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Adventure Game Studio vs Stencyl

Adventure Game Studio logo

Adventure Game Studio

Software

Create point-and-click adventure games

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stencyl logo

Stencyl

Software

Create games with visual programming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Adventure Game Studio the AGS editor and IDE run only on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10 or 11), even though built games run on Linux, macOS, Android and iOS; Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • They diverge on capability: Adventure Game Studio covers Point-and-click editor, Stencyl covers Visual block programming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adventure Game Studio and Stencyl actually diverge.

Attributes where Adventure Game Studio and Stencyl differ
AttributeAdventure Game StudioStencyl
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash
Founded19972011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adventure Game Studio

  • Point-and-click editor
  • Room system
  • Built-in scripting
  • Inventory system
  • Dialog system
  • Audio support
  • Resolution scaling
  • Git

Only in Stencyl

  • Visual block programming
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Physics engine
  • Sound and music
  • Tilemap editor
  • Actor system
  • Haxe support
  • Dropbox

Both cover

  • Sprite animation
  • GitHub
  • Local deployment
  • Web deployment
  • Mobile deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adventure Game Studio

  • Building point-and-click adventure games in a classic Sierra or LucasArts stylenot Stencyl
  • Shipping a commercial or freeware adventure game with no licence feenot Stencyl
  • Scripting game logic in a Java or C# style language with a built-in debuggernot Stencyl

Stencyl

  • Building 2D games with visual block based logicnot Adventure Game Studio
  • Publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobilenot Adventure Game Studio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adventure Game Studio

  • The AGS editor and IDE run only on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10 or 11), even though built games run on Linux, macOS, Android and iOS
  • The editor requires the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, and .NET Framework 4.5 on Windows 7 and Vista
  • Video playback supports only FLC and OGV (Ogg Theora) and is full-screen only; AVI and WMV support was dropped after version 3.6.0 and existed only on Windows builds
  • MSSCCI source control integration was discontinued in version 3.6.0
  • Graphics drivers are limited to Direct3D 9 and OpenGL
  • Audio format support is limited to OGG, MP3, WAV, MOD, XM and MIDI
  • Support is community-only through forums and Discord, with no vendor support channel

Stencyl

  • The free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • Desktop publishing requires the Indie plan at $99 a year
  • iOS and Android publishing require the Studio plan at $199 a year
  • Licences are annual, so continuing to publish means continuing to pay

Pricing, plan by plan

Adventure Game Studio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Built-in script editor
    • Room editor

Stencyl

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor access
    • Desktop export
    • Mobile export

Which should you pick?

Choose Adventure Game Studio if

  • You need point-and-click editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want room system.
Adventure Game Studio review

Choose Stencyl if

  • You need visual block programming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Stencyl review

Questions people ask

Is Adventure Game Studio or Stencyl better?
Neither clearly leads. Adventure Game Studio starts at Free and Stencyl at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adventure Game Studio or Stencyl?
Adventure Game Studio starts at Free and Stencyl at Free.
Does Adventure Game Studio or Stencyl run on more platforms?
Adventure Game Studio runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
Can I use Adventure Game Studio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Adventure Game Studio best used for?
Adventure Game Studio is most often used for building point-and-click adventure games in a classic sierra or lucasarts style, shipping a commercial or freeware adventure game with no licence fee, scripting game logic in a java or c# style language with a built-in debugger. Of those, building point-and-click adventure games in a classic sierra or lucasarts style and shipping a commercial or freeware adventure game with no licence fee are not what Stencyl is typically brought in for.
What can Adventure Game Studio do that Stencyl cannot?
Adventure Game Studio covers Point-and-click editor, Room system, Built-in scripting, Inventory system. Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sound and music. Both handle Sprite animation, GitHub, Local deployment, Web deployment.
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