Defold vs CRYENGINE

DDefold8.7Visit CRYENGINE8.6Visit

Higher score D Defold #5 in Game Engine Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Defold

vs

CRYENGINE #6 in Game Engine Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit CRYENGINE

• Defold fits best

  Free developers targeting many platforms

• CRYENGINE fits best

  Desktop and console-focused 3D teams

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Side by side

Feature	DDefold 8.7/10 Visit ↗	CRYENGINE 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.6
Ranking	#5 in Game Engine Software	#6 in Game Engine Software
Best for	Free developers targeting many platforms	Desktop and console-focused 3D teams
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Defold 3/4 · CRYENGINE 4/4
Visual scripting	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Multiplayer tools	✓	✓
Mobile export	✓	✓
Console export	✓	✓
Specs
Source code model	Source_available	Source_available
Target platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, HTML5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch	Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Web, VR
Scripting languages	Lua, Teal, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java, JavaScript	C++, Lua, Schematyc visual scripting
Our review
Pros	Free engine with desktop, mobile, web, and console deployment Integrated editors, debugger, profiler, hot reload, and live updates Lua scripting with networking and native extension support	Sandbox editor combines rendering, physics, AI, audio, and networking tools Supports C++ and C# alongside Flowgraph visual scripting Includes console and VR deployment targets with multiplayer functionality
Cons	No visual scripting support Console deployment requires approval from the platform holder Multiplayer features rely on the Photon Fusion extension	Free commercial use applies a 5% royalty after the royalty-free threshold Enterprise pricing is custom rather than published as a standard plan Verified platform coverage centers on Windows and Linux
Our verdict	Defold is a free, source-available game engine for indie developers, students, and studios creating 2D and lightweight 3D games. Its workflow combines an editor, runtime, Lua-based game-logic scripting, build pipeline, and deployment… Read the review →	CRYENGINE is a real-time game engine for developers and studios creating interactive entertainment experiences. Its Sandbox editor brings together content authoring, physically based rendering, real-time global illumination, physics,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Defold — where it wins

  • Free engine with desktop, mobile, web, and console deployment
  • Integrated editors, debugger, profiler, hot reload, and live updates
  • Lua scripting with networking and native extension support

  Where it doesn't

  • No visual scripting support
  • Console deployment requires approval from the platform holder
  • Multiplayer features rely on the Photon Fusion extension

• CRYENGINE — where it wins

  • Sandbox editor combines rendering, physics, AI, audio, and networking tools
  • Supports C++ and C# alongside Flowgraph visual scripting
  • Includes console and VR deployment targets with multiplayer functionality

  Where it doesn't

  • Free commercial use applies a 5% royalty after the royalty-free threshold
  • Enterprise pricing is custom rather than published as a standard plan
  • Verified platform coverage centers on Windows and Linux

• DDefold8.7/10 · Free plan

  A free Lua-focused engine with broad deployment, networking, and built-in development tools.

  Visit DefoldFull verdict →
• CRYENGINE8.6/10 · Free plan

  A capable 3D engine for teams targeting desktop, console, and VR projects.

  Visit CRYENGINEFull verdict →