[opensourcedex]

GDevelop is a free, open source gaming project written in JavaScript and released under a custom open-source licence. It has 26,611 GitHub stars, 1,552 forks and 633 open issues, and was last pushed 7 hours ago. On this registry it ranks #2 of 4 tracked projects in Gaming, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 155 stars over the last 6 tracked days.

GDevelop — Create 2D and 3D games without coding, powered by AI assistance

What is GDevelop?

What it is

GDevelop is an open-source, cross-platform game engine and editor for creating 2D, 3D, and multiplayer games without writing code. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and targets mobile (iOS, Android), desktop, and web platforms. Built with JavaScript, React, Electron, PixiJS, and Three.js, it combines a visual event-based system with AI-assisted development to lower the barrier to entry for game creation.

The project solves the problem of accessibility in game development by replacing complex coding requirements with intuitive drag-and-drop tools and AI guidance. It enables designers, educators, hobbyists, and beginners to prototype and ship games without needing deep programming knowledge, while still supporting extension development for advanced users.

Key capabilities

  • Visual event-based logic system for designing game behavior without code
  • Full 2D and 3D rendering using PixiJS and Three.js (WebGL)
  • Multiplayer game support via built-in networking objects and behaviors
  • Export to iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web (HTML5)
  • AI assistant for generating events, objects, and game logic
  • Extensible architecture via JavaScript- and no-code-based extensions
  • Built-in asset management and integration with the GDevelop Asset Store

Who uses it and how

  • Indie developers and hobbyists use it to rapidly prototype and publish games to platforms like Steam, Itch.io, and mobile app stores
  • Educators and students use it in classrooms to teach game design and logic fundamentals
  • Creators submit templates and asset packs to the official Asset Store for sale or distribution
  • Teams use the online services and commercial support options for collaborative development and publishing
  • Contributors fix bugs, write extensions, or translate the editor and tutorials via GitHub and Crowdin

Getting started

Download the desktop app from https://gdevelop.io or use the web version at https://ide.gdevelop.io. No installation required for the browser-based editor.

When to use it — and when not to

GDevelop replaces paid no-code tools like Construct or GameMaker Studio for users seeking a free, open-source alternative with strong AI assistance. However, it requires local or online hosting for multiplayer backends and lacks built-in analytics or monetization tools—those require third-party integrations or commercial plans. Self-hosting is possible but not documented; the engine relies on GDJS (TypeScript) and WebAssembly, so performance-critical or large-scale multiplayer games may face limitations without custom extensions or backend infrastructure.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

GDevelop logo

GDevelop is a full-featured, no-code, open-source game development software. You can build 2D, 3D and multiplayer games for mobile (iOS, Android), desktop and the web. GDevelop is designed to be fast and incredibly intuitive: make games using an easy-to-understand yet powerful event-based system and modular behaviors. Create with AI that assists or builds alongside you.

The GDevelop editor when editing a game level

The GDevelop editor when editing a game level

Getting started

❔ I want to... 🚀 What to do
🎮 Use GDevelop to make games Go to GDevelop homepage to download the app!
⚙️ Create/improve an extension Read about creating an extension, with no-code or code.
🧑‍💻 Contribute to the editor or game engine Follow this README.
👾 Create or sell a game template Submit a free example or a paid template on the Asset Store.
🎨 Share or sell an asset pack Submit a free or paid asset pack on the Asset Store.
🌐 Help translate GDevelop Go on the GDevelop project on Crowdin or translate in-app tutorials.
👥 Get online game services or commercial support See offers for professionals, teams or individual creators.

Are you interested in contributing to GDevelop for the first time? Take a look at the list of good first issues, good first contributions or the "🏐 not too hard" cards on the Roadmap.

Games made with GDevelop

  • Find GDevelop games on gd.games, the gaming platform for games powered by GDevelop.
  • See the showcase of games created with GDevelop and published on Steam, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Itch.io, Newgrounds, CrazyGames, Poki...

Some games made with GDevelop

Technical architecture

GDevelop is composed of an editor, a game engine, an ecosystem of extensions as well as online services and commercial support.

Directory ℹ️ Description
Core Core classes, describing the structure of a game and tools to implement the IDE and work with GDevelop games.
GDJS The game engine, written in TypeScript, using PixiJS and Three.js for 2D and 3D rendering (WebGL), powering all GDevelop games.
GDevelop.js Bindings of Core, GDJS and Extensions to JavaScript (with WebAssembly), used by the IDE.
newIDE The game editor, written in JavaScript with React, Electron, PixiJS and Three.js.
Extensions Built-in extensions for the game engine, providing objects, behaviors and new features. For example, this includes the physics engines running in WebAssembly (Box2D or Jolt Physics for 3D). All the official and experimental extensions are on this repository. Community extensions are available here.

To learn more about GDevelop Architecture, read the architecture overview here.

Pre-generated documentation of the game engine is available here.

Status of the tests and builds: macOS and Linux build status Fast tests status Windows Build status https://good-labs.github.io/greater-good-affirmation/assets/images/badge.svg

Links

Community

Development Roadmap

License

  • The Core library, the native and HTML5 game engines, the IDE, and all extensions (respectively Core, GDJS, newIDE and Extensions folders) are under the MIT license.
  • The name, GDevelop, and its logo are the exclusive property of Florian Rival.

Games exported with GDevelop are based on the GDevelop game engine (see Core and GDJS folders): this engine is distributed under the MIT license so that you can distribute, sell or do anything with the games you created with GDevelop. In particular, you are not forced to make your game open-source.

Star Hi

readme truncated — read the full docs on github

Frequently asked questions

Is GDevelop free to use?

GDevelop is open source. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does GDevelop do?

Create 2D and 3D games without coding, powered by AI assistance

What is GDevelop written in?

GDevelop is primarily written in JavaScript. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/4ian/gdevelop, and it has 26,611 GitHub stars.