Particle Illusion vs GameMaker Casts Particle Editor

Particle Illusion8.3Visit GCGameMaker Casts Particle Editor8.0Visit

Higher score Particle Illusion #4 in Game Particle Effect Editors 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit Boris FX

vs

GC GameMaker Casts Particle Editor #5 in Game Particle Effect Editors 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit site

• Particle Illusion fits best

  VFX artists adding particles to video and compositing work

• GameMaker Casts Particle Editor fits best

  GameMaker developers editing effects for their projects

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Side by side

Feature	Particle Illusion 8.3/10 Visit ↗	GCGameMaker Casts Particle Editor 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.3	8.0
Ranking	#4 in Game Particle Effect Editors	#5 in Game Particle Effect Editors
Best for	VFX artists adding particles to video and compositing work	GameMaker developers editing effects for their projects
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$195/yr	$2 one-time
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Integrations	9 integrations	1 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Particle Illusion 0/1 · GameMaker Casts Particle Editor 0/1
GPU simulation	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Engine integration	Not checked yet	Plugin
Supported engines	Not checked yet	GameMaker
Export formats	Not checked yet	GameMaker Language (GML); .particle files
Editor platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Particle limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Thousands of preset emitters plus fluid simulation and particle forces Mocha tracking and masking are available in the plugin workflow Integrates with major video and compositing applications	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	Its video and compositing focus is less direct for game-effect authoring The Pro monthly plan starts at $25 per month Desktop support is limited to Windows and macOS	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	Particle Illusion is a desktop 2D and 3D particle generator for motion graphics artists, visual-effects creators, editors, and designers. It is available as a standalone application and as a plugin within Boris FX Continuum. The product… 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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Particle Illusion — where it wins

  • Thousands of preset emitters plus fluid simulation and particle forces
  • Mocha tracking and masking are available in the plugin workflow
  • Integrates with major video and compositing applications

  Where it doesn't

  • Its video and compositing focus is less direct for game-effect authoring
  • The Pro monthly plan starts at $25 per month
  • Desktop support is limited to Windows and macOS

• 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

• Particle Illusion8.3/10 · Free plan

  A particle generator with deep compositing workflows, better suited to video than game-effect authoring.

  Visit Boris FXFull verdict →
• GCGameMaker Casts Particle Editor8.0/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit siteFull verdict →