Haxe
Haxe is a cross-platform high-level programming language and cross-compiler. It is a great way to write interactive applications for desktop, web, mobile, or console platforms. Haxe has a compiler that translates the Haxe language, including the standard library and other code, to C++. The tool targets several platforms, including JavaScript, HTML5/Flash/AIR for client-side applications, Java and C++ for server-side applications. It supports various toolchains, including command-line tools or IDEs for development on different platforms.
Moreover, it includes an integrated development environment that supports editing, compiling, and debugging its own codes. It provides features such as syntax highlighting, error checking, code completion, and automatic navigation through the code. The IDE also allows you to create graphical user interfaces using custom user interface controls or by extending the standard library classes with your own code.
The compiler generates C++ source code to minimize redundant data structures and machine instructions. The compiler produces very efficient executables in order to run on all platforms. Other notable features include flexible input/output streams, graphics (OpenGL), internationalization, reflection, or Unicode support. All in all, Cocos2d-x is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
Haxe Alternatives
#1 Cerberus X
Ceberus X is a cross-platform game development toolkit that allows you to develop games for the Web with HTML5 technology. The highlighting feature of Cerberus X is that it allows you to create games without programming skills simply by drawing sprites and defining how they interact with one another. So if you want to develop games for Android or for HTML5, only knowing the basics of any drawing application will suffice. The program uses special scripts in order to achieve this.
The Object script is where you define how a sprite or a group of sprites should behave in different situations, such as moving or attacking an enemy. All object scripts are stored in the data folder. Additionally, the Scene scripts help you define what will happen in your game when it starts and when certain events occur during gameplay. Moreover, Cerberus X has a built-in development server to test your games online, no matter where you are. All in all, Ceberus X is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#2 Blitz3D
Blitz3D is a classic game programming language and is still in use today. It was originally created in 2001, and it has been ported to JavaScript, C++, and HTML5. The tool utilizes a fully 3D environment but uses a grid-based 2D map and utilizes sprite graphics, much like the original Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda games. It is great for creating escape games because it has an inherently simple gameplay loop which is “collect all the gems before time runs out.”
It is easy to learn as there are only ten commands as well as its simplicity in making a game, which makes it perfect for beginners who want to learn programming or those who want to start making games now. It also has a lot of support from the community, which is a great resource for learning. All in all, Blitz3D is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#3 BlitzMax
BlitzMax is an open-source programming language for the rapid development of mobile and desktop applications. It combines the power and stability of traditional compiled languages with the easy development features of modern scripting languages such as Python, Perl, or Ruby. BlitzMax also includes a standard library, as well as a rich set of pre-written classes.
It features an Objective-C compiler with Xcode support which helps you compile the game to C & C++. A Great feature of this tool is that it supports Windows, Linux, macOS, as well as Raspberry Pi, which means ARM-based CPUs are also supported. All in all, BlitzMax is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#4 BlitzPlus
BlitzPlus is a classic game programming language that provides some powerful features for rapid development, making it easy to create games on many different platforms. It’s more modern than the old-school BASIC language, but it has inherited some of its features.
Components can be parts of programs or actual objects like characters, enemies, etc., that are drawn on the screen. Components are linked together using events to create action sequences. Events can trigger actions in user-defined scripts that implement interactive behavior. All in all, BlitzPlus is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#5 Monkey 2
Monkey 2 is a game-oriented programming language that allows you to create interactive and engaging videogames and applications. Monkey uses a text-based syntax and can be compiled to Javascript, so it’s compatible with most modern browsers and platforms. Monkey 2 is the new version of Monkey and uses the web-based integrated development environment. You can use the IDE to edit, compile, render and test your game.
#6 Phaser
Phaser is a 2D game framework used for making HTML5 games. It doesn’t use many premade components, so it’s easy to quickly prototype an idea and then build your own tools on top of the platform. Phaser is really well suited to people who are learning game development for the first time because there are fewer decisions you have to make upfront that might end up causing problems later down the line.
The few decisions you do need to make are usually easy enough that you’ll be able to figure them out pretty quickly. This means you can get straight into making stuff without having too much chance of running into obstacles at the beginning. The one main thing that separates Phaser from other libraries is that it uses WebGL and has an actual 3D physics engine bundled in.
A lot of other frameworks simply use things like CSS for their rendering and rely on the browser to do all the physics work. This is fine for most casual games but limits what you can do if you want something with a bit more depth. Phaser also has an actively maintained 2D rendering engine which you can use if you don’t need to worry about any 3D stuff. All in all, Phaser is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#7 Cocos2d-x
Cocos2d-x is a game development framework that is simple and easy yet powerful enough to make beautiful, interactive applications. You can use this to make games, but unlike other game engines, the tool is heavily integrated with Cocos2d-js, allowing you to use its physics system. It features a great graphic engine that has both hardware acceleration and OpenGL ES 2.0 built-in, giving it the power of a 3D game engine. The framework is also ideal for games that are similar to Flappy Bird but with different elements.
If you want to create something similar to Flappy Bird but with different elements, then Cocos2d would be ideal for your project. Moreover, Cocos2d-x is powerful enough to be able to create full-fledged graphical user interfaces. With the capabilities of the framework, you can build everyday apps such as games but with complete graphical user interfaces. Cocos2d also has a large and vibrant development community that you can use to sort out technical problems. All in all, Cocos2d-x is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#8 JMonkeyEngine
JMonkeyEngine is a game development engine written for the Java language, and it’s considered one of the most powerful tools in its category. The engine is optimized for games that require large-scale terrain with extensive outdoor environments, but it can be used to develop any type of game. The toolkit was designed to work with graphics APIs like OpenGL and DirectX.
JMonkeyEngine supports three main types of projects; Java applications, Java Applets, and Web Start. Moreover, it also has a software development kit library collection, which makes it a low-level game development platform. You can also add its high-level language to make it a hybrid tool. All in all, JMonkeyEngine is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#9 AppGameKit Classic
AppGameKit Classic is a cross-platform game development platform for indie developers and hobbyists. This game creation system is designed to be easy to master right away. It speeds the game development process up by adding tons of useful features that can be easily integrated into your game with just a few clicks. It saves time and money by keeping you from having to spend months learning how to use some other program before you can start making money with it.
It’s aimed at beginners of all experience levels but is also useful for seasoned developers of all skill levels. It integrates seamlessly with augmented reality for in-game augmented reality content in various genres, in addition to being supported by in-game animated objects, in-game voice chat, in-game notifications, and other features. All in all, AppGameKit is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#10 nCine
nCine is a cross-platform 2D game engine for mobile, desktop, and console games. It’s easy to get started with, has an intuitive graphical editor, and comes with a broad selection of example projects. The engine is provided in source code form, with access to the Unity API for integration with other 3D assets. The idea behind the nCine toolkit was to make it possible for anyone with basic coding knowledge or experience to design, build and publish their own games even without any knowledge of the underlying code. All in all, nCine is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#11 Oxygine
Oxygine is an open-source 2D game development C++ framework that allows you to build 2D games. You can create games that can be run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and iOS. It lets you develop 2D games using modular codebases, which you can import from other projects. In addition to this, you also have access to a rich set of tools, both graphical and procedural. The tool uses a managed scenegraph system that takes care of rendering that you can customize according to your needs.
It is built for the web. Therefore you can use it in web browsers. Analyze application tool, inspect runtime scene graph, frames per second, load textures, and performance. Another notable feature is the accurate Unicode text rendering using bitmap fonts and supports different alignment modes and substring colorization. All in all, Oxygine is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#12 AGKSharp
AGKSharp is an object-oriented language that can be used for the development of applications in all genres. The language has been designed with modern programming techniques. Some of the features are supported for multi-processing, GUIs with OpenGL, high-level applications without C language knowledge, and automatic memory management. The tool also includes a script engine that can be used to create more advanced programs quickly and easily or to automate repetitive tasks on existing projects.
Highlighting features include an integrated debugger, Module support, Generics, Automatic memory management, Good performance of program development, etc. The modern object-oriented programming techniques. It also includes a built-in compiler with syntax highlighting and automatic error detection. Other features include code generation by Visual C++, clues mode for better intuitive editing experience, code completion based on code context, etc. All in all, AGKSharp is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#13 PlayBasic
PlayBasic is a 2D game programming language. It simplifies the creation of games by using an easy-to-use syntax, with many built-in functions, which are all exposed in the editor. Its features include importing bitmap graphics, enemy delay suppression, and collision rectangles. It also allows the creation of sprite maps, making it easier to change the color and position of different sprites. This program makes it easy to import graphics made in programs such as MS paint and draw on the screen, which is exported as a sprite map.
It is also possible to create shape bitmaps and import them straight into PlayBasic. The shapes created using MS paint using the rectangle tool can be used to draw any kind of object and can be scaled and rotated to suit different purposes. PlayBasic’s Game Editor comes with many built-in functions for creating games quickly and easily. This function supports the use of variables for calculating text size, font type, color, and position in the string. All in all, PlayBasic is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.
#14 RCBasic
RCBasic is a 2D programming language that supports Geometrical Primitives that you can use to program with the help of images as graphics. It can be used to develop games while being aided by its built-in gaming-related functions. RCBasic supports functions like Calculate, Property Get/Set, Event, and Labels. All in all, RCBasic is a great tool that you can consider among its alternatives.