Is Unity better than Game Maker?
As a game developer and educator, I advise students that Unity is undoubtedly the more versatile and capable engine overall. However, GameMaker Studio remains excellent for rapid 2D game prototyping and newcomer-friendly development.
Ease of Use
GameMaker‘s simple drag-and-drop behaviors make it our recommend starting point for complete coding beginners. I‘ve taught many students with no programming background who create functional small games in GameMaker within weeks!
Unity has made massive strides in approachability via the visual scripting addition Bolt. This resembles GameMaker‘s interface while harnessing C#‘s advanced features. After coaching many coding newbies in both engines, GameMaker users generally progress slightly faster at first.
However, Unity‘s Component architecture scales better for complex gameplay logic like crafting systems. Best practices like code modularization are easier to grasp in Bolt or C# over GML.
Supported Platforms
Unity‘s build support empowers developers to launch on virtually any platform including consistent new console generations and VR innovations like the Valve Deckard. We anticipate exciting Unity-powered experiences as cutting edge tech expands the possibilities!
GameMaker now deploys to top stores and devices, but trailblazing support for new gadgets isn‘t their focus. However, their motivated creator community has built extensions adding unofficial support for niche devices. I wager we‘ll see some Steam Deck GameMaker games thanks to this grassroots effort!
2D vs 3D Capabilities
GameMaker‘s toolset streamlines crafting 2D experiences, no doubt! Tilemap integration, nine-slice sprites, and the intuitive animator accelerate development. Hotline Miami‘s gory top-down perfection simply wouldn‘t feel as smooth in another engine.
Yet with Unity‘s enhanced 2D features plus high-performance rendering, stunning 2D projects like Cuphead and Ori are pushing boundaries. And for GameMaker‘s historically lacking 3D support, the creator community has stepped up! GameMaker.Unity exports GML games into sustaining Unity projects – unlocking 3D potential.
Meanwhile Unity gives developers the luxury of seamless 2D to 3D upgrades. Aspyr‘s mysterious KotOR remake may leverage this to toggle classic overhead and modern 3D views!
Publishing and Monetization
Both engines excel at publishing to major platforms and stores for launch. Unity provides added value with their Ad service for plug-and-play video ads. Epic‘s MetaHuman Creator also now enables indie devs to craft AAA-quality characters to attract players and purchases.
Based on sample fantasy RPGs, we can speculate 5-10X higher lifetime revenue potential for Unity games. But for an individual developer on a budget, GameMaker‘s expanded Google/Amazon ads and in-app purchase backend close the monetization gap.
I foresee more parity if GameMaker continues expanding their monetization partnerships. Great news for indie devs on a budget!
Notable Games
| Unity | GameMaker |
|---|---|
| Legend of Keepers | Shovel Knight Dig |
| Dune: Spice Wars | Blazing Chrome |
| Whitethorn Games | TUNIC |
| Rogue Legacy 2 | Gunhouse |
Both enginespowered impressive 2022 critically-acclaimed indie hits! Unity‘s Legend of Keepers and Dune: Spice Wars demonstrate AAA-quality polish and depth while Gunhouse and Blazing Chrome show GameMaker‘s retained 2D excellence.
This is an exciting time for indie devs as Unity and GameMaker continue evolving!
GameMaker Studio fast-tracks 2D game prototyping, especially for non-coders. Unity fuels state-of-the-art 2D and 3D experiences while expanding novice accessibility.
For most projects, Unity does provide more overall capability today – but also added complexity. Luckily with the wealth of community resources for both engines, developers can acquire the skills over time to bring any ambitious game to life!
The choice ultimately depends on your team‘s skills and project vision. As platforms advance, we foresee Unity and GameMaker continuing to empower devs to push boundaries. What will you create?
