Game Development · head to head
CryEngine vs DragonBones
CryEngine
Game Development
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; DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
- They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, DragonBones covers Skeletal animation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CryEngine and DragonBones actually diverge.
| Attribute | CryEngine | DragonBones |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | open-source |
| Platforms | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux | Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator |
| Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
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 CryEngine
- Advanced graphics
- Physics engine
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
Only in DragonBones
- Skeletal animation
- Mesh deformation
- IK system
- Texture atlas
- Animation blending
- Bone constraints
- FFD
- Multi-resolution
Both cover
- 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 DragonBones
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot DragonBones
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot DragonBones
DragonBones
- 2D skeletal animation for JavaScript and TypeScript game enginesnot CryEngine
- Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot CryEngine
- Animation creation with LoongBones editornot 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
DragonBones
- JavaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
Pricing, plan by plan
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
DragonBones
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.
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 physics engine.
Choose DragonBones if
- You need skeletal animation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
- You also want mesh deformation.
Questions people ask
- Is CryEngine or DragonBones better?
- Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and DragonBones at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CryEngine or DragonBones?
- CryEngine starts at Free and DragonBones at Free.
- Does CryEngine or DragonBones run on more platforms?
- CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
- 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 DragonBones is typically brought in for.
- What can CryEngine do that DragonBones cannot?
- CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.