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Game Development · head to head

Bevy vs O3DE

Bevy logo

Bevy

Game Development

A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
O3DE logo

O3DE

Game Development

Open 3D Engine - Professional game engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use; O3DE minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2
  • They diverge on capability: Bevy covers Entity Component System, O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bevy and O3DE actually diverge.

Attributes where Bevy and O3DE differ
AttributeBevyO3DE
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, WebglWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox
Founded20202021

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

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
  • Asset pipeline
  • Hot reloading
  • Cross-platform
  • Parallel systems
  • Rust ecosystem
  • wgpu

Only in O3DE

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Physics engine
  • Animation tools
  • Particle effects
  • Material system
  • Lighting system
  • Visual scripting
  • C++

Both cover

  • Audio system
  • Modular architecture
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux 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 O3DE
  • Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot O3DE
  • Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot O3DE
  • Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot O3DE

O3DE

  • Building 3D games and simulations on an open source Apache-licensed enginenot Bevy
  • Robotics and industrial simulation using O3DE Gemsnot Bevy
  • Projects that need full engine source access with no royaltynot 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

O3DE

  • Minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2
  • Raytracing features require Shader Model 6.3
  • Disk space required is 40 GB using the prebuilt installer and 100 GB or more when building from source
  • Building the engine from source needs 2 GB of RAM per build thread on top of normal system requirements
  • On Windows the editor requires Windows 10 version 20H2 or later plus Visual Studio 2019 16.11.x, 2022 17.3.x or 2026 18.0.x with the Game development with C++ workload
  • The only primary Linux distribution for the editor is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu on 64-bit ARMv8 is experimental
  • Linux builds need CMake 3.30.0 or later, which is newer than the 3.22 shipped by default with Ubuntu 22.04
  • Wayland support is experimental, requires building from source, and is limited to the Game Launcher with no editor support until O3DE moves to Qt6
  • Linux requires a long list of additional apt library packages to be installed before building

Pricing, plan by plan

Bevy

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full engine access
    • ECS architecture
    • Hot reloading

O3DE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Modular architecture
    • Cross-platform

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.
Bevy review

Choose O3DE if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want physics engine.
O3DE review

Questions people ask

Is Bevy or O3DE better?
Neither clearly leads. Bevy starts at Free and O3DE at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bevy or O3DE?
Bevy starts at Free and O3DE at Free.
Does Bevy or O3DE run on more platforms?
Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl. O3DE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox.
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 O3DE is typically brought in for.
What can Bevy do that O3DE cannot?
Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Asset pipeline, Hot reloading. O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine, Animation tools, Particle effects. Both handle Audio system, Modular architecture, Local deployment, Windows support.
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