Tiled review
A flexible 2D editor with deep tile, object, terrain and export support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Tiled is a free, open-source desktop editor for creating 2D tile maps and game-level content. It suits developers and designers working on RPGs, platformers and similar tile-based projects. The editor supports orthogonal, isometric, hexagonal and oblique maps, along with tile layers, object layers, freely positioned objects, custom properties and collision editing. Infinite maps and multi-map worlds also support projects that extend beyond a single screen or level.
Its strongest area is the depth of its level-authoring toolkit. Tile layers include stamp, selection, fill and terrain brushes, while terrain sets can create automatic terrain transitions. Object layers support rectangles, ellipses, points, polygons, polylines and tile objects. Reusable object templates and template instances help standardize repeated entities, and tile animation support adds motion within maps. These capabilities make Tiled suitable for teams that need more than basic tile placement but still want a focused 2D editor.
Tiled also fits projects with custom pipelines. JavaScript scripting supports custom formats, actions, tools and automation, while export options include image files, JSON, Lua, GameMaker and Defold formats. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is available as open-source software. The trade-off is focus: Tiled is designed for 2D tile-based game content rather than broader game development, and its scripting approach is JavaScript-based rather than visual. Choose it for detailed map construction and adaptable export workflows; consider another tool if visual scripting or a non-2D workflow is central to the project.
Tiled pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports orthogonal, isometric, hexagonal and oblique maps.
- Combines terrain tools, object templates, collisions and animations.
- Exports to JSON, Lua, GameMaker, Defold and image formats.
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on 2D tile-based game content.
- Custom scripting uses JavaScript rather than visual scripting.
- Desktop platforms are limited to Windows, macOS and Linux.
Tiled fact sheet, pricing and score →
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