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CryEngine vs Tiled

CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Software

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tiled logo

Tiled

Software

Flexible level editor for 2D games

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; Tiled no official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Tiled covers Tile layers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Tiled actually diverge.

Attributes where CryEngine and Tiled differ
AttributeCryEngineTiled
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19992008

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

Only in Tiled

  • Tile layers
  • Object layers
  • Terrain tool
  • Auto-mapping
  • Wang tiles
  • Custom properties
  • Scripting (JavaScript)
  • Multiple export formats

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

Tiled

  • Tile-based maps for RPGs, platformers, and Breakout-style gamesnot CryEngine
  • Orthogonal, isometric, and hexagonal map layoutsnot CryEngine
  • Object layers (rectangles, ellipses, polygons, points) for collision boxes, spawn points, and triggersnot CryEngine
  • Large 'infinite' maps and multi-map world projectsnot CryEngine
  • Export to game engines via built-in/scripted exporters using the open TMX formatnot 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

Tiled

  • No official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • No official browser-based version of the editor itself, despite exporting to many engine formats
  • Building from source requires a Qt 6.2+ / C++ / Qbs toolchain
  • Multi-license codebase (GPL 2.0 application plus Apache 2.0 and BSD components), so redistributors must track which license applies per file

Pricing, plan by plan

CryEngine

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

Tiled

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tiled 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.
CryEngine review

Choose Tiled if

  • You need tile layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want object layers.
Tiled review

Questions people ask

Is CryEngine or Tiled better?
Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Tiled at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Tiled?
CryEngine starts at Free and Tiled at Free.
Does CryEngine or Tiled run on more platforms?
CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Tiled runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 Tiled is typically brought in for.
What can CryEngine do that Tiled cannot?
CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Tiled covers Tile layers, Object layers, Terrain tool, Auto-mapping. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.
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