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Head-to-head · Game Engine Software

GameMaker vs Cocos Creator

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score GameMaker #3 in Game Engine Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit GameMaker
Cocos Creator #7 in Game Engine Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Cocos Creator

GameMaker leads on 0 checks, Cocos Creator on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGameMaker · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresGameMaker · 4 of 4

GameMaker scores higher on our rubric for game engine software: 8.9 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #7.

GameMaker is the better fit for 2D creators needing broad publishing. Cocos Creator is the better fit for open-source 2D/3D JavaScript teams.

  • GameMaker fits best

    2D creators needing broad publishing

  • Cocos Creator fits best

    Open-source 2D/3D JavaScript teams

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Side by side

Feature GameMaker 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Cocos Creator 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.5
Ranking #3 in Game Engine Software #7 in Game Engine Software
Best for 2D creators needing broad publishing Open-source 2D/3D JavaScript teams
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $799.99/yr Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support Community, Docs, Tickets Docs, Community
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features GameMaker 4/4 · Cocos Creator 2/4
Visual scripting ✓ ✓
Multiplayer tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Mobile export ✓ ✓
Console export ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Source code model Source_available Source_available
Target platforms GX.games, Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, HTML5, Android, iOS, tvOS, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Scripting languages GML Code, GML Visual TypeScript, JavaScript
Our review
Pros
  • Free access for non-commercial game development
  • Exports to desktop, web, mobile, and GX.games
  • Supports publishing for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch
  • Free, open-source editor for 2D and 3D game development
  • Supports JavaScript and TypeScript scripting
  • Publishes projects across web, desktop, and mobile
Cons
  • Commercial publishing requires separate licensing
  • Some export targets require separate licensing
  • Its focus is 2D rather than a general-purpose engine
  • Its scripting focus is limited to JavaScript and TypeScript
  • The workflow may not suit teams seeking code-first development
  • Publishing targets center on web, desktop, and mobile platforms
Our verdict

GameMaker is a cross-platform 2D game development environment for indie developers and commercial studios. It provides an integrated environment for creating projects and supports publishing across desktop, web, mobile, GX.games, and…

Read the review →

Cocos Creator is a free, open-source 2D and 3D game engine with an editor-centered workflow for developers, artists, designers, and game planners. It combines scene composition, asset management, animation, physics, particles, and…

Read the review →
  1. GameMakerGame Engine Software 8.9Free plan
  2. Cocos CreatorGame Engine Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • GameMaker — where it wins

    • Free access for non-commercial game development
    • Exports to desktop, web, mobile, and GX.games
    • Supports publishing for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch

    Where it doesn't

    • Commercial publishing requires separate licensing
    • Some export targets require separate licensing
    • Its focus is 2D rather than a general-purpose engine

  • Cocos Creator — where it wins

    • Free, open-source editor for 2D and 3D game development
    • Supports JavaScript and TypeScript scripting
    • Publishes projects across web, desktop, and mobile

    Where it doesn't

    • Its scripting focus is limited to JavaScript and TypeScript
    • The workflow may not suit teams seeking code-first development
    • Publishing targets center on web, desktop, and mobile platforms

More comparisons

All game engine software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update