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Head-to-head · Game Particle Effect Editors

BlastFX vs GameMaker Casts Particle Editor

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score BlastFX #3 in Game Particle Effect Editors 8.5/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 1 features Visit BlastFX
GameMaker Casts Particle Editor #5 in Game Particle Effect Editors 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit site

BlastFX leads on 0 checks, GameMaker Casts Particle Editor on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBlastFX · 8.5/10
  • Free planonly GameMaker Casts Particle Editor
  • Most featuresBlastFX · 1 of 1

BlastFX scores higher on our rubric for game particle effect editors: 8.5 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

GameMaker Casts Particle Editor offers free plan; BlastFX doesn't. On engine integration, BlastFX gives you Standalone where GameMaker Casts Particle Editor offers Plugin.

BlastFX is the better fit for artists making standalone effects and exportable sprites. GameMaker Casts Particle Editor is the better fit for gameMaker developers editing effects for their projects.

  • BlastFX fits best

    Artists making standalone effects and exportable sprites

  • GameMaker Casts Particle Editor fits best

    GameMaker developers editing effects for their projects

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Side by side

Feature BlastFX 8.5/10 Visit ↗ GameMaker Casts Particle Editor 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 8.0
Ranking #3 in Game Particle Effect Editors #5 in Game Particle Effect Editors
Best for Artists making standalone effects and exportable sprites GameMaker developers editing effects for their projects
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $19.99 one-time $2 one-time
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features BlastFX 1/1 · GameMaker Casts Particle Editor 0/1
GPU simulation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Engine integration Standalone Plugin
Supported engines Not checked yet GameMaker
Export formats Sprite sheet, PNG image sequence, animated GIF, uncompressed AVI GameMaker Language (GML); .particle files
Editor platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Not checked yet
Particle limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Layer multiple emitters and adjust particle motion, shape, color, and trails.
  • Preview timing with timeline scrubbing, playback, and loop controls.
  • Export sprite sheets, PNG sequences, animated GIFs, or AVI video.
  • Exports effects as GML or .particle files for the GameMaker API
  • Live-reloads particles through the API without restarting the game
  • Previews effects against imported foreground or background images
Cons
  • Standalone exports require a separate workflow for use in a game engine.
  • There is no free plan; access starts with a $19.99 one-time purchase.
  • The desktop app is limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Focused on GameMaker rather than multiple game engines
  • Desktop download; operating-system support is not specified
  • Name-your-own-price model has no distinct paid tier
Our verdict

BlastFX is a standalone desktop editor for designing layered 2D particle effects and preparing them for game, animation, UI, trailer, or pixel-art work. Its control set is aimed at artists who want to shape an effect visually rather than…

Read the review →

GameMaker Casts Particle Editor is a downloadable desktop tool for creating and editing particle effects for GameMaker games. It suits developers who want to adjust effect parameters in an interface, then move the result into a GameMaker…

Read the review →
  1. BlastFXGame Particle Effect Editors 8.5Paid
  2. GameMaker Casts Particle EditorGame Particle Effect Editors 8.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • BlastFX — where it wins

    • Layer multiple emitters and adjust particle motion, shape, color, and trails.
    • Preview timing with timeline scrubbing, playback, and loop controls.
    • Export sprite sheets, PNG sequences, animated GIFs, or AVI video.

    Where it doesn't

    • Standalone exports require a separate workflow for use in a game engine.
    • There is no free plan; access starts with a $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • The desktop app is limited to Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • GameMaker Casts Particle Editor — where it wins

    • Exports effects as GML or .particle files for the GameMaker API
    • Live-reloads particles through the API without restarting the game
    • Previews effects against imported foreground or background images

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on GameMaker rather than multiple game engines
    • Desktop download; operating-system support is not specified
    • Name-your-own-price model has no distinct paid tier
  • BlastFX8.5/10 · Paid

    A detailed desktop particle editor for building effects and exporting them as animation assets.

    Visit BlastFXFull verdict →
  • GameMaker Casts Particle Editor8.0/10 · Free plan

    A focused desktop editor for shaping and previewing particle effects in GameMaker projects.

    Visit siteFull verdict →

More comparisons

All game particle effect editors comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update