Software · head to head
Bevy vs CryEngine
Bevy
Software
A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
CryEngine
Software
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use; CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- They diverge on capability: Bevy covers Entity Component System, CryEngine covers Advanced graphics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bevy and CryEngine actually diverge.
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 Bevy
- Entity Component System
- 2D/3D rendering
- Audio system
- Asset pipeline
- Hot reloading
- Cross-platform
- Modular architecture
- Parallel systems
Only in CryEngine
- Advanced graphics
- Physics engine
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
Both cover
- Local deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bevy
- 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot CryEngine
- Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot CryEngine
- Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot CryEngine
- Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot CryEngine
CryEngine
- Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Bevy
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Bevy
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Bevy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bevy
- Rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
- No visual editor of the kind Unity or Godot provide, so scenes and logic are written in code
- Built around ECS, which is a different mental model from the scene-graph engines most developers come from
CryEngine
- A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
- Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
- Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
- The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
- Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
- Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
- Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE
Pricing, plan by plan
Bevy
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full engine access
- ECS architecture
- Hot reloading
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
Which should you pick?
Choose Bevy if
- You need entity component system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
- You also want 2d/3d rendering.
Choose CryEngine if
- You need advanced graphics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want physics engine.
Questions people ask
- Is Bevy or CryEngine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bevy starts at Free and CryEngine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bevy or CryEngine?
- Bevy starts at Free and CryEngine at Free.
- Does Bevy or CryEngine run on more platforms?
- Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl. CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- Can I use Bevy for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Bevy best used for?
- Bevy is most often used for 2d and 3d game development in rust, data-driven design using an entity component system, shipping to windows, macos, linux, web, ios and android from one codebase, projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or fees. Of those, 2d and 3d game development in rust and data-driven design using an entity component system are not what CryEngine is typically brought in for.
- What can Bevy do that CryEngine cannot?
- Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline. CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.