Godot Engine vs. Unreal Engine: Comparison, Differences

Godot is a game engine focused on 2D and smaller, stylized 3D games, while Unreal is an engine equipped with a full suite of tools and systems to create high-end AAA games. Godot and Unreal are suited to different target users and use cases. Godot’s light weight, intuitive UI and script, and fast iteration and prototyping speed make it ideal for beginners, small teams, and hobbyists. Unreal’s higher system requirements, C++ script, and powerful, but complex UI make it a better fit for AA and AAA studios making games that take advantage of modern consoles and PC hardware. Read on to learn about the differences between Godot and Unreal Engine and what kind of games are made with each.

What are the differences between Godot Engine and Unreal Engine?

The key differences between Godot and Unreal Engine are their cost, target user base, graphical focus, language, and performance capabilities. Godot is a free, open-source program aimed at beginners, hobbyists, and solo devs making 2D and lower-poly 3D projects using an intuitive script. Godot lacks the kind of photorealistic capabilities of Unreal Engine. Unreal operates on a royalty system, is the industry standard for AAA, 3D projects, supports the highest-end graphical systems, and uses C++ and the Blueprints scripting system.

The differences between Godot and Unreal are explored in more detail in the table below.

Which is better for beginners: Godot vs. Unreal?

Godot is generally considered better for beginners because of its simpler, more intuitive language, cleaner UI and workflow, easy testing and prototyping, and free, open-source nature. For beginners who are new to programming and game development, Godot is likely a better choice than Unreal. Godot’s built-in tutorials, extensive documentation, helpful community, and Godot-focused YouTube tutorial channels help beginners go from idea to implementation quickly.

GDScript is a simpler language to learn than Unreal’s C++. GDScript looks like Python, meaning it’s readable and uses minimal syntax. Users of GDScript understand the fundamentals of the language within a few sessions, even without prior coding experience. Unreal’s C++ uses complex syntax and requires complicated code for even simple tasks. GDScript allows users to write code, save, and then instantly run their creation. The C++ of Unreal requires users to compile before running every time. This is time-consuming for learners who want to regularly test their ideas. Faster coding, faster scripting, and faster iteration make GDscript better for beginners.

Godot’s UI and workflow are consistent and uncluttered, avoiding complex nested panels, sub-menus, or obfuscation. The UI design principle revolves around keeping everything accessible at all times without overwhelming the user. Godot’s light weight also means the editor loads near instantly, even on modest hardware. Unreal’s UI and workflow are feature-rich, but complex. The myriad of toolbars, panels, and tabs facilitate the many facets of AAA production, but confuse beginners. Godot’s UI and workflow keep tools and features available for quick access, use, and implementation.

Testing and prototyping are important for beginners who must regularly try their deployed ideas for iteration and refinement. Godot’s fast-loading editor, hot-loading scripts that don’t need to be recompiled, and fast scene reloads allow beginners to see the results of their changes and edits quickly. Godot’s node and scene system allows users to snap together nodes to replace or modify pieces without rewriting code. Unreal’s editor is slower to load, and C++ changes must be compiled before replaying the section of the project. These factors make the feedback loop slower in Unreal, making it less suitable for beginners than Godot.

Godot is free and open-source because it’s licensed under the MIT license. This licensing system allows users to download, use, modify, and commercially release projects made using Godot. Godot’s open-source nature allows users full access to the software’s source code, meaning users tweak, modify, and build custom engine features. Unreal is free to download and use, but once a game grosses over $1 million, the developer must pay a royalty (typically 5% of gross revenue over the threshold. Unreal’s license doesn’t give the same level of freedoms afforded by Godot’s MIT license, meaning modification, redistribution, and customization are restricted.

Tutorials, documentation, and community support are extensive for Godot. The “tutorials and resources” section contains community-produced tutorials on everything from complete beginner’s guides to advanced topics. Godot’s official documentation is well-structured and easy to parse for specific information. Godot being open source means the (welcoming and supportive) community steps in to clarify any confusion caused by updates or changes. Tutorials and structured learning paths for Unreal exist as online video courses, but tend to assume a level of familiarity that Godot’s tutorials don’t.

Which is better for indie development: Godot vs. Unreal?

Godot is considered better for indie development because it’s purpose-built for the kind of 2D, stylized, and lower-poly 3D games that indie audiences expect. Godot’s rapid iteration cycle, open-source nature, and low system requirements make it an easy choice for smaller, lower-budget indie development. The no-revenue-sharing model and zero overhead costs are also appealing to indie devs. Unreal has more of an enterprise-heavy community and, as a tool, is more focused on AAA, high-fidelity 3D development. Unless an indie game is aiming for photorealistic graphics (or VR), Godot is likely a better choice.

Which is better for multiplayer: Godot vs. Unreal?

Determining which is better for multiplayer, Godot or Unreal, comes down to what kind of multiplayer games are referenced. Godot’s high-level APIs make simple co-op, online, and small- to medium-scale multiplayer games relatively easy to implement. For games with small player counts, relatively simple features, and an indie-level scope and scale, Godot works effectively out of the box. Because Godot is open-source, developers have full control over server and network architecture, allowing them to create custom systems for more complex projects. Larger, more complex, or physics-heavy games require custom work. Godot’s lack of built-in matchmaking, lobby servers, and relay servers is a disadvantage.

Unreal’s battle-tested replication + network framework is excellent at syncing game states, player positions, objects, and physics across servers. For complex, action-focused games like shooters that rely on fast movement and have many players, Unreal’s replication system is an out-of-the-box advantage. The Unreal engine is built around the production of full-blown AAA experiences. For this reason, Unreal’s scalability and compatibility with dedicated servers is an advantage for large, persistent worlds with many players. For simpler games with a lower player count that don’t rely on high-speed action, Godot is an easier option to set up out of the box.

Which has better graphics, Godot or Unreal?

Unreal is better at creating high-fidelity, realistically-lit 3D graphics, while Godot is more efficient for rendering 2D graphics and simple, stylized 3D models. Unreal is capable of rendering much higher-fidelity textures with realistic lighting, reflections, and shaders that make large, detailed 3D environments feel real. Unreal has better graphics by this metric (and therefore most conventional understanding). Godot is better at quickly building smaller or simpler-looking 3D projects that aren’t aiming for photorealism. 2D graphics are a distinct advantage for Godot, where its purpose-built 2D renderer, physics, and scene system support simple, genuine 2D (unlike Unreal’s flat-camera-in-a-3D-environment simulation).

Unreal’s rendering pipeline is flexible. Users select the deferred rendering option for complex, realistic lighting and the forward option when building for mobile. Lumen creates soft, indirect, natural-looking lighting that isn’t possible in Godot. Unreal’s Nanite technology efficiently supports a massive number of polygons and high-end VFX and post-processing features that take advantage of modern hardware to create believable environments, reflections, shadows, and textures.

Unreal is optimized for large, detailed scenes. Unreal’s Nanite technology doesn’t require users to hand-make LODs, meaning large, dense environments are quicker and more efficient to render. Lumen allows developers to illuminate large areas naturally and dynamically without the need for light-baking. The world partition systems of Unreal mean the game only streams what’s needed in the moment, allowing for large open worlds without performance issues.

Smaller, simpler 3D models are more efficient to create in Godot. Godot’s lightweight engine, smaller scenes, scripts, and assets, combined with the simpler, uncluttered UI, make it a more efficient option for smaller 3D projects. GDScript’s quick prototyping capabilities mean testing, iterating, and refining mechanics is a faster process than in Unreal. The systems of Unreal, like Blueprints, Nanite, and Lumen, are powerful but come with the cost of complexity that’s overkill for simpler projects.

Godot is better for 2D graphics because the engine is built with a dedicated 2D renderer, lighting system, shaders, and physics that support pixel-accurate coordinates. Other engines simulate 2D in a 3D environment by fixing the perspective and forcing a kind of simulated 2D. This fools the eye but creates problems with the kind of pixel-accurate graphics and gameplay typical of retro-inspired bullet hell shooters and versus fighting games. Godot’s 2D graphics look and act the way players of classic retro games expect.