Game Development · head to head
O3DE vs AppGameKit
The short version
- Each has a real cost: O3DE minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2; AppGameKit exports to Windows, iOS and Android only, so there is no macOS, Linux or console target
- They diverge on capability: O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering, AppGameKit covers BASIC-like scripting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which O3DE and AppGameKit actually diverge.
| Attribute | O3DE | AppGameKit |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Tvos |
| Founded | 2021 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 O3DE
- 3D graphics rendering
- Modular architecture
- Audio system
- Animation tools
- Material system
- Lighting system
- Visual scripting
- C++
Only in AppGameKit
- BASIC-like scripting
- Visual sprite editor
- Sound and music
- Tile support
- Multi-platform export
- Built-in debugger
- Visual Studio Code
- GitHub
Both cover
- Physics engine
- Particle effects
- Local deployment
- Mobile deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
O3DE
- Building 3D games and simulations on an open source Apache-licensed enginenot AppGameKit
- Robotics and industrial simulation using O3DE Gemsnot AppGameKit
- Projects that need full engine source access with no royaltynot AppGameKit
AppGameKit
- 2D and 3D game development from a single codebasenot O3DE
- Cross-platform mobile game builds for iOS and Androidnot O3DE
- Learning game programming in a BASIC-derived languagenot O3DE
- Prototyping small games quicklynot O3DE
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
O3DE
- Minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2
- Raytracing features require Shader Model 6.3
- Disk space required is 40 GB using the prebuilt installer and 100 GB or more when building from source
- Building the engine from source needs 2 GB of RAM per build thread on top of normal system requirements
- On Windows the editor requires Windows 10 version 20H2 or later plus Visual Studio 2019 16.11.x, 2022 17.3.x or 2026 18.0.x with the Game development with C++ workload
- The only primary Linux distribution for the editor is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu on 64-bit ARMv8 is experimental
- Linux builds need CMake 3.30.0 or later, which is newer than the 3.22 shipped by default with Ubuntu 22.04
- Wayland support is experimental, requires building from source, and is limited to the Game Launcher with no editor support until O3DE moves to Qt6
- Linux requires a long list of additional apt library packages to be installed before building
AppGameKit
- Exports to Windows, iOS and Android only, so there is no macOS, Linux or console target
- The price is not shown on the product page and the product is sold through Steam
- The vendor describes it as their last outing for traditional programming languages before AI-driven development, which is a poor signal for long-term support
- appgamekit.com now redirects into the darkbasic.com site
Pricing, plan by plan
O3DE
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- Modular architecture
- Cross-platform
AppGameKit
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Multi-platform export
- Built-in IDE
Which should you pick?
Choose O3DE if
- You need 3d graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox.
- You also want modular architecture.
Choose AppGameKit if
- You need basic-like scripting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Tvos.
- You also want visual sprite editor.
Questions people ask
- Is O3DE or AppGameKit better?
- Neither clearly leads. O3DE starts at Free and AppGameKit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, O3DE or AppGameKit?
- O3DE starts at Free and AppGameKit at Free.
- Does O3DE or AppGameKit run on more platforms?
- O3DE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox. AppGameKit runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Tvos.
- Can I use O3DE for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is O3DE best used for?
- O3DE is most often used for building 3d games and simulations on an open source apache-licensed engine, robotics and industrial simulation using o3de gems, projects that need full engine source access with no royalty. Of those, building 3d games and simulations on an open source apache-licensed engine and robotics and industrial simulation using o3de gems are not what AppGameKit is typically brought in for.
- What can O3DE do that AppGameKit cannot?
- O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering, Modular architecture, Audio system, Animation tools. AppGameKit covers BASIC-like scripting, Visual sprite editor, Sound and music, Tile support. Both handle Physics engine, Particle effects, Local deployment, Mobile deployment.