Solar2D
UnclaimedBuild cross-platform 2D games with a fast, open-source, Lua-based engine.
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What is Solar2D?
Solar2D (game engines): Build cross-platform 2D games with a fast, open-source, Lua-based engine. Solar2D is a powerful and completely free 2D game engine, forked from the well-established Corona SDK. It focuses on ease of iteration and usage, allowing developers to build games for a wide range of platforms including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and HTML5 from a single codebase. Key capabilities: Cross-platform development (iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, HTML5), Instant-update simulator, Live builds for rapid testing on devices, Extensive plugin ecosystem (in-app advertising, analytics, media), Native library integration (C/C++/Obj-C/Java). Solar2D is free to use with no paid tier.
TL;DR - Solar2D
- Open-source, Lua-based 2D game engine.
- Cross-platform development for mobile, desktop, and web.
- Completely free with no hidden fees or royalties.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free with no royalties or hidden fees
- Fast iteration and development with instant updates
- Supports a wide range of platforms from a single codebase
- Strong community support and open-source nature
- Production-ready, based on a mature engine (Corona SDK)
Cons
- Relies on Lua, which might require learning a new language for some developers
- Primarily focused on 2D games, not suitable for 3D projects
- Development is community-sponsored, which might impact long-term stability without consistent funding
Key Features
Cross-platform development (iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, HTML5)Instant-update simulatorLive builds for rapid testing on devicesExtensive plugin ecosystem (in-app advertising, analytics, media)Native library integration (C/C++/Obj-C/Java)Lua-based scriptingOpen-source (MIT license)Privacy-aware (no tracking or data gathering)
Pricing Plans
Completely free
Free
- No hidden fees, charges, or royalties
- Cross-platform development (iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, HTML5)
- Fast build and instant-update Simulator
- Live Builds
- Numerous plugins for in-app advertising, analytics, media, etc.
- Call any native library (C/C++/Obj-C/Java) using Solar2D Native
- Production ready (fork of Corona SDK)
- Lua-based
- Privacy aware (no user tracking, no anonymized data gathering)
- Community support (Forums, Discord)
- Open Source (MIT license)
About Solar2D
By Toolradar Team·
Solar2D is a powerful and completely free 2D game engine, forked from the well-established Corona SDK. It focuses on ease of iteration and usage, allowing developers to build games for a wide range of platforms including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and HTML5 from a single codebase. The engine leverages Lua, a lightweight and fast scripting language popular in game development, making it accessible for both new and experienced developers.
Designed for efficiency, Solar2D features an instant-update simulator and live builds, enabling rapid testing and deployment. It offers extensive plugin support for functionalities like in-app advertising and analytics, and allows integration with native libraries for advanced customization. Being open-source under the MIT license, it fosters a strong community and ensures transparency, making it a production-ready solution for indie developers and large publishers alike, without any hidden fees or royalties.
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Solar2D FAQ
What is the relationship between Solar2D and Corona SDK?
Solar2D is the official open-source fork of the Corona SDK game engine. It continues the development of Corona SDK, which is no longer commercially supported, and has been in active development for over 10 years.
Which platforms can applications built with Solar2D target?
Developers can build applications for a wide range of platforms including iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, and HTML5. This allows for a single codebase to be deployed across mobile, desktop, and connected TV devices.
How does Solar2D facilitate rapid iteration during development?
Solar2D features an instant-update Simulator that reflects code changes immediately upon saving. For device testing, it supports live builds where code and assets automatically update over the local network after an initial deployment.
Can developers integrate native libraries not directly supported by Solar2D's core or plugins?
Yes, Solar2D Native allows developers to call any native C, C++, Objective-C, or Java library or API. This provides extensive flexibility for extending the engine's capabilities.
What is the licensing model for Solar2D and its source code?
Solar2D is completely free to use, with no hidden fees, charges, or royalties, regardless of developer size. All source code and resources are available under the MIT license, making it fully open source.
Does Solar2D collect any user data from applications built with it?
No, Solar2D is privacy-aware and does not track users or gather anonymized data. Applications built with Solar2D only make network requests that the developer explicitly configures.
Source: solar2d.com