NixieFX review
A free local-project editor for authoring and exporting PixiJS and Three.js effects.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
NixieFX is a free browser-based editor for creating particle effects for HTML5 games. It is aimed at solo developers and small teams working with PixiJS or Three.js who want to author effects in a local project folder. The visual workspace covers emitter shapes and schedules, particle lifetime curves, color gradients, multi-emitter timelines, and node-based materials. Live previews use PixiJS or Three.js, while project effects are authored as JSON files and can be exported with referenced assets as a self-contained game bundle.
Its local-project workflow is a practical fit for teams that want effect files alongside their game project rather than in a separate hosted workspace. NixieFX requires a Chromium-based browser with File System Access API support to read and write those folders; listed compatible browsers include Chrome, Edge, Arc, Brave, and Opera. The editor is web-based, but its documented engine integrations are PixiJS and Three.js. Command-line tools can create, validate, and export effects, and the runtime and command-line tools are described as MIT-licensed. This combination makes it useful when a project can work within that browser and engine scope.
The feature set reaches beyond basic emitter setup: timeline playback controls, shader-graph editing, and live previews provide several parts of the authoring loop in one place. NixieFX is less suitable for teams that need a broader engine ecosystem, another browser environment, or support beyond documentation. Choose it if local JSON-and-asset bundles and PixiJS or Three.js previews match your workflow; consider an alternative if those constraints do not fit.
NixieFX pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Authors emitters, particle curves, gradients, timelines, and shader graphs
- Previews effects with PixiJS and Three.js backends
- Exports JSON effects and referenced assets as a self-contained bundle
- Where it doesn't
- Requires a Chromium-based browser with File System Access API support
- Preview support is limited to PixiJS and Three.js backends
- Documentation is the listed support channel
NixieFX fact sheet, pricing and score →
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