Software · head to head
CryEngine vs Defold
CryEngine
Software
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development 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; Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
- They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Defold covers Lua scripting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Defold actually diverge.
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 CryEngine
- Advanced graphics
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
- Visual Studio
Only in Defold
- Lua scripting
- Sprite system
- Particle effects
- Sound management
- Collection editor
- Mobile optimization
- Lightweight
- Visual Studio Code
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 Defold
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Defold
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Defold
Defold
- Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot CryEngine
- Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot CryEngine
- Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot 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
Defold
- The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
- The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
- Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms
Pricing, plan by plan
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
Defold
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Lua scripting
- Physics engine
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 Defold if
- You need lua scripting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want sprite system.
Questions people ask
- Is CryEngine or Defold better?
- Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Defold at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Defold?
- CryEngine starts at Free and Defold at Free.
- Does CryEngine or Defold run on more platforms?
- CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Defold 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 Defold is typically brought in for.
- What can CryEngine do that Defold cannot?
- CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, AI system, Animation tools, Flow Graph visual scripting. Defold covers Lua scripting, Sprite system, Particle effects, Sound management. Both handle Physics engine, Local deployment, Windows support.