Software · head to head
Stencyl vs CryEngine
CryEngine
Software
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only; CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- They diverge on capability: Stencyl covers Visual block programming, CryEngine covers Advanced graphics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stencyl and CryEngine actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Stencyl
- Visual block programming
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Sprite animation
- Sound and music
- Tilemap editor
- Actor system
- Haxe support
- GitHub
Only in CryEngine
- Advanced graphics
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
- Visual Studio
Both cover
- Physics engine
- Local deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Stencyl
- Building 2D games with visual block based logicnot CryEngine
- Publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobilenot CryEngine
CryEngine
- Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Stencyl
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Stencyl
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Stencyl
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Stencyl
- The free Starter tier can publish to the web only
- Desktop publishing requires the Indie plan at $99 a year
- iOS and Android publishing require the Studio plan at $199 a year
- Licences are annual, so continuing to publish means continuing to pay
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Stencyl
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor access
- Desktop export
- Mobile export
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
Which should you pick?
Choose Stencyl if
- You need visual block programming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
- You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Choose CryEngine if
- You need advanced graphics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want ai system.
Questions people ask
- Is Stencyl or CryEngine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stencyl starts at Free and CryEngine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Stencyl or CryEngine?
- Stencyl starts at Free and CryEngine at Free.
- Does Stencyl or CryEngine run on more platforms?
- Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash. CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- Can I use Stencyl for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Stencyl best used for?
- Stencyl is most often used for building 2d games with visual block based logic, publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobile. Of those, building 2d games with visual block based logic and publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobile are not what CryEngine is typically brought in for.
- What can Stencyl do that CryEngine cannot?
- Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Sprite animation, Sound and music. CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, AI system, Animation tools, Flow Graph visual scripting. Both handle Physics engine, Local deployment, Windows support.