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Game Development · head to head

CryEngine vs Twinmotion

CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Game Development

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Twinmotion logo

Twinmotion

3D & CAD

Real-time visualization for architecture

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Twinmotion epic Games' own pricing announcement (unrealengine.com/twinmotion.com) sets an individual Twinmotion seat at $445 per year, and the bundled Unreal Subscription covering Twinmotion, Unreal Engine and RealityCapture together at $1,850 per seat per year, once a company's annual gross revenue exceeds $1,000,000 USD; below that threshold the same software is free, including for commercial use, which makes list price highly dependent on company size rather than usage.
  • They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Twinmotion covers Real-time rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Twinmotion actually diverge.

Attributes where CryEngine and Twinmotion differ
AttributeCryEngineTwinmotion
Pricing modelfreesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWindows, MacOS
CategoryGame Development3D & CAD
Founded19991991

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 CryEngine

  • Advanced graphics
  • Physics engine
  • AI system
  • Animation tools
  • Flow Graph visual scripting
  • C++ and Lua support
  • Entity component system
  • Sandbox editor

Only in Twinmotion

  • Real-time rendering
  • Easy import
  • Vegetation
  • Phasing
  • VR export
  • Video export
  • Direct link to CAD
  • Revit

Both cover

  • 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 Twinmotion
  • Developing with full engine source code accessnot Twinmotion
  • Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Twinmotion

Twinmotion

  • Architectural visualizationnot CryEngine
  • Design presentationnot 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

Twinmotion

  • Epic Games' own pricing announcement (unrealengine.com/twinmotion.com) sets an individual Twinmotion seat at $445 per year, and the bundled Unreal Subscription covering Twinmotion, Unreal Engine and RealityCapture together at $1,850 per seat per year, once a company's annual gross revenue exceeds $1,000,000 USD; below that threshold the same software is free, including for commercial use, which makes list price highly dependent on company size rather than usage.

Pricing, plan by plan

CryEngine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine access
    • Source code
    • Asset library

Twinmotion

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Non-commercial
  • Professional$499/month
    • Commercial use

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.
CryEngine review

Choose Twinmotion if

  • You need real-time rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want easy import.
Twinmotion review

Questions people ask

Is CryEngine or Twinmotion better?
Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Twinmotion at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Twinmotion?
CryEngine starts at Free and Twinmotion at Free.
Does CryEngine or Twinmotion run on more platforms?
CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Twinmotion runs on Windows, MacOS.
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 Twinmotion is typically brought in for.
What can CryEngine do that Twinmotion cannot?
CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Twinmotion covers Real-time rendering, Easy import, Vegetation, Phasing. Both handle Windows support.
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