人们时常想要自行制作游戏，也经常会有人组建起小团队，讨论新游戏的制作。多数情况下，有不少团队程序员决定自行制作游戏引擎。我个人认为，任何游戏项目的参与者都应当考虑他们的目标。如果真得是为了制作游戏，那么就没必要费心费力重新制作游戏引擎。目前有大量的游戏引擎可供使用，让开发者开发游戏项目的过程变得更为简单。使用现有的游戏引擎能够让项目更为简单，也能更快地完成项目，保持精灵的合理运转。而且，使用现有游戏引擎几乎可以确保不出现重大漏洞，让游戏可以流畅地运行。
3D游戏开发引擎
Unity3D 3.1
Unity可能是目前独立开发者的最佳选择，可以顺利实现多平台开发。使用Unity，你可以借助迅速架构游戏原型和开发游戏。Unity的渲染&光照能力卓著，支持延迟光照、遮挡剔除、SSAO、Beast光照映射以及诸多后处理效果。Unity拥有对刚体、软体和布料的物理支持。Unity的编辑器用起来令人舒适，资产工作流程也非常棒。编程可以使用C#、JavaScript或Boo，而且Unity可以被扩展，因为它已经可以添加许多优秀插件。网络上有大量资源和帮助你入门的教程，而且拥有一个很棒的开发社区。
Unity Indie是免费的，但缺失许多功能，Unity Pro售价1500美元。如果你想要开发iOS或Android游戏，必须花钱购买授权。
Shiva 3D 1.9
开发者通常将Stonetrip的Shiva3D与Unity相比，因为它们的使用方法及售价都很相似。与Unity相同，Shiva也有着很棒的整合编辑器，可以用来制作所有的内容。Shiva游戏可以发布到Windows、Mac、Linux、iPhone、iPad、Android、Palm、PSP和Wii上。Shiva的功能正符合开发者对现代游戏引擎的需求。
Shiva PLE是免费的，但是如果要发布游戏的话，有两个差别不大的授权可供选择。一个售价170欧元，另一个售价1500欧元。
Leadwerks Engine 2
形象地说，Leadwerks Engine可以体现出现代技术发展水平。Leadwerks Engine中带有高效编辑器，可用来设计游戏场景，也可以用现已支持的LUA脚本语言来编写。事实上，Leadwerks Engine的游戏可以用任何语言来编程，因为该引擎被编译成DLL的形式。但是，目前支持的语言只有C#和C++，以往还支持Blitzmax。公司放弃了对Blitzmax的支持让我觉得很可惜，因为这是我最喜欢的语言。但是，该引擎有个很大的优点，就是其API或许是我目前见过的游戏引擎中最清晰和易于理解的。资源数量可能比不上其他游戏引擎，但是足够你使用。值得注意的是，Leadwerks Engine 3正在开发中，我已经迫不及待想看看这个新产品。
Leadwerks Engine 2的售价仅200欧元。
Essenthel Engine
我记得，当自己找到Essenthel Engine时它正处在开发早期。我下载了测试版，它的功能令我感到惊奇，在使用该引擎的数年时间里，它的发展仍足以令我大为惊讶。它支持所有的常见功能。Essenthel带有所有现代引擎应该包含的编辑器，编程语言只能使用C++，至少对我来说这是件很不幸的事。然而，Essenthel Engine带有的编辑器和工具设计不佳而且不够直观。Essenthel游戏能够兼容任何苹果设备，这也算是该引擎的一大优势。
根据你的游戏收益和所需的引擎源代码数量，授权版本的售价从150美元到40万美元不等。事实上，1000美元的版本就可以满足多数人的需求，所获源代码足够用来开发游戏。
GameCore 2.5
虽然这个引擎的知名度并不高，但GameCore 2.5提供了绝妙的图像质量、延迟光照、物理效果以及我见过的最好的编辑器和美术传输途径。输入模型并为其制作材料显得简单易懂。所制作游戏可以发布到PC、Mac和Web上。GameCore 2.5有自己的脚本语言，语法与C语言风格相似，易于使用。
GameCore 2.5 Indie是免费版本，但存在些许局限性，Pro版本的售价为1500美元。
S2 Engine HD
S2 Engine HD还未发布，但是我想把它添加到这个列表中。S2Engine有可能成为一款优秀的游戏引擎，带有丰富的图像、AI和令人惊叹的编辑器。
它的售价为200欧元，如果你想要C++ SDK的话，需要支付2000欧元。
2D游戏开发引擎
Construct 0.99
Construct是款用于2D游戏开发的游戏引擎，可能是最简单的游戏引擎之一，它完全不需要编程知识，因为它是个基于可视事件驱动的系统，类似于老式的Multimedia Fusion软件。可在Construct的编辑器中执行开发，引擎可以通过其插件架构来扩展。我推荐你了解下这款游戏引擎，因为它是免费和开源的。
Gamemaker 8
Gamemaker已经被用来制作出许多游戏。这是款2D游戏引擎，精致整合的编辑器带有许多功能。它有可视事件驱动系统，但是也支持直接进行简单的编程。Gamemaker的一大优势是良好的支持性和教程，还可以用许多扩展和插件来扩展引擎的功能。
Gamemaker 8的售价只有25美元，但是还有个受限的免费版本。
Game Editor
Game Editor也是款事件驱动游戏引擎，也是开源的。它有着清爽简单的界面，可以胜任多平台开发，包括智能手机、Linux、苹果设备和Mac。程序说明书做得很棒，而且还有许多教程让你可以轻松上手。
Adventure Game Studio 3.1.2
AGS是款用来制作2D指向点击冒险游戏的游戏引擎。有许多冒险游戏（游戏邦注：例如《7 Days a Skeptic》）便是用这款引擎制作完成。所有的开发都在AGS编辑器内完成，你可以制作场景、可移动和可点击区域、UI和事件。制作简单冒险游戏不需要编程，但是引擎也能够支持编程，这样便能制作更多高级的游戏。尽管游戏质量不算很好，但这个引擎确实是经典老式冒险游戏的最佳选择。
AGS是免费引擎。
Visionaire Adventure Studio 3.4
与AGS相似，Visionaire Adventure Studio也是款用来制作指向点击冒险游戏的游戏引擎。但是与AGS相比，Visionaire Studio显得更为清晰，而且有更多的功能，比如PNG支持，图像质量也更好。引擎的可视事件系统与AGS相似，能够定义可行走和可点击区域。
Visionaire Adventure Studio的售价为35欧元。
其他引擎
DX Studio
DX Studio是用来制作互动3D图像的综合性开发环境。系统由即时3D引擎和一套编辑工具组成。你可以使用DX Studio来构建全即时互动应用、模拟或游戏，可以独立使用，也可以嵌入其他Microsoft Office/Visual Studio应用中。
Torque 3D
Torque 3D是目前最易于使用的游戏制作平台。Torque 3D以Frontline优秀的Torque Game Engine Advanced为基础构建而成，配备一整套制作游戏的工具和API。游戏的发布平台包括PC、Mac、Xbox 360、Wii、iPhone和web。
Haaf’s Game Engine
HGE是款易于使用而且强大的硬件加速2D游戏引擎。对于想要方便迅速地开发带有商业化质量的游戏的人来说，这是款全功能中间件。它支持所有你能够想到的2D游戏题材，你可以制作从简单的谜题游戏到高级的多层次平台或战略游戏等各种类型的游戏，甚至无需去思考任何游戏逻辑代码！而且，你无需知晓任何有关“窗口信息”和DirectX编程之类的内容。你可以在拿到引擎的15分钟时间里开始开发自己的游戏。
C4 Engine
C4 Engine是款综合性的游戏编程工具，主要针对Windows和Mac OS X平台。它不仅是强大的3D图像引擎，而且还包含对物理、音频、连网、输入设备和资源管理等方面的多方位支持。
Neoaxis Engine
NeoAxis Game Engine是款用于3D模拟、形象化和游戏制作的多用途现代3D图像引擎。NeoAxis Engine是个用来制作互动3D图像的综合性开发环境，可以针对3D虚拟世界、AAA游戏和现实模拟类游戏。系统由即时3D引擎和一套全功能工具组成。
fixel 2
“它使Flash游戏制作发生变革。它是人机对接的新方式。它标志着游戏开发新时代的来临。我们将全部内容放在了新的flixel 2中。组别有助于组织游戏物体，象限四分数可实现更快更精确的碰撞，更清晰的API，同时包含所有老flixel的经典内容：动画精灵、位图和颗粒发射器。最为重要的是，flixel的个人或商业用户来说仍是完全免费的。你还在等什么呢？是时候开始制作游戏了。”
SIO2
什么是SIO2 Engine？SIO2是款基于OpenGLES的跨平台2D和3D游戏引擎，提供所有现代游戏引擎所具有的功能，而售价比同质量引擎要便宜得多。功能丰富、快速灵活的SIO2允许你针对最喜欢的手机平台制作出堪比AAA游戏的美术效果。与其他解决方案相反，SIO2不会强迫你使用任何特定IDE来编程或构建游戏。
Realm Crafter 2
Realm Crafter游戏引擎是MMORPG开发系统的核心。该引擎能够制作出虚拟游戏世界和世界所包含所有东西的行为。它能够生成3D图片，处理连网通信。Realm Crafter引擎显得模块化，这意味着它能够被分解成较小的单位，从而使你可以更轻易地自定义其操作。
The Best Game Engines for Indie Game Developers
Gavalakis Vaggelis
People very often want to make a game either for fun or to sell it later. Very often small teams are made and begin the discussion about their new game. It has happened to me before many times and where I utterly disagreed with others, was in the subject of choosing a game engine. Most often, the programmer or programmers of the team decide they make their own game engine. I personally believe that the people in any game project should consider their goals. Is the goal to actually make a game? Because if it IS to make a game, then there is no reason for them to reinvent the wheel. There are tons of game engine out there that make the development of a game project much easier for the developers. Using a pre existing game engine makes the project easier, much faster to complete and keeps the spirit going since there is a relative good progress. Also using an existing game engine makes it almost sure that it has no major bugs, runs smoothly and is production ready anyway. I completely agree with people wanting to make their own engine, but then the goal is the game engine and not the game and thus no music compositor, modeler, texture artist, game designer etc are needed to be involved and in consequence loose interest cause there is actually nothing for them to do. But enough of my ranting.
In conclusion there are many game engines for a team to consider using. I believe that a multiplatform solution is good enough for starting teams, because of the target audience their game can have. The iDevices and Android platforms especially are a good consideration since they have really a lot users and at the end most of the games on those devices are simple to make, thus they cost low and people will buy them, making the team motivated to move on to their next project and in consequence earning experience and possibly some fame.
- 3D –
Unity3D 3.1
Unity is probably the best choice for indie developers right now, that want a multiplatform development without complications. With Unity, you can develop and prototype games real fast with true WYSIWYG capabilities. Unity’s rendering & lighting capabilities are state of the art, supporting deferred lighting, occlusion culling, SSAO, the Beast lightmapper, many post-processing effect and many more. Unity has physics support from rigid bodies to soft bodies and cloth. Unity’s editor is a joy to work and the asset workflow is also very good. Programming can be done in C#, JavaScript or Boo but also Unity can be extended as it has already been done with some great addons. There exist vast resources and tutorials to get you started and a great community.
Unity Indie is free though it’s missing many features, while Unity Pro costs 1500$. If you want to develop for an iDevice or Android extra licenses must be bought.
Shiva 3D 1.9
Stonetrip Shiva3D is commonly compared to Unity for their similarities in way of use and price. Shiva offers a well integrated editor just like Unity that everything is made from within. Shiva games can be published to Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android, Palm, PSP and Wii without complications as well. Shiva’s features are many just like anyone could expect from a modern game engine.
Shiva PLE is free but to publish a game there are two licenses with very few differences. One at 170E while the other at 1500E.
Leadwerks Engine 2
Graphically, Leadwerks Engine is state of the art. Leadwerks Engine comes with a WYSIWYG editor to design your scenes but also to program them in the now supporting LUA scripting language. In essence, Leadwerks Engine’s games can be programmed with any language since the engine is compiled as a DLL. The supported languages though are C#, C++ and was Blitzmax. A shame they drop support on Blitzmax though, since it was my favorite. Anyway A big bonus is that the API of Leadwerks Engine, is probably the most clean, easy to understand than everything I’ve seen so far. The resources might not be as many as in other game engines, but they are well enough to get you along. Worth of note is that Leadwerks Engine 3 is in development and I can’t wait.
Leadwerks Engine 2 costs only 200E.
Essenthel Engine
I remember when Essenthel Engine was in early development and found it. I downloaded the demo and got amazed and after some years I am following it, I am still amazed by it’s progress. It support all common features out there and even more. Essenthel comes with an editor as all modern engines should and programming is done only in C++ unfortunately for me at least. The editor and the tools that come with Essenthel Engine are unfortunately very badly design and non intuitive. Essenthel games can also be published to any iDevice, which is a big plus.
Licenses range from 150$ to 400,000$ depending on how much income you have and the amount of source codes you want of the engine. Truth is that the 1000$ license will suit most just fine, with great access to source codes.
GameCore 2.5
Although this engine is a bit obscured, GameCore 2.5, offers excellent graphics quality, deferred lighting, physics and one of the best editors and art pipeline I’ve seen. Importing a model and making a material for it is so straightforward. Games can be published to PC and Mac as well as on the Web. GameCore 2.5 has its own scripting language with a c-style syntax that’s easy to use.
GameCore 2.5 Indie is free with some minor limitations, while the Pro version costs 1500$.
S2 Engine HD
S2 Engine HD is not yet released, but I felt like adding it in this list. From what it seems, S2Engine must be a great game engine featuring rich graphics, AI and fantastic editors.
It costs 200E or 2000E if you want the C++ SDK.
- 2D -
Construct 0.99
Construct game engine is one of those gems that you fall upon randomly. Not kidding. It’s a game engine for 2D games development and possible one of the easiest since it require little or no programming at all, since it is based on a visual, event driven system instead of pure programming, similar to that of the old Multimedia Fusion software. Development is done inside Construct’s editor and the engine is expandable through it’s plugin architecture. I really recommend you take a look at this game engine since most importantly its free and open-source.
Gamemaker 8
Gamemaker has been used to create many games. It’s a 2D game engine with many features in a well integrated editor. It has a visual event driven system but also support direct easy programming. The big plus of gamemaker is the great support, tutorials and real many plugins and addons that are out there to extend the engines capabilities.
Gamemaker 8 costs only 25$, but there is also a limited free edition.
Game Editor
Game Editor is another event driver game engine that is also open source. It has a nice and easy interface while there is the ability for multiplatform development, including Smartphones, Linux, iDevices and Mac. The documentation is good and there are also some tutorials to get you started.
Adventure Game Studio 3.1.2
AGS is a game engine to create classic 2D point & click adventures. It has been used to create a LOT adventure games with my personal favorite to be 7 Days a Skeptic. The whole development takes place in the AGS editor where you create the scene, walkable & clickable areas as well as UI and events. To create a simple adventure, no programming is requires although programming is supported for more advanced games. Don’t expect anything great in quality but hey…this is a targeted to classic old style adventure games.
AGS is free.
Visionaire Adventure Studio 3.4
Similar to AGS, Visionaire Adventure Studio is an engine to create point & click adventures. Compared to AGS though, Visionaire Studio is a bit cleaner and has a bit more features like PNG support (AGS doesn’t) but certainly much better graphical quality. It’s similar to AGS as in the visual event system and defining walkable and clickable areas.
Visionaire Adventure Studio costs 35E.
- Honorable Mentions -
DX Studio
“DX Studio is a complete integrated development environment for creating interactive 3D graphics. The system comprises of both areal-time 3D engine and a suite of editing tools. Using DX Studio you can build complete real-time interactive applications, simulations or games, for standalone use or for embedding in other Microsoft Office/Visual Studio applications.”
Torque 3D
“Welcome to Torque 3D, the most easy-to-use game creation platform available. Architected from the ground up for maximum flexibility and performance across a wide range of hardware and built upon the Frontline award-winning Torque Game Engine Advanced, Torque 3D comes equipped with a full suite of tools and APIs to get your game to the finish line, no matter what your goals. Add publishing paths to PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Wii, iPhone, and the web, and you have the power to distribute games almost everywhere they are played.”
Haaf’s Game Engine
“HGE is an easy to use yet powerful hardware accelerated 2D game engine. It is a full featured middleware for all who want to develop commercial quality 2D games rapidly and easily. It covers all imaginable 2D game genres: you could create everything from a simple puzzle to advanced multilayered platformer or strategy without even thinking of any non game logic code! And you don’t have to know anything about “window messages”, DirectX programming and all that stuff. Instead you can start developing your own game within 15 minutes!”
C4 Engine
“The C4 Engine is a comprehensive suite of robustly implemented game programming tools for the Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Not only is it a powerhouse of a 3D graphics engine, but it also includes integrated support for physics, audio, networking, input devices, resource management, and much more.”
Neoaxis Engine
“NeoAxis Game Engine is an all-purpose, modern 3D graphics engine for 3D simulations, visualizations and games. NeoAxis Engine is a complete integrated development environment for creating interactive 3D graphics including 3D virtual worlds, AAA games, and realistic simulations. The system comprised of both a real-time 3D engine and a suite of full featured tools.”
flixel 2
“A revolution in Flash game production. An amazing new way for man to interface with machine. The beginning of a new tomorrow. Never before has the world witnessed such a collection of AS3 files. We put it all in the new flixel 2. Groups to help organize game objects, quad trees for faster, more accurate collisions, a cleaner API, plus all the old flixel classics: animated sprites, tilemaps, and particle emitters. Most importantly, flixel is still completely free for personal or commercial use. What are you waiting for? It’s time to make games!”
SIO2
“What is SIO2 Engine? SIO2 is an OpenGLES based cross platform 2D and 3D game engine which provides you all the modern game engine functionalities built in right at its core for your mobile devices at a fraction of the regular industry price for the same type of quality. Feature rich, extremely fast and flexible SIO2 allows you to create state of the art AAA games for your favorite mobile platform. As opposite to other solutions, SIO2 doesn’t force you to use any specific IDE to code or build your games.”
Realm Crafter 2
“The Realm Crafter game engine is the heart of the MMORPG development system. The engine creates the virtual game world and the behavior of everything in it. It generates 3D images and handles the network communications. The Realm Crafter engine is designed to be modular, meaning it is broken down into smaller units thus making it easier for you to customize its operations.” (Source: nuverian.net)