Open Source Game Engines for Pixel Art Games

Licenses and terms can change. Always re-check the project’s official license before shipping a commercial game. This list is not exhaustive.

Full engines with editors

Godot

License: MIT · Focus: 2D / 3D · Script: GDScript, C#, C++

All-in-one free engine with a visual editor, strong 2D tools, growing 3D, and zero royalties — a common pick for pixel-art games.
Defold

License: Defold License (OSS) · Focus: 2D (web/mobile) · Script: Lua

Production-minded 2D engine with tiny web builds, built-in tooling, and Lua scripting — popular for mobile and HTML5.
GDevelop

License: MIT · Focus: 2D · Script: Events, JavaScript

Open-source, no-code / low-code 2D engine with event sheets — approachable for artists shipping small games quickly.
Open 3D Engine (O3DE)

License: Apache-2.0 · Focus: 3D · Script: C++, Lua, Python

Linux Foundation real-time 3D engine aimed at large worlds, simulations, and high-fidelity projects.
Stride

License: MIT · Focus: 3D · Script: C#

C# game engine (formerly Xenko) with a scene editor and modern .NET workflow for 3D games.
Armory 3D

License: zlib · Focus: 3D · Script: Haxe, logic nodes

Blender-integrated open-source 3D engine for building games directly from Blender scenes.

Bevy

License: MIT / Apache-2.0 · Focus: 2D / 3D · Script: Rust

Data-driven Rust engine with an ECS architecture — code-first, fast-moving, and popular with systems programmers.
libGDX

License: Apache-2.0 · Focus: 2D / 3D · Script: Java, Kotlin

Mature cross-platform Java framework for desktop, mobile, and web games — long used for 2D pixel titles.
MonoGame

License: Microsoft Public License · Focus: 2D / 3D · Script: C#

XNA-style C# framework for building games across desktop, mobile, and consoles without a heavy editor.
Phaser

License: MIT · Focus: 2D web · Script: JavaScript, TypeScript

Widely used HTML5 2D game framework for browser games, prototypes, and pixel-art web titles.
LÖVE

License: zlib · Focus: 2D · Script: Lua

Lightweight 2D framework with a simple Lua API — favorites for jams and small pixel games.
Cocos2d-x

License: MIT · Focus: 2D / 3D · Script: C++, Lua, JS

Open-source cross-platform engine lineage widely used for 2D mobile games (see also Cocos Creator tooling).
Solar2D

License: MIT · Focus: 2D mobile · Script: Lua

Successor to Corona SDK — Lua-based 2D engine focused on mobile and desktop deployment.
Fyrox

License: MIT · Focus: 3D · Script: Rust

Rust game engine with an editor and scene tools for 3D (and 2D) projects.
Raylib

License: zlib · Focus: 2D / 3D · Script: C (many bindings)

Simple C library for learning and shipping games without heavy engine ceremony — many language bindings exist.

PlayCanvas

License: MIT (engine) · Focus: 3D web · Script: JavaScript

WebGL/WebGPU-oriented 3D engine; the runtime is open source (hosted editor is a separate product).
Babylon.js

License: Apache-2.0 · Focus: 3D web · Script: JavaScript, TypeScript

Powerful browser 3D engine/framework for interactive experiences and web games.
Luanti

License: LGPL / MIT (parts) · Focus: voxel · Script: Lua

Open-source voxel game engine (formerly Minetest) for blocky worlds and moddable multiplayer games.
Ren'Py

License: MIT · Focus: visual novels · Script: Python

Specialized open-source engine for visual novels and story-driven 2D games.
TIC-80

License: MIT · Focus: fantasy console · Script: Lua, JS, and more

Open-source fantasy console with built-in pixel tools — great for tiny retro / pixel jam games.
OpenRA

License: GPL-3.0 · Focus: RTS · Script: C#, Lua

Open-source real-time strategy engine recreating and extending classic C&C-style gameplay (copyleft — read the license).