GameMaker Review Summary

Great for learning game development: The platform is excellent for learning programming and game development, especially for creating 2D games. It is suitable for both beginners and advanced programmers.

Beginner-friendly and easy to use: The software is highly accessible for novices and those new to game development. It is praised for its simplicity and ease of learning, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

Powerful for 2D game creation: The engine is particularly powerful and well-suited for creating 2D games. It is considered one of the best choices for 2D game development.

Good software for development: The program is generally well-regarded as a good piece of software for development and coding. It has a good learning curve and is praised for its overall quality.

Features Game Maker Language (GML): The built-in programming language, GML, is intuitive and powerful, making game development accessible even without prior coding knowledge. It is similar to languages like C# and Python.

Difficult for beginners: The software is difficult to understand and use, especially for beginners, and can be confusing without tutorials or manuals.

Requires programming knowledge: Users need to learn programming, specifically GML, to unlock the full potential of the software, which can be time-consuming and difficult.

Cluttered and confusing UI: The interface is described as cluttered, unintuitive, and confusing, making it difficult for users to navigate and use the software effectively.

Poor 3D capabilities: The software lacks robust 3D features, making it unsuitable for creating 3D games and requiring third-party software for advanced graphics.

Opera account required for exports: Users are forced to create and log into an Opera account to export projects or create executable files.

Primarily a 2D game engine: The engine is widely recognized for its strong capabilities in creating 2D games, with limited support for 3D games. It is considered excellent for small to mid-sized 2D game development.

GameMaker Language (GML): The engine uses GameMaker Language (GML), which is noted for its ease of use and power. GML is based on Delphi and is a key feature for programming within the engine.

Built-in sprite editor: The engine includes a built-in sprite editor, which is useful for creating and editing sprites directly within the development environment.

Dual coding options: Users can program using either traditional coding methods or a block-based approach, providing flexibility for different types of developers.

Physics engine support: The engine includes a physics engine that allows for the creation of physics-based gameplay, enhancing the realism and interactivity of games.

Frequent crashes and bugs: The application frequently crashes, especially when opened or when the C drive is full. Users also report encountering various bugs that often require restarting the entire program.

Positive performance feedback: The engine is noted for being surprisingly light and fast. It is also considered good for optimizing games, and the IDE is praised for being lightweight.

Linux compatibility issues: The application has significant issues running on Linux. Users report that it is broken or does not run well on this operating system.

Import and file management issues: Users have reported problems with importing files and general file management within the application.

IDE and Virtual Machine issues: There are specific issues related to the IDE and degradation of performance when using Virtual Machines.

Recommended for beginners: Many reviewers suggest this software for those new to game development due to its simplicity and ease of use.

Ideal for 2D game development: The software is highly praised for creating 2D games and is recommended over other engines like Unity and Unreal Engine 5 for 2D projects.

Consider other engines for growth: Some reviewers suggest transitioning to other engines like Godot or Unity after gaining initial experience or for more advanced projects.

Learn to code in GML: Learning to code in GML (GameMaker Language) is recommended over using visual coding for better control and understanding.

Download GameMaker LTS for stability: For better stability, it is recommended to download the GameMaker LTS version from the official site.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $30.00.

Session length: 5.0h.

GameMaker becomes fun and engaging after users learn the basics through tutorials, overcoming the initial learning curve.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Friction: Initial learning curve; Quality of tutorials.

Unlock drivers: Effective tutorials; Grasping the basics.

Beginner Developer: Uses drag-and-drop tools and follows tutorials to create simple games. Motivation: Learning to code and develop games. Stance: buy.

Veteran Developer: Advanced scripting and complex game development. Motivation: Creating and publishing games, leveraging deep knowledge of the engine. Stance: buy.

Balanced Developer: Uses both drag-and-drop tools and scripting to create games. Motivation: Creating games while balancing ease of use and advanced features. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with GameMaker on Linux, including controller problems and crashes, which severely impact the user experience. While some users have had success with compatibility settings and Proton, there are notable audio issues and the need for emulation. Overall, the experience is marred by instability and compatibility problems.

Linux and Proton: GameMaker shows a mix of positive and negative experiences on Linux. While some users report that it runs well using Proton, others encounter significant issues such as controller problems and crashes. There is a strong desire among users for better native Linux support, indicating that the current compatibility is not fully satisfactory.

Monetization: The reviews highlight significant concerns about the paywall and the high cost of DLC in the game engine. Users feel that the paywall limits learning and sharing, making the software feel more like a toy than a professional tool. The high cost of DLC is also seen as a major drawback, detracting from the overall value of the engine.

Tutorial for GameMaker: There is a tutorial available for GameMaker, which could be useful for users interested in game development.

DLC available: The game offers downloadable content (DLC).