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GameMaker

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Create 2D games with drag-and-drop or code, export anywhere

Free plan available
Freemium Developer Tools Game Engines Gaming & Game Dev
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Reviews on G2 Capterra Trustpilot
129 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Price
Free plan available. Compare plans

Key facts

  • 2D game engine with visual drag-and-drop and GML scripting for beginners to professionals
  • Exports to desktop, mobile, web, and consoles including PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch
  • Free tier with full features; Professional license is a one-time $99.99 payment

Pros

  • Low barrier to entry with visual tools and beginner-friendly GML
  • Free tier includes all core features with no watermark or splash screen
  • One-time $99.99 Professional license, no recurring subscription
  • Proven track record with major indie hits like Undertale and Chicory

Cons

  • Focused exclusively on 2D, not suitable for 3D game development
  • Console export requires the Enterprise subscription tier
  • GML is proprietary and skills do not transfer to other engines

What is GameMaker?

GameMaker is a 2D game development engine owned by YoYo Games (Opera) that makes game creation accessible to beginners while remaining powerful for professional studios. It offers both visual drag-and-drop tools and GML (GameMaker Language) programming, with export to Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, and consoles including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. GameMaker has powered notable indie titles like Undertale, Chicory, and Hyper Light Drifter. The free tier includes all core features with no watermark, and Professional costs a one-time $99.99 for commercial licensing.
Data compiled by Toolradar Pricing checked · How we evaluate
Source gamemaker.io

Ratings Across the Web

4 (129 reviews)

GameMaker holds an aggregate rating of 4 out of 5 from 129 reviews across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot, last checked September 17, 2026.

G2 32 reviews
4.1/5
Capterra 96 reviews
4.4/5
Trustpilot 1 reviews
1/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Visual drag-and-drop editor for code-free game development
  • GML (GameMaker Language) for custom scripting and advanced logic
  • Multi-platform export: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5
  • Console export: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
  • Built-in sprite editor, room editor, and asset management
  • Event-driven programming system for structured game logic
  • GX.games platform for publishing and sharing games
  • Integrated debugging and performance profiling tools

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Nov 1, 2026. Source: gamemaker.io/en/get, read Nov 1, 2026

GameMaker plans and prices, checked November 2026
Plan Price Details
Free

Free

  • Non-Commercial Licence
Professional

$99.99 one-time

  • Commercial Licence
  • Igor / CI builds

Included in all plans

  • GX Games Export
  • Desktop Exports
  • Web Export
  • Mobile Exports
View full pricing

Is GameMaker worth the price?

Great value

GameMaker's pricing is quite generous, especially with the robust Free tier offering desktop, web, and mobile exports without a watermark.

The Professional tier at $99.99 for a one-time commercial license is excellent value for indie developers. The Enterprise tier for console development is appropriately custom-priced, catering to larger studios.

Full GameMaker pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

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Recent pricing updates

Changes we detected on the GameMaker pricing page.

  • Prices first read on the vendor page: Professional $99.99 one-time.

GameMaker by the numbers

GameMaker compared with 21 Game Engines tools on Toolradar, as of Nov 2026
Metric GameMaker Peer median Position (1 is best)
Free plan Yes 20 of 21 have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 6 tools 4 #6 of 21 (joint)
User rating 4.0/5 (across the web, 129 ratings) 4.4/5 #7 of 8 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews
Compare-page visits, last 30 days 38 visits 42 #10 of 14 tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Visitors most often compare GameMaker with Defold (last 30 days, Nov 2026).

Listed as an alternative to: #6 on 2026-10-16 to #6 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 21 tools, 1 is best).

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Game Engines data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “GameMaker by the numbers”, Nov 2026.

Reviews

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4.0/5

Across 129 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, Trustpilot

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Still deciding?

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GameMaker FAQ

How does GameMaker support game development for beginners?

GameMaker provides a low barrier to entry for new developers through its visual drag-and-drop tools. It also offers GML (GameMaker Language), which is designed to be beginner-friendly for those learning to code.

Which teams would benefit most from using GameMaker?

GameMaker is well-suited for independent game developers and small studios focused on 2D game creation. Its accessibility makes it ideal for teams with varying levels of programming experience, from beginners to professionals.

How is GameMaker priced?

GameMaker offers a free tier that includes all core features without watermarks or splash screens. A Professional license is available as a one-time purchase for commercial use, and an Enterprise subscription is required for console export.

Can GameMaker be used to develop games for consoles?

Yes, GameMaker supports exporting games to consoles such as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. However, this specific export functionality requires an Enterprise subscription tier.

What kind of projects is GameMaker best suited for?

GameMaker excels at creating 2D games, as demonstrated by successful indie titles like Undertale and Chicory. It provides the tools necessary for developing a wide range of 2D game experiences.

How does GameMaker compare to GDevelop?

GameMaker offers both visual drag-and-drop tools and its proprietary GML for coding, supporting export to a wide array of platforms including major consoles. It has a proven track record with commercially successful indie games.

What are the limitations of using GameMaker for game development?

GameMaker is exclusively focused on 2D game development and is not designed for 3D projects. Additionally, its proprietary GML means that programming skills learned within GameMaker may not be directly transferable to other game engines.

Source: gamemaker.io

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