tools

Tools

Know what's in the toolbox

What each tool is, how it's licensed, and when a dev would actually reach for it.

Game development

From browser-first renderers and 2D frameworks to full engines, plus physics, level editors, and free assets.

Three.js

Open source

3D rendering library

The most widely used JavaScript 3D library: scenes, cameras, lights, materials, and loaders over WebGL, with a WebGPU renderer alongside. It renders; physics, input, and game structure are up to you.

React Three Fiber

Open source

React renderer for Three.js

Write Three.js scenes as declarative React components. Pairs with the drei helper library for cameras, controls, loaders, and effects.

Babylon.js

Open source

3D web engine

A full 3D engine started at Microsoft, with physics, a scene inspector, PBR lighting, WebXR, and WebGPU support built in.

PlayCanvas

Open source

3D game engine and editor

A WebGL/WebGPU game engine with a collaborative, browser-based visual editor. Games are built for the web first, with small builds that load fast on mobile.

Phaser

Open source

2D game framework

A full 2D framework for browser games: scenes, sprites, tilemaps, input, audio, cameras, and built-in physics. The default choice for 2D HTML5 games.

PixiJS

Open source

2D rendering engine

A fast 2D renderer for WebGL and WebGPU. It draws sprites, text, and graphics very quickly but isn't a game framework — no built-in physics or scene flow.

Kaplay

Open source

Beginner-friendly 2D library

A small, fun-first JavaScript game library with a component-based API that gets a playable game on screen in a few lines. The community-maintained continuation of Kaboom.js.

Godot

Open source

Full game engine

A complete, MIT-licensed 2D and 3D engine with its own editor and scripting language (GDScript), plus C#. Exports to desktop, mobile, and the web.

Rapier

Open source

Physics engine

A 2D and 3D physics engine written in Rust and shipped to JavaScript as WebAssembly. Deterministic simulation, rigid bodies, joints, and character controllers.

Tiled

Open source

Tilemap level editor

A free desktop editor for tile-based levels. Exports JSON and TMX maps that Phaser, Godot, and most 2D engines can load directly.

WWADD — Moves. Stacks. Judgment calls.

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