Software · head to head
CryEngine vs Construct 3
CryEngine
Software
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Construct 3
Software
Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE; Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Construct 3 covers Visual event system.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Construct 3 actually diverge.
| Attribute | CryEngine | Construct 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 1999 | 2007 |
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 CryEngine
- Advanced graphics
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
- Visual Studio
Only in Construct 3
- Visual event system
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Sprite editor
- Particle effects
- Sound effects
- Web-based
- HTML5 support
- GitHub
Both cover
- Physics engine
- Local deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CryEngine
- Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Construct 3
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Construct 3
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Construct 3
Construct 3
- Building 2D browser games without writing codenot CryEngine
- Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot CryEngine
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CryEngine
- A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
- Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
- Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
- The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
- Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
- Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
- Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE
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
Pricing, plan by plan
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
Construct 3
Free- FreeFree
- Web-based editor
- HTML5 export
- Asset library
- Personal$99/year
- All Free features
- Offline editor
- Advanced export
Which should you pick?
Choose CryEngine if
- You need advanced graphics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want ai system.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is CryEngine or Construct 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Construct 3?
- CryEngine starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free.
- Does CryEngine or Construct 3 run on more platforms?
- CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use CryEngine for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CryEngine best used for?
- CryEngine is most often used for building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination, developing with full engine source code access, sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get export. Of those, building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination and developing with full engine source code access are not what Construct 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can CryEngine do that Construct 3 cannot?
- CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, AI system, Animation tools, Flow Graph visual scripting. Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Sprite editor, Particle effects. Both handle Physics engine, Local deployment, Windows support.