GamedevOnLinux

The Lightweight Java Gaming Library when someone needs SDL, but an easier package in case of porting. Maybe that's how this library was created, but it ends up, as a very powerful tool to make entertainment software. It is low-level and easy to gain new advantages from libraries like Vulkan on Metal. Cross-platform was in mind like the JVM itself. The library is made for serious developers and it is not recommended for those who learn programming. Links Website:  LWJGL Download:  Download  / you can choose from stable and EE versions with many additional features - section custom Community:  Blog(outdated)  |  Github  |  Wiki  |  Discord   Forum

Small engine for 2D games It is designed with 2D and web in mind. Using Haxe language helps with achieving this goal. Due to no code/block programming, it will be nice for people who start their way with Gamedev. Because it is commercial software it has three plans: 1. Free which lets deploy games for the web 2. Indie plan adds desktop 3. Studio lets you deeply on mobile oses. It looks nice as an alternative to Gamemaker Engine, with pros of the no-code programming and smaller community. Links Website:  Stencyl Download:  Multiplatform download  |  Instruction for installing Community:  Forums  |  Discord  |  Updated documentaction

This time I will write about two engines from the same community. Both originated from Torque Game Engine which was used in game Tribes from 2001. Later it was open-sourced and became two engines, the main was released as Torque3D and the simpler version as Torque2d. The main advantage is that the developers maintain the project. Both have excellent communities and a clear road map. The license for both is MIT and you can support the developers on Patreon. Torque3D was created for FPS games like most game engines. With version 4.x it got the PBR rendering and has output for Vulcan SDK. On the other side, it has a good network system and overall due to its module build architecture, it is easy to implement other technologies in it. Torque2D is a slightly smaller and easier version due to no third dimension. It does not have a editor so it is needed to use your own software. The engine is small and efficient. Another thing is that it has not compiled binaries for Linux. Links Website:...

The framework is another reimplementation of the XNA framework. It took another approach from the Monogame. In basics, those two will be similar but in documentation, you will find a  comparison , there is information about differences between those two. The project is being maintained by one person, it has monthly updates, so you need to check what was changed. The pros are that one project is enough to make games on various platforms. Con could be a lack of support for Android.  As in the wiki the library is not recommended for newbies. It uses old shader language from DX9 as in the XNA, but it is remade, to be used on newer platforms with Vulkan. Links Website:  FNA Download:  Github  |  Information from the site Community:  Wiki  |  Discord

It is just another good framework, where you can do everything. Fun fact, it was one of reasons which helps the popularity of C# and DotNet in gamedev, due to problems with XNA on other platforms, developers started to port it with the Mono Framework. The project started as Mono.XNA and ended as MonoGame. Mono from the other side was widely used in Unity 2.X. Now after many years it is still good foundation to make various of games, but it has it's own problems like support of newer consoles and DX12 libraries. But in the end, if you are .Net developer looking for making hobby game it is very nice package to look. Links Website:  Monogame Download:  Github  |  Full Instructions from MonoGame website Community:  Documentation  |  Forum  |  Discord  |  Github

Probably the last engine, from first three popular engines for indie developers - UE, Unreal. It is nice multipurpose 3D engine, and it can be used in Simulation and Cad projects. The product is organised in scenes and nodes so it could be similar like in Godot. It has few scripting possibilities C++ for best performance, C# for optimisation and their own UnigineScript which is good. They make their own shader language s it is easier when porting to various platforms. At this moment you can only export projects to windows and linux, there is work for current generation of consoles, and the mobile will be in some future. The community version is made for indie developers. The free version is for peoples that made under 100k $ in sales/funding, but if you need more information there is email to their sales group - licensing@unigine.com Links Website:  Unigine Download:  Download  - you need to register ad developer site. Community:  Docs  |  Forum  |...

Another project for those who like 3D especially Blender, Armory3D is build arund it by independent developer. It has Haxe as scripting language and nodes so it should be good Unreal alternative. Due to be build with blender integration it can be used as additional showcase for the engine and it's main features. Links Website:  Armory3D Download:  Download Community:  Github  |  Forum  |  Discord  |  Manual  |  API