: enemies that chase you and a timer to survive.
  • A short walking scene in 3D: a camera, lighting and one interactable object.
Keep each one small enough to finish in a week. Finishing teaches more than starting a big project ever will: menus, restarting, sound and the hundred small details that make a game feel complete.

Avoid engine-hopping

The most common beginner trap is switching engines every time a tutorial gets hard. The hard part is usually game programming itself, and it follows you to the next engine. Pick one, finish two or three tiny games, then reconsider if you really need something it cannot do. Which engine did you start with, and would you choose it again? Share your experience or your questions in the comments.

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