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Game Development · head to head

Cocos Creator vs GameMaker Studio 2

Cocos Creator logo

Cocos Creator

Game Development

Free 2D and 3D engine with no royalties, dominant in Chinese mini-game platforms

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GameMaker Studio 2 logo

GameMaker Studio 2

Game Development

The fastest way to create games. For everyone.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cocos Creator documentation, forums and release notes are written in Chinese first and the English versions lag or stay incomplete, so an English-only team spends real time on translation and guesswork.; 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: Cocos Creator covers TypeScript scripting, GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cocos Creator and GameMaker Studio 2 differ
AttributeCocos CreatorGameMaker Studio 2
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Web, iOS, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch
FoundedUnknown1999

Identical on both: starting price (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 Cocos Creator

  • TypeScript scripting
  • Mini-game export
  • Small build sizes
  • 2D and 3D pipelines
  • Open source runtime
  • No royalties

Only in GameMaker Studio 2

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

What people use each for

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

Cocos Creator

  • Shipping to WeChat, Douyin or other mini-game platforms where package size limits are enforcednot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Advertising-funded mobile games where a small download raises install conversionnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Small teams that want a free 2D engine with no royalty or per install exposurenot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Studios targeting Asian mobile publishing where Cocos experience is common in the hiring poolnot GameMaker Studio 2

GameMaker Studio 2

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

Where each one falls short

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

Cocos Creator

  • Documentation, forums and release notes are written in Chinese first and the English versions lag or stay incomplete, so an English-only team spends real time on translation and guesswork.
  • Most tutorials and Stack Overflow answers online describe Cocos2d-x, the older runtime, which is now legacy and structured differently from the current editor, so search results actively mislead new users.
  • The 3D pipeline is usable but behind general purpose engines on lighting, terrain, animation tooling and profiling, so an ambitious 3D project writes more of its own tooling.
  • Console publishing is not a supported export from the editor; reaching PlayStation, Xbox or Switch means porting partners or third-party services, which adds cost and schedule to a title that succeeds on mobile.
  • Hiring outside Asia is difficult because few developers have Cocos experience, which raises the cost of growing the team or handing the project to an outside studio later.

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

Cocos Creator

Free
  • Cocos CreatorFree
    • Free for commercial use with no royalty
    • Open source engine runtime
    • All export targets included

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 Cocos Creator if

  • You need typescript scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mini-game export.
Cocos Creator 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 Cocos Creator or GameMaker Studio 2 better?
Neither clearly leads. Cocos Creator 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, Cocos Creator or GameMaker Studio 2?
Cocos Creator starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free.
Does Cocos Creator or GameMaker Studio 2 run on more platforms?
Cocos Creator runs on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android. GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
Can I use Cocos Creator for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cocos Creator best used for?
Cocos Creator is most often used for shipping to wechat, douyin or other mini-game platforms where package size limits are enforced, advertising-funded mobile games where a small download raises install conversion, small teams that want a free 2d engine with no royalty or per install exposure, studios targeting asian mobile publishing where cocos experience is common in the hiring pool. Of those, shipping to wechat, douyin or other mini-game platforms where package size limits are enforced and advertising-funded mobile games where a small download raises install conversion are not what GameMaker Studio 2 is typically brought in for.
What can Cocos Creator do that GameMaker Studio 2 cannot?
Cocos Creator covers TypeScript scripting, Mini-game export, Small build sizes, 2D and 3D pipelines. GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cocos Creator: Does Cocos take a revenue share?

No. It is free for commercial use with no royalty, no revenue threshold and no per install charge.

Cocos Creator: Is it only useful for mini-games?

No, it exports to iOS, Android, desktop and the web. Mini-game platforms are where it has an advantage no other engine matches, because of build size.

Cocos Creator: What is the difference from Cocos2d-x?

Cocos2d-x is the older code-first framework. Cocos Creator is the current editor-driven engine with TypeScript scripting. New projects should use Creator even though more tutorials describe Cocos2d-x.

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