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Blender vs GameMaker Studio 2

Blender logo

Blender

Software

Free and Open Source 3D Creation Suite

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GameMaker Studio 2 logo

GameMaker Studio 2

Software

The fastest way to create games. For everyone.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blender rendering performance lags behind dedicated render engines; GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
  • They diverge on capability: Blender covers 3D modeling, GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blender and GameMaker Studio 2 actually diverge.

Attributes where Blender and GameMaker Studio 2 differ
AttributeBlenderGameMaker Studio 2
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch
Founded20021999

Identical on both: starting price (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 Blender

  • 3D modeling
  • Sculpting
  • Animation
  • Rigging
  • Rendering
  • Compositing
  • Video editing
  • 2D animation

Only in GameMaker Studio 2

  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • GML programming language
  • Sprite editor
  • Animation frames
  • Sound editor
  • Room editor
  • Particle effects
  • Physics system

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Blender

  • 3D modeling and animationnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Visual effectsnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Game developmentnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Architectural visualizationnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Video editingnot GameMaker Studio 2

GameMaker Studio 2

  • Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot Blender
  • Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Blender
  • Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot Blender

Where each one falls short

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

Blender

  • Rendering performance lags behind dedicated render engines
  • Limited real-time viewport performance for very large scenes

GameMaker Studio 2

  • The free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
  • Console exports are available only on the Enterprise subscription, which is billed at $79.49 per month
  • Source code access is limited to the Enterprise tier
  • Older Creator and Indie subscriptions are no longer renewed when the licence expires
  • Owners of a permanent GameMaker Studio 2 licence get no discount toward current licences

Pricing, plan by plan

Blender

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Blender review.

GameMaker Studio 2

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Desktop game creation
    • Community support
    • Standard export options
  • Pro$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Advanced export modules
    • Mobile platforms

Which should you pick?

Choose Blender if

  • You need 3d modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want sculpting.
Blender review

Choose GameMaker Studio 2 if

  • You need drag-and-drop interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
  • You also want gml programming language.
GameMaker Studio 2 review

Questions people ask

Is Blender or GameMaker Studio 2 better?
Neither clearly leads. Blender starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blender or GameMaker Studio 2?
Blender starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free.
Does Blender or GameMaker Studio 2 run on more platforms?
Blender runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
Can I use Blender for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Blender best used for?
Blender is most often used for 3d modeling and animation, visual effects, game development, architectural visualization. Of those, 3d modeling and animation and visual effects are not what GameMaker Studio 2 is typically brought in for.
What can Blender do that GameMaker Studio 2 cannot?
Blender covers 3D modeling, Sculpting, Animation, Rigging. GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blender: Can I use Blender commercially for free?

Yes. Blender is distributed under the GNU GPL license, meaning it is completely free to use for any purpose, including commercially or for education, with no licensing fees or restrictions.

Source
Blender: What operating systems does Blender support?

Blender is cross-platform and runs equally well on Linux, Windows, and Macintosh computers.

Source
Blender: Can I extend Blender's functionality?

Yes. Blender has a flexible Python-controlled interface and you can use hundreds of add-ons by the community or create your own using Blender's accessible Python API.

Source
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