Game Development · head to head
Stride vs Cocos2d-x
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stride free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier; Cocos2d-x cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
- They diverge on capability: Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stride and Cocos2d-x actually diverge.
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 Stride
- 3D graphics rendering
- Physics engine (Bullet)
- Audio system
- Scene editor
- Material system
- Lighting and shadows
- Skeletal animation
- C# scripting
Only in Cocos2d-x
- 2D rendering
- Physics engine (Chipmunk)
- Animation system
- Audio engine
- Touch input handling
- Tilemap support
- Sprite batching
- Xcode
Both cover
- Particle effects
- Visual Studio
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Stride
- 3D game developmentnot Cocos2d-x
- Console gamesnot Cocos2d-x
- Desktop gamesnot Cocos2d-x
Cocos2d-x
- Mobile game developmentnot Stride
- 2D gamesnot Stride
- Lightweight gamesnot Stride
- Cross-platform gamesnot Stride
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Stride
- Free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier
Cocos2d-x
- Cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
Pricing, plan by plan
Stride
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- C# scripting
- 3D graphics
Cocos2d-x
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- MIT License
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Stride if
- You need 3d graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
- You also want physics engine (bullet).
Choose Cocos2d-x if
- You need 2d rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- You also want physics engine (chipmunk).
Questions people ask
- Is Stride or Cocos2d-x better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stride starts at Free and Cocos2d-x at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Stride or Cocos2d-x?
- Stride starts at Free and Cocos2d-x at Free.
- Does Stride or Cocos2d-x run on more platforms?
- Stride runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox. Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Stride for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Stride best used for?
- Stride is most often used for 3d game development, console games, desktop games. Of those, 3d game development and console games are not what Cocos2d-x is typically brought in for.
- What can Stride do that Cocos2d-x cannot?
- Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system, Scene editor. Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Animation system, Audio engine. Both handle Particle effects, Visual Studio, Local deployment, Windows support.