Game Development · head to head
Pygame vs Adventure Game Studio
Adventure Game Studio
Game Development
Create point-and-click adventure games
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Pygame licensed under GNU LGPL v2.1, free to use even in closed-source and commercial games, no paid tier; Adventure Game Studio the AGS editor and IDE run only on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10 or 11), even though built games run on Linux, macOS, Android and iOS
- They diverge on capability: Pygame covers Graphics rendering, Adventure Game Studio covers Point-and-click editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pygame and Adventure Game Studio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pygame | Adventure Game Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Android | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2000 | 1997 |
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 Pygame
- Graphics rendering
- Audio playback
- Input handling
- Sprite system
- Collision detection
- Font rendering
- Animation support
- Event system
Only in Adventure Game Studio
- Point-and-click editor
- Room system
- Sprite animation
- Built-in scripting
- Inventory system
- Dialog system
- Audio support
- Resolution scaling
Both cover
- Open-source
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Pygame
- 2D game developmentnot Adventure Game Studio
- Game prototypingnot Adventure Game Studio
- Educational gamesnot Adventure Game Studio
- Learning game developmentnot Adventure Game Studio
Adventure Game Studio
- Building point-and-click adventure games in a classic Sierra or LucasArts stylenot Pygame
- Shipping a commercial or freeware adventure game with no licence feenot Pygame
- Scripting game logic in a Java or C# style language with a built-in debuggernot Pygame
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Pygame
- Licensed under GNU LGPL v2.1, free to use even in closed-source and commercial games, no paid tier
Adventure Game Studio
- The AGS editor and IDE run only on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10 or 11), even though built games run on Linux, macOS, Android and iOS
- The editor requires the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, and .NET Framework 4.5 on Windows 7 and Vista
- Video playback supports only FLC and OGV (Ogg Theora) and is full-screen only; AVI and WMV support was dropped after version 3.6.0 and existed only on Windows builds
- MSSCCI source control integration was discontinued in version 3.6.0
- Graphics drivers are limited to Direct3D 9 and OpenGL
- Audio format support is limited to OGG, MP3, WAV, MOD, XM and MIDI
- Support is community-only through forums and Discord, with no vendor support channel
Pricing, plan by plan
Pygame
Free- FreeFree
- Full library
- Python support
- Graphics rendering
Adventure Game Studio
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Built-in script editor
- Room editor
Which should you pick?
Choose Pygame if
- You need graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android.
- You also want audio playback.
Choose Adventure Game Studio if
- You need point-and-click editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want room system.
Questions people ask
- Is Pygame or Adventure Game Studio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pygame starts at Free and Adventure Game Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pygame or Adventure Game Studio?
- Pygame starts at Free and Adventure Game Studio at Free.
- Does Pygame or Adventure Game Studio run on more platforms?
- Pygame runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android. Adventure Game Studio runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use Pygame for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Pygame best used for?
- Pygame is most often used for 2d game development, game prototyping, educational games, learning game development. Of those, 2d game development and game prototyping are not what Adventure Game Studio is typically brought in for.
- What can Pygame do that Adventure Game Studio cannot?
- Pygame covers Graphics rendering, Audio playback, Input handling, Sprite system. Adventure Game Studio covers Point-and-click editor, Room system, Sprite animation, Built-in scripting. Both handle Open-source, Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support.