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Adventure Game Studio vs ZBrush

Adventure Game Studio logo

Adventure Game Studio

Software

Create point-and-click adventure games

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ZBrush logo

ZBrush

Software

Industry standard for digital sculpting

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Adventure Game Studio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; ZBrush subscription model required; no perpetual licence option available
  • They diverge on capability: Adventure Game Studio covers Point-and-click editor, ZBrush covers Digital sculpting.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adventure Game Studio and ZBrush differ
AttributeAdventure Game StudioZBrush
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, macOS, iPadOS
Founded19971986

Identical on both: 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
  • Sprite animation
  • Built-in scripting
  • Inventory system
  • Dialog system
  • Audio support
  • Resolution scaling

Only in ZBrush

  • Digital sculpting
  • Dynamesh
  • ZRemesher
  • PolyPaint
  • Live Boolean
  • Sculptris Pro
  • UV Master
  • High polygon handling

Both cover

  • Windows 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 ZBrush
  • Shipping a commercial or freeware adventure game with no licence feenot ZBrush
  • Scripting game logic in a Java or C# style language with a built-in debuggernot ZBrush

ZBrush

  • Digital character and creature sculptingnot Adventure Game Studio
  • High-polygon organic form designnot Adventure Game Studio
  • Texture painting and PolyPaint worknot Adventure Game Studio
  • Game asset creation and 3D modellingnot 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

ZBrush

  • Subscription model required; no perpetual licence option available
  • iPad version requires separate subscription to ZBrush for iPad

Pricing, plan by plan

Adventure Game Studio

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

ZBrush

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ZBrush review.

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 ZBrush if

  • You need digital sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iPadOS.
  • You also want dynamesh.
ZBrush review

Questions people ask

Is Adventure Game Studio or ZBrush better?
Neither clearly leads. Adventure Game Studio starts at Free and ZBrush at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adventure Game Studio or ZBrush?
Adventure Game Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Adventure Game Studio and On request for ZBrush.
Does Adventure Game Studio or ZBrush run on more platforms?
Adventure Game Studio runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. ZBrush runs on Windows, macOS, iPadOS.
Can I use Adventure Game Studio for free?
Yes. Adventure Game Studio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ZBrush starts at On request.
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 ZBrush is typically brought in for.
What can Adventure Game Studio do that ZBrush cannot?
Adventure Game Studio covers Point-and-click editor, Room system, Sprite animation, Built-in scripting. ZBrush covers Digital sculpting, Dynamesh, ZRemesher, PolyPaint. Both handle Windows support.
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