awesome-gamedev

Awesome Gamedev

A curated list of good stuff related to the development of games. This list contains only free software for code, sellers who aren't evil for physical resources, and free cultural works for assets.

I have also provided a list of resources which are not free, and the reasons why, in the associated Wall of Shame file.

This is released under the GNU Free Documentation License, without invariants or a cover - its text is provided in the LICENSE file.

Table of Contents

• Assorted Assets
• Audio
  • Editors
  • Music
  • Sound Effects
• Engines
  • General
  • HTML5
  • Physics
• Fonts
• Games
  • C
  • C++
  • CoffeeScript
  • Dart
  • ECMAScript
  • Java
  • Other/Multiple
  • Python
  • Scala
• Graphics
  • Assorted
  • Collections
  • Icons
  • Sprites
• Graphics Tools
  • Animation
  • Bitmap Compression
  • Editors
  • Mesh Tools
  • Spritesheet Tools
  • Texture Tools
  • Voxel Editors
• Learning Resources
  • Graphics
  • Beginner
  • Music
  • Programming
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Reference
  • Talks
• Programming Frameworks and Libraries
• Utilities

Assorted Assets

This contains collections of miscellaneous assets of different kinds.

• Material Design Icons - An official icon set from Google following specific guidelines. CC-BY-4.0.
• Openclipart - A giant collection of clip art. CC0.
• OpenGameArt.org - A large collection of art intended for game development. Various licenses, including free ones.
• Wikimedia Commons - A collection of various assets of all kinds. Various licenses, all CC or free-er.

Audio

Editors

• Ardour - The digital audio workstation. GNU GPLv2 or later.
• Audacity - Software for recording and editing sounds. GNU GPLv2 or later.
• Beast - Music composition and modular synthesis software. GNU LGPLv3 or later.
• LMMS - A digital audio workstation. GNU GPLv2 or later.
• MilkyTracker - Multi-platform application for creating .mod and .xm module files. GNU GPLv3 or later.
• Musagi - A large and sophisticated music editor. Expat.

Music

• ccMixter - A site for collaborating with musicians. Various licenses, all CC.
• Creative Commons on Bandcamp - Everything on Bandcamp under a CC-license. Various licenses, all CC.
• Creative Commons on SoundCloud - A Creative Commons collection on SoundCloud. Various licenses, all CC.
• Incompetech - An artist providing royalty free music of all genres. CC-BY-3.0.
• Jamendo - A site providing music licensed under the Creatives Commons. Various licenses, all CC.
• LibreFM - A big collection of stations, with fully-free music. Licenses allow downloads and reuse.
• Musopen - A site dedicated to copyright-free (and culturally free) music. Various licenses, all copyright-free (varies by piece).
• Open Music Archive - Digitized out-of-copyright sound recordings. Public domain in the UK.

Sound Effects

• Freesound.org - A collection of CC-licensed sound effects. Various licenses, all CC.
• jsfxr - A tool like sfxr-sdl but in ECMAScript. Unlicense.
• Opsound - A collection of assorted sounds. CC-BY-SA-3.0.
• sfxr-sdl - A tool to generate sounds. Expat .
• SoundBible's Royalty-free section - A collection of CC or public-domain-licensed sounds. Various licenses, all CC or public domain.

Engines

These are full-blown game engines.

General

By Language

C ++

• AGS - Implemented in C++. Designed for adventure games. Artistic License 2.0.
• Chili Source - Implemented in C++. Expat.

Unsorted

• Azul3D - Implemented in Go. 3-clause BSD.
• Backbone - Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat.
• BananaBread - Implemented in ECMAScript. A port of Sauerbrauten. zlib.
• Blender Game Engine - Implemented in C++. Scripted using a GUI and Python. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Castle Game Engine - Implemented in ObjectPascal. GNU LGPLv2 or later.

• Cocos2d - Implemented in Python. 3-clause BSD.

• Cocos2d-android - Implemented in Java. 3-clause BSD.

• Cocos2d-X - Implemented in C++. Has ECMAScript, Lua and C++ scripting. Expat.

• Darkplaces - Implemented in C. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Doomsday - Implemented in C++. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Duality - Implemented in C#. Expat .

• EasyRPG - Implemented in C++. Designed for JRPG-style games. GNU GPLv3 or later.

• ENIGMA - Implemented in C++. Has its own scripting language and GUI editor. GNU GPLv3 or later.

• FIFE - Implemented in C++. Has Python scripting. Designed for isometric games. GNU LGPLv3 or later.

• FLARE - Implemented in C++. Designed for action RPGs. GNU GPLv3 or later.

• Fluxus - Implemented in C++. Designed for livecoding worlds. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• gamekit - Implemented in C++. Scripted using C++, Lua or logic blocks. Expat.

• GamePlay - Implemented in C++. Apache2.0.

• GDevelop - Implemented in C++. Targeted at non-programmers. All components but the IDE are Expat.

• GNU FreeDink - Implemented in C++. GNU GPLv3 or later.

• Godot - Implemented in C++. Has its own scripting language. Expat.

• Gosu - Implemented in C++. has a Ruby interface. Expat.

• Helm - Implemented in Haskell. Expat.

• HERITAGE - Implemented in ECMAScript. Designed for text adventure games. GNU GPLv3 or later.

• Horde3D - Implemented in C++. EPLv1.

• ioquake3 - Implemented in C. A fork of the Quake III Arena engine. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Irrlicht - Implemented in C++. Has a range of bindings. zlib.

• JMonkey - Implemented in Java. 3-clause BSD.

• KivEnt - Implemented in Python. Expat.

• LambdaHack - Implemented in Haskell, Designed for roguelikes. 3-clause BSD.

• lycheejs - Implemented in ECMAScript. Designed for construction of HTML5 or native SDL games. Expat.

• Maratis - Implemented in C++. Has Lua for scripting. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Moai - Implemented in C++. Has Lua for scripting. CPAL.

• Ogre3D - Implemented in C++. Has a range of bindings. Expat.

• Orx - Implented in C. zlib.

• Panda3D - Implemented in C++. Has a Python interface. 3-clause BSD.

• PlayN - Implemented in Java. Apache2.0.

• Processing - Implemented in Java. Has its own scripting language. GNU GPLv2 only.

• Processing.js - Implemented in ECMAScript. Has its own scripting language. Expat.

• qfusion - Implemented in C++. Designed for FPS games. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Ren'Py - Implemented in Python. Designed for visual novels. Expat, with some parts under GNU LGPLv3 only.

• SLUDGE - Implemented in C++. Has its own scripting language. GNU LGPLv3 only with the GTK Dev Kit GNU GPLv3 or later.

• Spearmint - Implemented in C. Designed for FPS games. GNU GPLv3 or later.

• Spring - Implemented in C++. Designed for RTS games. GNU GPLv2 or later.

• Torque2D - Implemented in C++. Has its own scripting language. Expat.

• Torque3D - Implemented in C++. Has its own scripting language. Expat.

• Turbulenz - Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat.

• Urho3D - Implemented in C++. Scripted using AngelScript or Lua. Expat.

• voxeliq - Implemented in C#. Designed for voxel world games. MsPL.

HTML5

Unless stated otherwise, these engines are implemented in ECMAScript.

• Akihabara - Designed for 8-bit and 16-bit games. Expat.
• Babylon.js - Apache2.0.
• Cocos2d-html5 - Expat.
• Coffee2D - Implemented in CoffeeScript. Expat.
• Crafty.js - Expat.
• Cube - Designed for voxel games. WTFPLv2.
• kiwi.js - Expat.
• melonJS - Expat.
• panda.js - Expat.
• Phaser - Expat.
• PlayCanvas - Expat.

Physics

• ammo.js - Implemented in ECMAScript. A port of Bullet. 3-clause BSD.
• Box2D - Implemented in C++. Designed to simulate rigid body physics. zlib.
• Bullet - Implemented in C++. General physics engine. zlib.
• Matter.js - Implemented in ECMAScript. Physics engine for HTML5. Expat.
• ODE - Open Dynamics Engine; implemented in C++. Designed to simulate rigid body dynamics. Original BSD.
• Oimo.js - Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat.
• Physics.js - Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat.

Fonts

• Google Fonts - A collection of freely-licensed fonts. OFL.
• Open Font Library - A collection of freely licensed fonts. OFL.
• The League of Moveable Type - A collection of fonts with high standards. OFL.

Games

These are meant to serve as examples for your own work, or foundations to built upon.

I have endeavoured to provide both code and asset licenses here - if no asset license is listed, assume it to be non-free or questionably-free. These entries may be removed upon clarification.

C

• 2048-cli - A CLI version of 2048. Expat (code), no significant assets.
• 2048-in-terminal - A CLI version of 2048. Expat (code), no significant assets.
• Craft - A 3D voxel world game. Expat (code and assets).
• Curse of War - A fast-paced strategy game. GNU GPLv3 (code and assets).
• edgar - A 2D platform game with a persistent world. GNU GPLv2 (code), various free culture licenses (assets).
• FallingTime - An arcade game. GNU GPLv2 (code), various CC (no NC or ND) (assets).
• Taisei - Expat (code and assets), GNU GPLv2 for one font.
• Turtle Arena - Third-person action game. GNU GPLv3 (code), various free culture licenses (assets).
• Wizznic - A puzzle game. GNU GPLv3 (code and assets).

C++

• Battle for Wesnoth - A turn-based strategy game. GNU GPLv2 (code and assets).
• Blackvoxel - A voxel exploration and crafting game. GNU GPLv3 (code and assets).
• Clonepoint - GNU GPLv3 (code), various CC (no NC or ND) (assets).
• colobot - A robot-based strategy game. GNU GPLv3 (code and assets).
• Egooboo - A 3D dungeon crawler in the spirit of NetHack. GNU GPLv3 (code and assets).
• endless-sky - 3D space exploration game. GNU GPLv3 (code), various CC (no NC or ND) (assets).
• Freeminer - A 3D voxel world game. GNU GPLv3 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Megaglest - A 3D RTS game. GNU GPLv3 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Minetest - A 3D voxel world game. GNU GPLv2 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Monster 1 - A JRPG-style game. 3-clause BSD (code and assets).
• Monster 2 - A JRPG-style game. zlib (code and assets).
• OpenDungeons - A version of Dungeon Keeper. GNU GPLv3 (code), various free culture licenses (assets).
• SavageWheels - A car game. Expat (code and assets).
• Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries - A strategy game. GNU GPLv2 (code and assets).
• Stunt Rally - A 3D racing game. GNU GPLv3 (code), various free culture licenses (assets).
• Supertux - A platformer. GNU GPLv3 (code), various free culture licenses (assets).
• SuperTuxKart - A 3D racing game. GNU GPLv3 (code), various free licenses (assets).
• The Powder Toy - A sandbox falling sand physics game. GNU GPLv3 (code and assets).
• Warzone 2100 - An RTS sci-fi game. GNU GPLv2 (code), various free culture licenses (assets).

CoffeeScript

• coffee-snake - A version of Snake. GNU GPLv3 (code), no significant assets.
• Zop - A 'connect the dots' game. Expat (code), no significant assets.

Dart

• Hauberk - A roguelike. Expat (code), no significant assets.
• Pop, Pop, Win! - A version of Minesweeper. 3-clause BSD (code and assets).

ECMAScript

• A Dark Room - A text adventure game. MPLv2 (code), no significant assets.
• Blockrain.js - A version of Tetris. Expat (code and assets).
• BrowserQuest - An MMORPG. MPLv2 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Clumsy Bird - A version of Flappy Bird. Expat (code and assets).
• Drunken Viking - A top-down puzzle game. Expat (code), various CC (no NC or ND) (assets).
• Freeciv-web - A port of Freeciv. GNU GPLv3 and GNU AGPLv3 (code and assets).
• Hextris - A puzzle game inspired by Tetris. GNU GPLv3 (code), no significant assets.
• ludum-dare-28 - CC-BY-4.0 (code and assets).
• Masonry-JavaScript-Tetris-Clone - Exactly what it says on the tin. Expat (code and assets).
• Parity - Expat (code), no significant assets.
• Prism - A colour-matching game. Expat (code), no significant assets.
• Roguish - A roguelike. 3-clause BSD (code and assets).
• Snake - A version of Snake. Expat (code), no significant assets.
• Sorades 13k - A scrolling shooter. CC-BY-SA-3.0 (code and assets).
• Space Crusade - A space game. Expat (code), CC0 (assets).
• Space Shooter - Simple space shooting game. Expat (code).
• Squirts - Expat (code and assets).
• TransCube - A 2D puzzle platformer. GNU GPLv3 (code), CC-BY-SA-4.0 (assets).

Java

• Ned et les maki - A 3D puzzle game. Expat (code), FALv1.3 (assets).
• Newton Adventure - A puzzle game. 3-clause BSD (code), various CC (no NC or ND) (assets).
• PuzzleGame - A slider puzzle game. Uses Android port of Cocos2D engine. Expat (code and assets).
• Terasology - A 3D voxel world game. Apache2.0 (code and assets).

Other/Multiple

• Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead - A roguelike set in a post-apocalyptic world. CC-BY-3.0 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• DynaDungeons - A version of Bomberman. Uses Godot engine. GNU GPLv3 (code), various CC (no NC or ND) (assets).
• Flare - A dark fantasy 2D RPG. Uses Flare engine. GNU GPLv3 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Pioneer - A space exploration game. Implemented in C++ and Lua. GNU GPLv3 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Source of Tales - An MMORPG. Scripted using Lua (implementation language unclear). GNU GPLv3 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 and GNU GPLv3 (assets).
• Tanks of Freedom - Pixed-based turn-based strategy. Uses Godot engine. Expat (code and assets).
• Teeworlds - Implemented in C and C++. 3-clause BSD (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).
• Zero-K - An RTS game. Uses Spring engine. GNU GPLv2 (code and assets).

Python

• Mystic Mine - Expat (code and assets).
• Unknown Horizons - A real-time strategy simulation game. GNU GPLv2 (code), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (assets).

Graphics

Assorted

This is a section for everything else that doesn't fit in some other graphics category.

• Blender 3D Model Repository - User-submitted 3D models made with Blender. Various licenses, including free ones.
• CanTree - Free online tree generator. Generates PNG files. Expat .
• Kator Legaz 3D Models - 3D Models by of various subjects. CC-BY-3.0 .
• mocapdata.com - A library of motion capture data. Various licenses, including free ones.
• Yobi3D - A search engine for 3D models that aims to display license information when possible. Various licenses, including free ones.

Collections

This category contains any 'grab-bags' of different kinds of art assets.

• Free stuff by 7Soul1 - A collection of various game-related assets. Available in PNG. Public domain.
• openclipart - A collection of various clip art. Available in PNG. Public domain.
• Vecteezy - A collection of vector art. Various Creative Commons licenses.

Icons

• Game-icons.net - A constantly-growing collection of black-and-white icons. Available in SVG or PNG. CC-BY-3.0 .
• Tango Icon Library - An icon set project with a goal to create a consistent user interface. Public domain.

Sprites

• SpriteLib - A big collection of sprites. Available in PNG. CPL 1.0.

Graphics Tools

Animation

• Synfig - A 2D animation tool. GNU GPLv2.

Bitmap Compression

• pngquant - A command-line utility for lossy compression of PNG images. Has various front-ends available. FreeBSD.
• Trimage - A cross-platform tool for losslessly optimizing PNG and JPG files. Expat.

Editors

• AwesomeBump - A program that generates normal, height, specular or ambient occlusion, roughness or metallic textures. Requires a graphics card with support for OpenGL4 or greater. GNU LGPLv3.
• Blender - A 3D modelling and rendering editor. GNU GPLv2 or later.
• GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program. Designed for photo retouching, image composition and similar tasks. GNU GPLv3.
• GrafX2 - A bitmap paint program specialized for 256-color drawing. GNU GPLv2.
• Hme - A program for creating, manipulating and viewing height maps. GNU GPLv2.
• Inkscape - A vector image editing program. GNU GPLv2.
• Krita - A digital painting and illustration program. GNU GPLv2.
• MakeHuman - A tool for making 3D characters. GNU AGPLv3.
• MyPaint - A natural materials painting and drawing emulator. GNU GPLv2.
• NeoTextureEdit - An easy-to-use, graph-based, procedural texture editor. GNU LGPLv3.
• ngPlant - A 3D plant modelling software suite. GNU GPLv2.
• NormalMapOnline - An online normal-mapping tool. Expat.
• Overlap2D - An engine-agnostic game level and UI editor. Apache2.0.
• Synfig Studio - 2D animation software. GNU GPLv2.
• Tiled - Easy-to-use and flexible tile map editor. GNU GPLv2 and FreeBSD.

Mesh Tools

• MeshLabs - A portable system for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes. GNU GPLv2.

Spritesheet Tools

• Aseprite - Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool. GNU GPLv2.
• Piskel - Online pixel art and animated sprite creator. GNU AGPLv3.

Texture Tools

• TextureGeneratorOnline - An online tool for texture generation. Expat.

Voxel Editors

• Sproxel - A 3D interface for quickly editing and creating voxel-based 3D models. 3-clause BSD.

Learning Resources

These are all collections of information to help you learn about things that might be necessary for developing games.

We aim for complete and current resources here whenever possible.

Graphics

Beginner

• Blender 3D: Noob to Pro - A Wikibook for learning how to make 3D graphics with Blender. CC-BY-SA-3.0.

Music

• LibreMusicProduction - A community-driven online resource for promoting musical creation and composition using free tools. CC-BY-SA-4.0 .

Programming

Beginner

• An Introduction to Python - Pretty much what it says on the tin. Python License.
• Effective Go - A guide to writing good, clean and readable Go code for beginners. CC-BY-3.0 (text), 3-clause BSD (code).
• Functional Programming in JavaScript (video) - A set of tutorials introducing functional programming concepts using ECMAScript. CC-BY-3.0.
• Lua Programming - A completed Wikibook on programming Lua. CC-BY-SA-3.0 .
• Practical Haskell - getting started with Stack - A series of tutorials designed to help people get started programming Haskell. CC-BY-SA-4.0.
• The GNU C Programming Tutorial - An introduction to programming in C by the nice GNU people. PDF. GNU FDL.
• why's (poignant) Guide to Ruby - An interesting introductory book for Ruby. CC-BY-SA-3.0.

Intermediate

• Dive Into Python - A Python book for experienced programmers. GNU FDL.
• Haskell - A very thorough Wikibook on programming Haskell. CC-BY-SA-3.0.
• Mostly adequate guide to functional programming (in JavaScript) - A book on the fundamentals of functional programming in ECMAScript. CC-BY-SA-4.0.
• Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs - A classic programming and teaching text. Designed for teaching Scheme, but can be useful to anyone writing in any language. CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Reference

• breakouts - A collection of ECMAScript implementations of Breakout. Expat .
• Haskell Programming - A complete wiki of the Haskell programming language. Expat .
• Joey Hess' blog - A collection of posts, many of which are about Haskell use. CC-BY-4.0

Talks

These are collections of game development-related talks, podcasts etc. that might be interesting or informative to people seeking to design games.

• GameDevRadio (podcast) - A series of online radio shows devoted to entertaining and educating whoever is interested in game development. CC-BY-SA-4.0.
• Indievelopment talks (video) - A collection of talks about various aspects of game development. CC0.

Programming Frameworks and Libraries

These are programming libraries or low-level code-based tools which are designed to support game programming, but do not provide as much structure or support as an engine would.

• ActionKid - A simple video game framework. Implemented in Haskell. 3-clause BSD .
• Allegro 5 - A cross-platform library for low-level tasks, like creating windows, accepting user input and so forth. Implemented in C and C++. 3-clause BSD .
• Bacon2D - A framework to ease 2D game development, providing QML elements representing basic game entities. Implemented in C++. Expat .
• bgfx - A 'build-your-own-engine' rendering library. FreeBSD .
• Chipmunk2D - A fast and lightweight 2D game physics library. Implemented in C. Expat .
• ChipmunkSharp - Advanced physics engine library based on Chipmunk. Implemented in C#. Expat .
• Cinder - A community-developed library for creative coding. Implemented in C++. FreeBSD .
• ClanLib - A cross-platform toolkit with a primary focus on game creation. Implemented in C++. ClanLib license .
• CutJS - A lightweight and fast 2D HTML5 rendering engine for cross-platform game development. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• enchant.js - A framework for developing simple HTML5 + ECMAScript games. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• EndGate - A framework for building HTML5 games. Implemented in TypeScript. Expat .
• GameJs - A thin library on top of the Canvas API, including some helpful game development modules. Expat .
• Gladiator3D - A raycasting engine. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• HaxeFlixel - A cross-platform development framework, supporting many targets. Implemented in Haxe. Expat .
• Kivy - Rapid-development library for multi-touch and visual apps on many platforms. Implemented in Python. Expat .
• libGDX - Cross-platform game development framework. Implemented in Java. Apache 2.0 .
• libRocket - An HTML/CSS-based UI library. Implemented in C++. Expat .
• libSDL2pp - A set of C++11 bindings for SDL2. Implemented in C++. 3-clause BSD .
• LimeJS - A framework for building fast HTML5 games. Implemented in ECMAScript. Apache 2.0 .
• LoomSDK - A very large and powerful framework for cross-platform 2D game development. Implemented in C++. Apache 2.0 .
• LÖVE - A framework for making 2D games. Implemented in Lua. zlib .
• MINX - MINX Is Not XNA; a framework resembling XNA. Implemented in C++. 3-clause BSD .
• p2.js - 2D physics library. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• pixi.js - A 2D rendering engine. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• Polycode - Framework for games and interactive applications. Implemented in C++. Has Lua bindings. Expat .
• PyDark - Game framework on top of PyGame; designed to be easy to pick up. Implemented in Python. Expat .
• PyGame - A set of modules designed for writing games. Implemented in Python. GNU LGPLv2 .
• Quasi-Engine - A set of Qt-based tools for game development. Implemented in C++. GNU GPLv3 .
• SDL - Another cross-platform library for low-level tasks, like creating windows, accepting user input, and so forth. Implemented in C. zlib .
• SFML - Simple and Fast Multimedia Library; a multi-platform, multi-language, multimedia interface to various computer hardware. Implemented in C++. Has a range of bindings . 3-clause BSD .
• Slick2D - A set of tools to make 2D game development easier. Implemented in Java. 3-clause BSD .
• Three.js - A library that makes WebGL easy to use. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• voxel.js - A multi-component framework for bulding voxel games for modern browsers. Implemented in ECMAScript. 3-clause BSD .

Utilities

This is a catch-all category for things that don't fit anywhere else.

• Assimp - Open Asset Import Library; a portable way to import various well-known 3D model formats in a uniform manner. Implemented in C++, with a range of bindings. 3-clause BSD .
• Easel.js - Provides a range of tools to make working with the HTML5 Canvas API easier. Implemented in ECMAScript. Expat .
• gmsh - A 3D finite-element grid generator with a built-in CAD engine and post-processor. GNU GPLv2 .
• libcaca - An ASCII graphics rendering library for terminal-based interfaces. WTFPLv2.
• libnoise - A portable coherent noise-generation library. Implemented in C++. GNU LGPLv2 .
• Monkey - A next-generation games programming language. Implemented in C++. zlib .
• PhysicsFS - A library to provide abstract access to various archives. zlib .
• ScummVM - A program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games, provided you already have their data files. GNU GPLv2 .
• WorldForge - Provides everything needed to create your own free software MMORPG. GNU GPLv3 (or a compatible license).

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