Top 5 Game Engines For Creating Arcade Games: Pros and Cons

6 min read

Developing a game is not as simple as creating an ordinary website. It’s a difficult task that includes several components. Over the past decades, gaming has achieved a level of complexity where you can find a whole crew of professionals dedicating their engineering, arts, sales, and marketing skills to a product that some might think is just a game. Several layers of game development require a high level of organization regarding the engineering approach. When you closely look at some of the most famous arcade games, it’s easy to notice how every component of the game works smoothly, and how the combination of graphics, sound, physics, and other features complement each other with harmony. Something like this couldn’t happen so seamlessly if there hadn’t been dedicated game engines for creating arcade games that serve as frameworks for developers.

These engines have not always existed; at some point in the past, game development companies would use their engines designed solely for one game, which was not very efficient and cost-effective. Luckily, today’s solutions are abundant; hence, beginners need to make some comparisons first, evaluate their needs, and assess the offerings of those engines. This article aims to guide beginners through choosing the best option.

Game Engines For Creating Arcade Games

Top 5 Game Engines For Creating Arcade Games

Unity

Unity

When creating classic arcade games or even more complex variations, Unity is the game engine to go. It’s widely used by game developers around the world and even if you are a beginner, it’s a great option since it’s very flexible and has a friendly UI. With Unity, you can build everything from retro arcade games to more complex, modern designs and detailed arcade game characters with ease.

Now looking into the advantages of Unity, this game engine is best for cross-platform support. Not only that, Unity’s asset store is a huge plus that offers pre-made assets like sprites and sound effects to speed up the development process. It also has a massive community with lots of learning resources for beginners. Unity also offers extensive documentation, which makes it easier to troubleshoot problems.

But it also comes with some negatives. It has a high learning curve and a heavy use of resources, so unless you are willing to commit to a powerful machine, it can be difficult to use this game engine. Also, Unity operates on a licensing model after a certain threshold, so it may not be the best fit for indie developers with a limited budget.

Pros

  • Cross-platform support – supports compatibility from PC to mobile devices.
  • Wide collection of assets – Unity’s asset store has a wide collection of pre-made assets and arcade game characters for building iconic arcade games.
  • Great for 2D and 3D games – can replicate the feeling of nostalgic arcade games.

Cons

  • High learning curve for game development – need time to master advanced features like physics and time.
  • Heavy on using resources, even for vintage arcade games.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine

Now when we talk about Unreal Engine, usually it’s associated with big AAA titles like Fortnite and the recently released Black Myth: Wukong. But it has also made some of the most popular arcade games like Project Wingman Alpha, Dead Containment, Strange Terror From The Deep, and more. Unreal Engine is a popular choice among developers who want their arcade game characters and visuals to stand out.

Unlike Unity, Unreal Engine only charges you after you start making some revenue, so you can build your games for free till then. It also supports multiplayer and great compatibility for ray tracing and high-end lighting, making it the perfect choice for some ultra-realistic arcade game choices. However, this array of features comes with a cost of heavy resource requirements. The number of features and options might seem overwhelming for some users who are new to arcade game development.

Pros

  • Exceptional graphics – fantastic rendering quality.
  • Blueprint visual scripting – allows developers to create complex game mechanics without writing code.
  • Free to use – only need to pay after your game makes revenue.

Cons

  • Heavy resource requirement – need a high-spec machine for compatibility.
  • Challenging for beginners – still has a steep learning curve.

Godot

Godot

Unlike Unity and Unreal Engine, Godot is an open-source and lightweight game engine that doesn’t go hard on your system, so you can create some iconic arcade games without breaking your machine. It is a relatively newer engine but still has many features for 2D game development.

Godot’s open-source system makes it completely free and highly customizable. Godot also has a script called GDscript which is similar to Python. This means you can add your features and plugins.

However, since Godot is open-source, there might be numerous bugs or crashes you might experience. The worst part is that there aren’t many bug fixes or updates that come along the way. There are also fewer tutorials and resources for beginners so it can be quite difficult to navigate through the engine all by yourself.

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Pros

  • Lightweight – uses fewer resources so can be used for smooth game development.
  • 2D-friendly – Best for 2D game development, especially for creating nostalgic arcade games that are simple and fun.
  • Completely free – Godot is open-source, so it’s completely free with no hidden costs.

Cons

  • Smaller community – fewer tutorials and support for beginners since it is a relatively new community.
  • Limited 3D capabilities – 3D features are less advanced as compared to Unity or Unreal Engine.

Construct 3

Construct 3

Construct 3 is the go-to game engine for creating classic arcade games without any experience in coding, and they call themselves alternatives to traditional game development.

The best thing is that you can create games without any experience in coding. You can also develop games with other developers at the same time since it supports real-time collaboration.

On the downside, the simplicity of Construct 3 can do more pain than good. Even though it’s good for creating simple arcade games, it doesn’t work well for creating some complex, visually stunning games like Unity or Unreal Engine. Also, you need to pay a subscription to use this game engine, making it difficult for beginner game developers who are looking to cut costs.

Pros

  • No coding required – uses a drag-and-drop system to build games without code.
  • Great for 2D games – Specializes in 2D game development for building iconic arcade games.
  • Fast development process – User friendly design and pre-built assets make it easier to get started and develop games.

Cons

  • Limited scalability – cannot be used for making large-scale projects.
  • Subscription-based – need to pay a subscription to use.

Phaser

Phaser

Phaser is a unique game maker for the web. It is best for creating multiplayer arcade games without any heavy reliance on resources. There are also plenty of tutorials and materials to look into, so you have a solution for every query you might have. It also runs well on HTML5 code so you don’t need to worry about compatibility when it comes to using Phaser.

However, there are certain limitations when you try to create games in 3D. And since it’s browser-based, there’s a limit on the kind of games you can create. It also doesn’t have much commercial support so if you are looking to create a large-scale project that needs to scale, this game engine might not be your best bet.

Pros

  • Ideal for browser games – best for creating iconic arcade games that can be played directly on the web.
  • Fast loading times – lightweight framework allows for creating games with ease.
  • Active community – has an active community with tons of resources, plugins, and tutorials for beginners.

Cons

  • Limited to 2D – doesn’t support 3D game development.
  • Browser dependant – needs a browser and doesn’t offer the same level of engagement as downloadable games.

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