Godot
Free, open-source engine for making 2D and 3D games across desktop, mobile, web and consoles.
- Stars
- 119k
- Forks
- 27.3k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- C++
- Last update
- 6 days ago
- Type
- App
What it is
Godot is a game engine: a single program with an editor and tools for building 2D and 3D games. According to its README, it provides a set of common tools so creators don't have to build basics from scratch, and games can be exported to Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, the web, and consoles. It is MIT-licensed, so there are no royalties on games made with it.
- Build a 2D platformer or top-down game
- Create a 3D scene with the built-in editor and export it to Windows or Android
- Export a game to the web from a single project
- Follow community tutorials and official demo projects to learn engine basics
Great for
- Indie game developers who want a free engine with no royalties
- Hobbyists learning game development in 2D or 3D
- Developers who want to ship one project to several platforms
- People who prefer open-source tools they can read or modify
Not ideal for
- People who only want to play games rather than make them
- Teams that need a specific commercial engine's existing pipeline or asset ecosystem (switching costs are real)
- Beginners who need extensive step-by-step guidance, since the README points mainly to external docs and tutorials
How to get it
- 1
Download the app
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/godotengine/godot - 2
Run it
- Download the official editor binary from godotengine.org/download (or build from source using the official docs).
- Launch the Godot editor.
- Create a new project and add a 2D or 3D scene.
- Run the project with the play button to see a first result.
- Export the project from the export menu when ready to share.
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the built-in class reference in the editor to look up engine APIs.
- Explore the official demo projects repository to learn working patterns.
- Check the Asset Store for ready-made assets and add-ons.
- Read the community tutorials linked in the documentation.
- Consult the contributing guide if you want to report bugs or help develop the engine.
Downloads
Strengths
- MIT license with no royalties or strings attached, according to the README
- Exports to many platforms from one unified interface
- Large community, official docs, and a class reference built into the editor
Trade-offs
- The README is short on details; features and platform specifics must be checked on the official site and docs
- Console export is described only as a link, so availability depends on separate arrangements
- Building from source requires following the external compilation guide
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| godot (this) | 119k | App | beginner | 6 days ago | Indie game developers who want a free engine with no royalties |
| entt | 13.2k | Library | advanced | 4 days ago | C++ game developers who want an ECS |
| Pixelorama | 10.9k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | Pixel artists making sprites or tiles for games |
| flame | 10.8k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Flutter developers who want to add a game to an app |
| Claude-Code-Game-Studios | 33k | Dev tool | intermediate | 18 days ago | Solo indie developers who want structure around AI-assisted game development |
| magictools | 17.7k | Curated list | beginner | 5 days ago | Indie game developers looking for sprites, textures, icons, or 3D models |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.