Defold
Free, open-source game engine maintained by the Defold Foundation (previously King). Targets mobile, web, and desktop with a lightweight Lua scripting API and zero-cost publishing.
Our Verdict
Underrated 2D mobile engine with excellent output size; ignored by most because Unity and Godot dominate mindshare.
Pros
- Tiny runtime and fast iteration on mobile and web
- Truly free with no revenue share or hidden fees
- Lua scripting with a clean message-based architecture
- HTML5 export performance is best-in-class for 2D
Cons
- 3D support exists but lags far behind Godot and Unity
- Editor UX feels sparse compared to modern engines
- Asset store and community smaller than competitors
- Lua-only means no C# or TypeScript alternatives
When to Use Defold
Good fit if you need
- Mobile-first 2D game shipping to iOS and Android with 0% royalty
- HTML5 game embedded in web page via Defold web export
- Lua-scripted game jam entry built in 48 hours
- Lightweight game client for a casual hyper-casual title
- Cross-platform puzzle game published on itch.io for free
Pricing
Price wrong?Defold Pricing
- Pricing Model
- free
- Free Tier
- Yes
- Entry Price
- —
- Enterprise Available
- No
- Transparency Score
- —
Beta — estimates may differ from actual pricing
Estimated Monthly Cost
$25
Estimated Annual Cost
$300
Estimates are approximate and may not reflect current pricing. Always check the official pricing page.
Lock-in Assessment
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