Softwr

Software · head to head

Gamesparks vs Phaser

Gamesparks logo

Gamesparks

Software

Backend as a service for game development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phaser logo

Phaser

Software

Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Gamesparks aWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gamesparks and Phaser actually diverge.

Attributes where Gamesparks and Phaser differ
AttributeGamesparksPhaser
Pricing modelusage-basedfree
PlatformsCross-platformWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20062013

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 Gamesparks

  • Real-time features
  • Multiplayer support
  • User authentication
  • Data storage
  • Matchmaking
  • WebSocket support
  • Cloud integration
  • Analytics

Only in Phaser

  • Canvas and WebGL rendering
  • Physics engine (Arcade)
  • Input handling
  • Animation system
  • Audio support
  • Particle effects
  • Tilemaps
  • Event system

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Gamesparks

  • Multiplayer gamesnot Phaser
  • Real-time gamesnot Phaser
  • Cloud gamingnot Phaser
  • Game analyticsnot Phaser

Phaser

  • Building 2D HTML5 games that run in the browsernot Gamesparks
  • Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Gamesparks
  • Publishing web games with one click hostingnot Gamesparks

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Gamesparks

  • AWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date

Phaser

  • The Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • Phaser Editor stops working when the licence expires
  • No free trial of Phaser Editor is offered
  • AI tools in the free Phaser suite require purchasing credits
  • SSO through Google Workspace, private support and Editor source code availability are Enterprise only, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • No educational discounts are offered
  • Subscription cancellations are not refunded pro rata

Pricing, plan by plan

Gamesparks

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M API requests
    • 1M CloudWatch logs
    • Free for first year
  • Pay-as-you-go$0.01/request
    • Unlimited API requests
    • Real-time multiplayer
    • CloudWatch integration

Phaser

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full source code
    • Community support
    • Game examples

Which should you pick?

Choose Gamesparks if

  • You need real-time features.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cross-platform.
  • You also want multiplayer support.
Gamesparks review

Choose Phaser if

  • You need canvas and webgl rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want physics engine (arcade).
Phaser review

Questions people ask

Is Gamesparks or Phaser better?
Neither clearly leads. Gamesparks starts at Free and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gamesparks or Phaser?
Gamesparks starts at Free and Phaser at Free.
Does Gamesparks or Phaser run on more platforms?
Gamesparks runs on Cross-platform. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Gamesparks for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Gamesparks best used for?
Gamesparks is most often used for multiplayer games, real-time games, cloud gaming, game analytics. Of those, multiplayer games and real-time games are not what Phaser is typically brought in for.
What can Gamesparks do that Phaser cannot?
Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Multiplayer support, User authentication, Data storage. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Gamesparks

More on Phaser

Keep looking

Other head to heads