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Game Development · head to head

Phaser vs Flax Engine

Phaser logo

Phaser

Game Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Flax Engine logo

Flax Engine

Game Development

Modern 3D game engine with visual editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month; Flax Engine flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
  • They diverge on capability: Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Phaser and Flax Engine actually diverge.

Attributes where Phaser and Flax Engine differ
AttributePhaserFlax Engine
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
Founded20132017

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 Phaser

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

Only in Flax Engine

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Visual editor
  • C# scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Audio system
  • Skeletal animation
  • Material system
  • Lighting system

Both cover

  • Particle effects
  • Open-source

What people use each for

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

Phaser

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

Flax Engine

  • Building 3D games in C# and C++ with full engine source accessnot Phaser
  • Multi-platform deployment from one editornot Phaser
  • Prototyping with the bundled Flax Samples projectsnot Phaser

Where each one falls short

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

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

Flax Engine

  • Flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
  • Free use is granted for non-commercial or educational usage; commercial releases fall under the royalty
  • Users must accept the Flax Engine End-User License Agreement before using the engine or its tools, so it is not an OSI open source licence despite the source being on GitHub
  • Non-game uses such as in-house tools or SaaS products need a custom licence negotiated with the vendor, and no rate card is published for per-seat or flat-fee options

Pricing, plan by plan

Phaser

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

Flax Engine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Visual editor
    • C# scripting

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Flax Engine if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want visual editor.
Flax Engine review

Questions people ask

Is Phaser or Flax Engine better?
Neither clearly leads. Phaser starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Phaser or Flax Engine?
Phaser starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free.
Does Phaser or Flax Engine run on more platforms?
Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android. Flax Engine runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
Can I use Phaser for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Phaser best used for?
Phaser is most often used for building 2d html5 games that run in the browser, rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas tools, publishing web games with one click hosting. Of those, building 2d html5 games that run in the browser and rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas tools are not what Flax Engine is typically brought in for.
What can Phaser do that Flax Engine cannot?
Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Visual editor, C# scripting, Physics engine. Both handle Particle effects, Open-source.
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