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Game Development · head to head

Construct 3 vs Flax Engine

Construct 3 logo

Construct 3

Game Development

Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Flax Engine logo

Flax Engine

Game Development

Modern 3D game engine with visual editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account; Flax Engine flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
  • They diverge on capability: Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Construct 3 and Flax Engine actually diverge.

Attributes where Construct 3 and Flax Engine differ
AttributeConstruct 3Flax Engine
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
CategoryGame DevelopmentUnknown
Founded20072017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Construct 3

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Sprite editor
  • Sound effects
  • Web-based
  • HTML5 support
  • GitHub
  • Dropbox

Only in Flax Engine

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Visual editor
  • C# scripting
  • Audio system
  • Skeletal animation
  • Material system
  • Lighting system
  • C#

Both cover

  • Physics engine
  • Particle effects
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Construct 3

  • Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Flax Engine
  • Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot Flax Engine

Flax Engine

  • Building 3D games in C# and C++ with full engine source accessnot Construct 3
  • Multi-platform deployment from one editornot Construct 3
  • Prototyping with the bundled Flax Samples projectsnot Construct 3

Where each one falls short

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

Construct 3

  • The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
  • Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
  • The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
  • Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business

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

Construct 3

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Web-based editor
    • HTML5 export
    • Asset library
  • Personal$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Offline editor
    • Advanced export

Flax Engine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Visual editor
    • C# scripting

Which should you pick?

Choose Construct 3 if

  • You need visual event system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Construct 3 review

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.
Flax Engine review

Questions people ask

Is Construct 3 or Flax Engine better?
Neither clearly leads. Construct 3 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, Construct 3 or Flax Engine?
Construct 3 starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free.
Does Construct 3 or Flax Engine run on more platforms?
Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Flax Engine runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
Can I use Construct 3 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Construct 3 best used for?
Construct 3 is most often used for building 2d browser games without writing code, publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project. Of those, building 2d browser games without writing code and publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project are not what Flax Engine is typically brought in for.
What can Construct 3 do that Flax Engine cannot?
Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Sprite editor, Sound effects. Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Visual editor, C# scripting, Audio system. Both handle Physics engine, Particle effects, Local deployment, Windows support.
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