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Phaser

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Unreal Engine

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Phaser vs Unreal Engine: What are the differences?

Comparison of Phaser and Unreal Engine

Phaser and Unreal Engine are two popular game development frameworks that offer various features and functionalities. Here are the key differences between Phaser and Unreal Engine:

  1. Platforms: Phaser is primarily focused on web-based game development, making it an ideal choice for creating HTML5 games that can be played directly in web browsers. On the other hand, Unreal Engine is a robust and versatile game engine that supports the development of games for multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more.

  2. Ease of Use: Phaser is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for beginners and small-scale projects. It has a lightweight framework and comes with a straightforward API, allowing developers to quickly prototype and develop games. In contrast, Unreal Engine has a steeper learning curve and is more suitable for experienced developers or teams working on complex and high-end projects.

  3. Graphics and Visual Effects: Unreal Engine is renowned for its powerful rendering capabilities, which enable developers to create stunning and realistic graphics. It provides advanced tools and features for shader development, lighting, particle effects, and post-processing effects, allowing for breathtaking visuals. While Phaser also supports 2D graphics and basic effects, it does not offer the same level of graphical fidelity as Unreal Engine.

  4. Physics Simulation: Unreal Engine comes with a built-in physics engine called PhysX, which allows for accurate and realistic physics simulations. This feature is particularly beneficial for creating games that involve physics-based interactions, such as collisions, gravity, and object dynamics. In comparison, Phaser provides basic physics support but lacks the advanced physics simulation capabilities offered by Unreal Engine.

  5. Multiplayer and Networking: Unreal Engine has robust networking capabilities, making it well-suited for developing multiplayer games and online experiences. It offers built-in networking features, including replication and dedicated server support, allowing developers to create seamless multiplayer experiences. Phaser, on the other hand, does not have extensive built-in networking capabilities and may require additional frameworks or libraries for implementing online multiplayer functionality.

  6. Community and Documentation: Unreal Engine has a large and active community, with a wealth of resources, tutorials, and documentation available. This extensive support network makes it easier for developers to find solutions to problems and learn from others' experiences. While Phaser also has a dedicated community, it may not have the same level of resources and documentation as Unreal Engine.

In summary, the key differences between Phaser and Unreal Engine lie in their platforms, ease of use, graphics and visual effects, physics simulation capabilities, multiplayer and networking features, and the size and support of their respective communities. Phaser is more focused on web-based game development and offers simplicity and ease of use, while Unreal Engine is a powerful and versatile game engine suitable for multiple platforms, offering advanced graphical capabilities and networking features.

Decisions about Phaser and Unreal Engine
norlin
Software Engineer / Game Developer at Norlin Games · | 7 upvotes · 86.1K views

When I started to learn game development, I've tried to use Unity multiple times because it's the most popular option. But never get it worked because of the clunky UI which is very hard to understand for a new user. After some time, I've decided to try UE4 despite there was a lot of rumors that it's "heavy" or requires an AAA team. And suddenly it clicked, everything works as I expecting, UI is clear and much more powerfull, no need to build custom tools to work on the game itself. Blueprints are very helpful for beginners, C++ has a lot of "syntax-sugar" - macroses, a lot of convenient in-engine types for everything. Later while working with Unreal, I've realized it has very consistent roadmap with constant improvements and adding new features. At the same time, each major version update is painless so you can upgrade your project during development to get new features. UE4 is free to use with the full list of features and you only have to pay royalty after getting your first $1 million from the project (and that's just the default case, you can always discuss custom license with an upfront fee, if you want to).

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Arthur Osipyan
Software Engineer at Value Industry · | 2 upvotes · 83.5K views

I chose Unity over Unreal Engine because Unity has a more user friendly UI for beginners looking to learn game development. Additionally, as someone who uses a lot of online resources to learn new languages and tools, I found a lot of tutorials covering game development with Unity as the core engine. This doesn't mean Unreal is not a great choice for game development, I just personally found learning game development much smoother with the amount of resources available with Unity.

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Pros of Phaser
Pros of Unreal Engine
  • 1
    Compile to iOS, Android and native apps
  • 1
    JavaScript or TypeScript
  • 1
    WebGL and Canvas rendering
  • 1
    Open Source
  • 10
    C++
  • 6
    Blueprints
  • 5
    PBR
  • 4
    Suitable for any projects
  • 4
    Source Available
  • 3
    Convenient and modern UI
  • 1
    Most Popular Game engine

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Cons of Phaser
Cons of Unreal Engine
  • 3
    No GUI
  • 6
    Heavy
  • 1
    A lot of "heaviness" myths around

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What is Phaser?

It is a free open source HTML5 game framework. It uses Pixi.js for WebGL and Canvas rendering across desktop and mobile web browsers. Games can be compiled to iOS and Android apps via 3rd party tools.

What is Unreal Engine?

It is a game engine that helps you make games. It is made up of several components that work together to drive the game. Its massive system of tools and editors allows you to organize your assets and manipulate them to create the gameplay for your game.

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What companies use Phaser?
What companies use Unreal Engine?
See which teams inside your own company are using Phaser or Unreal Engine.
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What tools integrate with Phaser?
What tools integrate with Unreal Engine?

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What are some alternatives to Phaser and Unreal Engine?
Vibe
Vibe is an easy to use people research tool. You can use Vibe to find the person behind any email address. After installing the Vibe Chrome, Mac, iPhone or Outlook app, with a simple hover or click on any email address, you can find all information about the person in less than 3 seconds.
CreateJS
It is a suite of modular libraries and tools which work together or independently to enable rich interactive content on open web technologies via HTML5. These libraries are interoperable with all modern desktop and mobile browsers, and have been thoroughly tested to achieve performance and reliability in the widest range of browsers possible.
Pixi
Super fast HTML 5 2D rendering engine that uses webGL with canvas fallback
Godot
It is an advanced, feature-packed, multi-platform 2D and 3D open source game engine. It is developed by hundreds of contributors from all around the world.
Unity
Unity is the ultimate game development platform. Use Unity to build high-quality 3D and 2D games, deploy them across mobile, desktop, VR/AR, consoles or the Web, and connect with loyal and enthusiastic players and customers.
See all alternatives