GaME DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

SCRATCH

Scratch is a great platform for beginners who want to learn game development. Scratch is a visual programming language developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, and it allows users to create interactive stories, games, animations, and simulations using easy-to-use drag-and-drop-based block-coding. It is a great way to learn about programming and is generally used to teach kids the basics of programming. But it can be used by anyone to develop games of increasing complexity. MIT has promised that Scratch will always stay free. You don't need a license to use Scratch in your school, home, or anywhere else. The development and maintenance of Scratch is paid for by grants and donations. 

Unity

Unity is a popular cross-platform game engine used for creating 2D and 3D games, as well as virtual reality and augmented reality applications. It provides a wide range of tools and features to create interactive content, including physics engines, animation tools, and scripting languages. Unity offers a free version called Unity Personal, which includes all the core features of the engine, as well as access to the Unity Asset Store where users can download additional resources such as 3D models, textures, and sound effects. There are also paid versions of Unity, including Unity Plus and Unity Pro, which offer additional features and services for larger-scale projects. However, for most small to mid-sized game development projects, Unity Personal is sufficient and completely free to use. Unity Learn offers also free tutorials.

GameMaker Studio

GameMaker Studio is a popular game development platform that allows users to create video games for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and others. It was originally created by Mark Overmars and further developed by YoYo Games. GameMaker Studio provides an easy-to-use interface that allows users to create games using a drag-and-drop system, as well as a scripting language called GameMaker Language (GML). With this tool, game developers can create 2D and 3D games, prototypes, and animations, without the need for advanced programming knowledge. All versions of GameMaker are completely free to download. You’ll only need to upgrade to a paid GameMaker package if you’d like to export your games to certain platforms.

GAMEFROOT

Gamefroot is an online platform created in Aotearoa, that allows users to create and design their own video games without needing any coding knowledge. It offers a drag-and-drop interface for users to easily build and customize games, as well as various tools such as asset libraries, game physics, and scripting tools to add complexity to games. Gamefroot is a great tool for game developers, students, and just about anyone who wants to create their own video game. The platform is not anymore free, the subscription price for Gamefroot Premium is $7 (2023) per seat (student / person) for a three month period (a school term in New Zealand).

Godot Engine

Godot Engine is a free and open-source game development engine that allows game developers to create 2D and 3D games for multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers. It was developed by Juan Linietsky and Ariel Manzur and released under the MIT License in 2014. Godot Engine is designed to be easy to use and highly customizable, with a user-friendly interface and a powerful set of tools for creating games. It has a visual scripting language that allows developers to create game logic without writing code, as well as a built-in editor for designing game levels and scenes. One of the unique features of Godot Engine is its ability to export projects to multiple platforms with just a few clicks, without the need for additional software or plugins. This makes it a popular choice for indie game developers, hobbyists, and students who want to create games without spending a lot of money on licensing fees or hardware.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games. It is a suite of integrated development tools used to create games, simulations, and other interactive experiences. The engine provides a wide range of features and tools for game developers, including a visual scripting system, a physics engine, an AI system, and advanced graphics rendering capabilities. Unreal Engine has been used to develop many popular video games, including Fortnite, Gears of War, and BioShock Infinite, as well as a variety of other applications, such as architectural visualizations, virtual reality experiences, and more. The engine is available for free for personal and non-commercial use, with licensing fees required for commercial projects.

BLOXELS EDU

Bloxels EDU is an educational platform that allows students to create their own video games using a physical gameboard and a digital app. The platform is designed to promote creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among students. Bloxels EDU offers both free and paid versions for game development. The free version of Bloxels EDU allows users to create and share games within their own classroom or school network. This version includes access to the Bloxels Builder app and a limited number of game assets. The paid version of Bloxels EDU, called Bloxels EDU+, offers additional features such as unlimited access to game assets, the ability to share games with a wider audience outside of the classroom or school network, and online professional development resources.

CODESTERS EDU

Codesters is a platform that offers coding education for students and teachers, primarily focused on learning Python. The platform provides a variety of coding activities, projects, and lessons that are designed to help students build computational thinking skills and improve their coding abilities. While Codesters does offer some game development activities and projects, it is not specifically designed for game development. However, the platform can be a useful resource for learning the programming concepts and skills needed for game development. As for pricing, Codesters offers both free and paid plans. The free plan provides limited access to the platform's features, while the paid plans offer more comprehensive access to the platform's tools and resources.

MINECRAFT (EDU)

Minecraft is a popular sandbox video game developed by Mojang Studios, now owned by Microsoft. It allows players to explore a blocky, procedurally generated 3D world, where they can gather resources and build structures using various types of blocks. The game has no specific objectives, allowing players to set their own goals and explore the world at their own pace. Minecraft is not free for most. You need to purchase a license in order to play the game. The price varies depending on the platform you are playing on and the edition of the game. There is though a free trial version available on the Minecraft website that allows you to play the game for a limited time. Minecraft: Education Edition is available for free to teachers who are using it for educational purposes with their students. However, individual students and parents will need to purchase a license or use their personal Minecraft account to access the game. 

GDevelop

GDevelop is a free and open-source game development software that allows anyone, including non-programmers, to create video games without any coding knowledge. It provides a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop tools to create games using visual logic blocks. GDevelop supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and HTML5, and it allows developers to export their games to various formats, such as standalone executable files, web games, or mobile apps. GDevelop has a large community of developers who contribute to the software's ongoing development, creating and sharing tutorials, examples, and extensions that enhance the software's functionality.

BLENDER

Blender is a popular open-source 3D creation software that includes a game engine for developing 3D games. Blender game development can be useful for creating various types of games such as first-person shooters, role-playing games, strategy games, puzzle games, and more. Blender game engine is a powerful tool that offers various features such as physics, animation, scripting, logic, and more, making it a great choice for game developers who want to create their own 3D games without having to rely on external game engines. In addition, Blender offers a complete workflow from 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, and game development, all in one software package. This can be convenient for solo developers or small teams who want to create a game without having to use multiple tools. Blender is free to use, as it is an open-source software that is available for download on the official Blender website.

flowlab

FlowLab is a web-based game development platform that allows users to create, share, and play their own games. It uses a visual programming language that allows users to create game logic and behavior without the need for traditional coding. The platform offers a variety of features and tools, including sprite creation, animation, sound effects, and music. It also provides a library of pre-made assets and templates that users can use to get started with their game development. FlowLab offers both a free and a paid version of its platform. The free version includes access to all of the basic features and tools, but limits the number of games that users can create and share. The paid version, known as FlowLab Indie, provides additional features and removes the limitations of the free version.