List of the Top 10 Game Engines for Linux in 2025

Unreal Engine is recognized as a leading and groundbreaking tool for developing real-time 3D experiences. This sophisticated platform empowers users to turn remarkable concepts into tangible projects, accommodating everyone from newcomers to experienced experts tackling intricate tasks. The wealth of free resources available, coupled with an inspiring community, encourages individuals to chase their creative ambitions. With over 160 hours of no-cost online learning content, a wide selection of webinars, and numerous options for instructor-led training, there is an educational pathway suitable for every learning style. The heart of Unreal Engine is its passionate community of creators who collaborate to innovate cutting-edge experiences and provide support throughout their creative processes. Furthermore, users have access to extensive reference materials, thorough instructional resources, community support systems, and alternatives for specialized professional guidance to enhance their skills and projects. Engaging with this community not only enriches your knowledge but also allows you to participate in a shared mission that extends the possibilities of real-time 3D creation. As you immerse yourself in this collaborative environment, you'll find endless opportunities for growth and inspiration.

LÖVE is a robust framework tailored for crafting 2D games with the Lua programming language, and it is entirely free for use across a range of projects, from collaborative open-source initiatives to commercial applications. To embark on creating a basic game, start by establishing a new folder in any directory on your computer and open your choice of text editor; for instance, Sublime Text is a fantastic option that is compatible with all operating systems and comes with built-in Lua support. Within the newly created folder, generate a fresh file named main.lua, then enter the provided code into this file and save your progress to move forward. Completing this initial configuration will serve as a solid foundation for your game development adventure using LÖVE. Additionally, as you grow more comfortable with the framework, you can explore its extensive documentation and community resources to enhance your projects further.

Phaser stands out as an innovative, free, and fast open-source HTML5 game development framework that effectively utilizes WebGL and Canvas rendering for both desktop and mobile browsers. With over ten years of continuous development, Phaser emphasizes adherence to web standards while ensuring that the browser experience remains central to its design philosophy. For this framework, web exporting isn't merely an additional feature; it is the cornerstone of its functionality. Completely open-source, Phaser allows users to delve into and modify every line of code in its core library. With an extensive array of pre-made templates that surpass any rival game framework, Phaser also functions as a robust command-line interface (CLI) tool. The games developed with Phaser have played crucial roles in diverse marketing strategies over the years, being utilized in a wide range of contexts, from major Hollywood film promotions to extensive brand campaigns, educational content, interactive experiences, television shows, news features, charity events, and live marketing endeavors. Furthermore, the flexibility and user-friendly nature of Phaser contribute to its popularity among both beginners and seasoned developers, making it a go-to option in the game development community. This framework not only enhances creativity but also fosters a collaborative environment for developers to share and expand upon their ideas.

Defold is a powerful and free game development engine that is open-source, specifically designed for efficient cross-platform game creation. Developers can start using it right away after downloading, as it requires no extensive setup or configuration, allowing them to quickly immerse themselves in their projects. The engine comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of tools, such as a visual editor, a code editor, Lua scripting support, a Lua debugger, a scene editor, a particle editor, and a tilemap editor, catering to both 2D and 3D game development needs. By using a single codebase and eliminating the need for external tools, Defold simplifies the process of publishing games on major platforms like PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Windows, Steam, HTML5, and Facebook. With a component-based architecture, developers can create complex behaviors from fundamental building blocks while employing Lua for game logic implementation. Furthermore, they have the flexibility to enhance their projects by accessing new features from the asset portal, creating a local build environment for tailored adjustments, or integrating native code for expanded functionalities. This adaptability not only enriches the development experience but also attracts both new and experienced developers, making Defold a compelling option in the realm of game engines. In summary, Defold stands out as a highly flexible and user-friendly tool, perfect for anyone looking to delve into game development.

MonoGame is a versatile open-source framework that enables developers to create cross-platform games using C# and a variety of .NET languages. It supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The framework is equipped with a comprehensive set of features, such as 2D and 3D rendering, sound management, input handling, and content organization, which assist in producing high-quality games across multiple genres. As a modern reinterpretation of Microsoft's XNA 4 API, MonoGame provides a familiar setting for developers who have experience with XNA. Some notable games developed with MonoGame include "Streets of Rage 4," "Carrion," "Celeste," and "Stardew Valley," highlighting the framework's adaptability and capability. The MonoGame Foundation, supported by an enthusiastic community, plays a crucial role in the continuous development and improvement of the framework, ensuring it stays relevant for game developers. As the gaming industry evolves, MonoGame is committed to implementing ongoing updates that address emerging trends and technologies. This dedication to progress helps maintain MonoGame's status as a premier choice for those seeking to craft engaging gaming experiences.

Gideros is a free and open-source framework tailored for cross-platform game development, enabling developers to create high-performance 2D games utilizing the Lua programming language. It simplifies the testing process on real devices through Wi-Fi, eliminating the lengthy procedures associated with exporting or deploying apps. Built on C/C++ and OpenGL, Gideros ensures that games run at native speeds, effectively leveraging the power of both CPUs and GPUs. The framework is extensible through plugins, allowing developers to incorporate existing code in C, C++, Java, or Objective-C, which can be seamlessly integrated with Lua. Featuring its own class system that adheres to standard object-oriented programming principles, Gideros encourages the development of clean, modular, and reusable code. The comprehensive development environment includes a lightweight IDE, players for desktops and devices, along with tools for texture packing and font creation. Gideros supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and HTML5, thus offering developers the opportunity to reach a wide audience. This adaptability makes Gideros particularly attractive for indie developers and small studios eager to create captivating gaming experiences, while its user-friendly features further enhance productivity and efficiency in game development.

Cocos2d-x stands out as a versatile and open-source game engine that has served developers reliably since its launch in 2011, offering a lightweight and adaptable framework for cross-platform game creation. Supporting C++, Lua, and JavaScript, it is designed to work across a diverse range of platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and widely used HTML5 browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer. The engine utilizes OpenGL ES 2.0 and Metal for optimal graphics rendering, effectively harnessing the full GPU capabilities of mobile devices while maintaining compatibility across different systems. Developers enjoy the flexibility of using Lua or JavaScript for scripting, which allows for smooth hot updates to their games without the delays involved in app store submissions. The open-source aspect of Cocos2d-x fosters extensive customization opportunities, enabling developers to craft specialized game types and extensions, and even incorporate their own 3D engines to overcome challenges in 2D interface and UI design. Interestingly, data shows that version 3.x of Cocos2d-x is compatible with a remarkable 99.7% of Android devices in China, underscoring its broad acceptance and effectiveness within the gaming sector. This high level of compatibility not only enhances its appeal to developers targeting a wide audience in the mobile gaming market, but also solidifies its reputation as a go-to engine for innovative game design. Furthermore, its active community contributes to a rich ecosystem of resources and support, ensuring that developers can readily find assistance and tools to enhance their projects.

Stencyl emerges as an exceptional game development platform, providing an impressive and intuitive toolkit that simplifies the creative journey and enables you to focus on developing your distinctive game. By managing the essential elements, we empower you to emphasize what truly counts—infusing your personal flair into your creation. A significant number of the most successful Stencyl games have reached the top tiers on both the App Store and Google Play, even securing positions in the "Best New Game" sections on these platforms. Additionally, many of our widely acclaimed web games have attracted sponsorship from renowned publishers such as ArmorGames, Kongregate, and Newgrounds. With a drag-and-drop gameplay designer inspired by the effective MIT Scratch initiative, we enhance Scratch's user-friendly block-snapping system by integrating advanced features and an extensive selection of pre-made blocks. For those with more expertise, there is the chance to craft and share personalized blocks, elevate the engine through coding, import libraries, and create tailored classes that seamlessly integrate with block-based Behaviors, fostering limitless artistic expression in game development. This blend of user-friendliness and depth positions Stencyl as an outstanding option for both beginners and seasoned developers, ensuring that everyone can bring their visions to life. In essence, Stencyl not only streamlines the game-making process but also inspires creativity across a diverse range of users.

Godot provides a comprehensive suite of vital tools, enabling you to focus on game development without the need to build everything from the ground up. This engine is completely free and open-source, released under the highly adaptable MIT license, ensuring that no hidden costs or royalties apply—every aspect of your game, including all engine code, is yours to keep. With a diverse selection of nodes, Godot makes game design significantly easier, and you can design custom nodes for specific behaviors, editors, and extended functionality. Its versatile scene system allows for the creation of intricate node hierarchies with features such as instancing and inheritance. The visual editor boasts a rich array of tools, all organized in an attractive and intuitive context-sensitive user interface. This accessible content creation pipeline is designed for artists, level designers, animators, and other contributors, facilitating smooth collaboration. Additionally, the persistent live editing functionality ensures that any modifications made are retained after the game is exited, and it supports mobile platforms seamlessly. The robust tool system also empowers you to create customized tools that enhance your workflow, transforming Godot into not merely a game engine, but a comprehensive platform for all aspects of game development. With its community-driven updates and vast array of tutorials, Godot continues to evolve, providing developers with an ever-improving resource for their creative endeavors.

UNIGINE is a state-of-the-art real-time 3D engine designed for both enterprise clients and tech enthusiasts, offering breathtakingly realistic graphics and the capability to handle expansive virtual spaces through its C++ and C# APIs. Built with features that support open-world environments, the engine incorporates groundbreaking terrain technology that delivers extraordinary detail, achieving precision of up to 1 mm per pixel while allowing for real-time modifications and team collaboration. It also supports 64-bit precision for coordinates, enabling the creation of scenes that can potentially encompass entire solar systems. To meet various needs, UNIGINE provides three distinct SDK editions: the Sim SDK, ideal for simulation and training in large planetary contexts and immersive displays; the engineering SDK, which integrates effortlessly into business solutions such as digital twins, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and smart city projects, equipped with advanced GIS and CAD data capabilities; and the Community SDK, tailored for technology lovers exploring game and VR development. This diverse platform not only empowers creators to expand the limits of virtual environments but also encourages innovation across a wide array of industries, proving that the potential for creativity in digital landscapes is truly limitless. As industries continue to evolve, UNIGINE stands at the forefront of technological advancement, paving the way for future breakthroughs in 3D visualization and interactive experiences.