Software · head to head
Cocos2d-x vs Flax Engine
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cocos2d-x cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.; Flax Engine flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
- They diverge on capability: Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cocos2d-x and Flax Engine actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cocos2d-x | Flax Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android | Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox |
| Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
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 Cocos2d-x
- 2D rendering
- Physics engine (Chipmunk)
- Animation system
- Audio engine
- Touch input handling
- Tilemap support
- Sprite batching
- Xcode
Only in Flax Engine
- 3D graphics rendering
- Visual editor
- C# scripting
- Physics engine
- Audio system
- Skeletal animation
- Material system
- Lighting system
Both cover
- Particle effects
- Visual Studio
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cocos2d-x
- Mobile game developmentnot Flax Engine
- 2D gamesnot Flax Engine
- Lightweight gamesnot Flax Engine
- Cross-platform gamesnot Flax Engine
Flax Engine
- Building 3D games in C# and C++ with full engine source accessnot Cocos2d-x
- Multi-platform deployment from one editornot Cocos2d-x
- Prototyping with the bundled Flax Samples projectsnot Cocos2d-x
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cocos2d-x
- Cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
Flax Engine
- Flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
- Free use is granted for non-commercial or educational usage; commercial releases fall under the royalty
- Users must accept the Flax Engine End-User License Agreement before using the engine or its tools, so it is not an OSI open source licence despite the source being on GitHub
- Non-game uses such as in-house tools or SaaS products need a custom licence negotiated with the vendor, and no rate card is published for per-seat or flat-fee options
Pricing, plan by plan
Cocos2d-x
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- MIT License
- Community support
Flax Engine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- Visual editor
- C# scripting
Which should you pick?
Choose Cocos2d-x if
- You need 2d rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- You also want physics engine (chipmunk).
Choose Flax Engine if
- You need 3d graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
- You also want visual editor.
Questions people ask
- Is Cocos2d-x or Flax Engine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cocos2d-x starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cocos2d-x or Flax Engine?
- Cocos2d-x starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free.
- Does Cocos2d-x or Flax Engine run on more platforms?
- Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Flax Engine runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
- Can I use Cocos2d-x for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Cocos2d-x best used for?
- Cocos2d-x is most often used for mobile game development, 2d games, lightweight games, cross-platform games. Of those, mobile game development and 2d games are not what Flax Engine is typically brought in for.
- What can Cocos2d-x do that Flax Engine cannot?
- Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Animation system, Audio engine. Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Visual editor, C# scripting, Physics engine. Both handle Particle effects, Visual Studio, Local deployment, Windows support.
Related pages
More on Flax Engine
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