Discover the Best Game Engine for Your Needs: Is GameMaker the Right Choice?

For new developers, selecting the ideal game engine can be overwhelming. Here, we'll delve into the key aspects of GameMaker, one of the most popular game engines, to help you decide if it's the right choice for your project. GameMaker is renowned for being an excellent engine for novices, including artists, writers, and non-programmers, as it allows them to create games without extensive coding knowledge. However, it also offers advanced features, making it a versatile tool for various game development needs. Vadym Diachenko, a seasoned developer, has built a successful career using GameMaker, working on notable titles like Nuclear Throne and Forager. According to Diachenko, GameMaker is particularly famous for its ability to create a wide range of pixel art games, but it has also seen an increase in higher-fidelity games. GameMaker was created 23 years ago with the goal of streamlining the development process using GML Visual, a drag-and-drop visual scripting tool. The engine is currently available in its latest iteration, GameMaker, which was released in March 2017. It has been downloaded over 12 million times and has seen a significant increase in active users since its acquisition by Opera in 2021. GameMaker supports a dozen platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Windows, Mac OS, Ubuntu, Android, iOS, tvOS, Amazon Fire, and HTML5. In November 2023, GameMaker simplified its pricing structure, making the engine free for non-commercial use and offering a one-time fee of $99.99 for hobbyist and indie developers to access the Professional tier. GameMaker's primary strength lies in its ability to create 2D games, as stated by Butterscotch Shenanigans CEO Seth Coster. The engine is also versatile, allowing developers to create games in various genres, from puzzle-platformers to competitive multiplayer brawlers. Its speed and simplicity make it an ideal choice for beginners, with a plug-and-play system that requires minimal programming knowledge. GameMaker also has its own language, GML, which is simple to learn and allows developers to create games without extensive coding experience. The engine makes exporting to multiple platforms easy, and its file sizes are well-optimized, allowing for the creation of elaborate games without excessive file size or RAM usage. GameMaker's debugging capabilities are also excellent, with a debugger that stands out from other engines. However, GameMaker is not without its limitations. It is not suitable for 3D game development, and its language can lead to bad habits in larger projects. The engine also lacks support for certain key languages and has a smaller ecosystem compared to other engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. Despite these limitations, GameMaker has a strong community of developers who are willing to help and share their knowledge. The engine's community-driven approach and small size have created a unique culture that sets it apart from other game engines. To get the most out of GameMaker, it's essential to test its capabilities and see if it fits your project's needs. The engine has an official "Learn" page with tutorial series, and participating in game jams can help you understand its strengths and weaknesses. By skipping the drag-and-drop feature and learning GML, you can become a professional game developer and create high-quality games with GameMaker.