Free Online Game Makers

Free online game makers are becoming more widely available as a way for anyone to start making games very easily.  Here is a list of all the free game creation programs you can start using immediately in your browser roughly in order of personal recommendation:

  1. Wimi5 – Appears to be an advanced HTML5 game creator with a professional look and feel. Drag and drag visual images into the scene area and intuitively add behavior and logic in the logic desktop. The logic desktop lets you visually connect logic blocks and modify their details. You can add script blocks, which are composed of what is called black boxes. Black boxes are micro functions that you can connect together to create more complex functionality. In this way, anyone can create complex logic without traditional programming. Checkout their step-by-step tutorial to start making your own HTML5 game.
  2. Cyberix 3D – Is a more advanced online 3D game creator that is relatively easy to use. Like other game makers, you can add objects to the stage via drag and drop. One of the features that makes Cyberix 3D more appealing is the ability to add most parts of your game, including logic and behavior, via drag and drop. It is generally very intuitive. From the various colorful category tabs on the left side, select the models tab and drag a basic model into the stage or workflow panel. To add behaviors, select the appropriate category tab, drag and drop it onto the model in the workflow panel. The workflow panel shows all parts of your game and how they are connected in an easy-to-understand fashion: different parts are represented as rectangles that get nested inside related parts. For example, A square model can have a “if mouse button down” condition inside it, which in turn has a “move 5 in x direction” nested inside. A quick look at the selection of games on Cyberix 3D’s website include first person shooters, adventure, puzzle, and racing games. Check out their YouTube video tutorials to get a good sense of what this game creator has on offer.
  3. Flowlab – A very easy to use game creator that let’s you quickly put together a 2D game via drag and drop controls.  The intuitive user interface let’s you connect blocks together so it looks like the game logic is flowing from one block to the next.  They have a quick tutorial showing how you can quickly get a platforming game running in literally a few minutes.
  4. GameSalad – They claim that you can “make your first game in an hour” according to their homepage. It is entirely believable since it has a clean, slick interface coupled with easy-to-understand drag and drop mechanics. They have full section dedicated to learning resources called the GameSalad Academy. Some of the games made with GameSalad on their website include rpg, puzzle, casual, and retro. Eventually, if you are making games good enough to be published commercially, They have a pro version that you can buy that provides several must-have features such as the ability to publish your game cross-platform, integrating social media, and easily add advertising and/or in-app purchases to monetize your game. Check out this tutorial to get an idea of how easy it is to use GameSalad.
  5. CeilFire – Does not rely on modifying existing game templates, but let’s you create your own 2D game based on predefined gaming concepts. The core of the game is based on adding game objects to the editor-panel. Select an image for the game object and then add rules to game objects. The rules define the behavior of game objects. Rules can have any number of two parts: conditions (when something should happen), and actions (what should happen when the condition is met). For example, if mouse button down (condition), then move game object in y-axis direction by 20 (action). You will see the types of games on display on their homepage include bowling, solitaire, match-3, and golf and pinball.
  6. Sploder – There are three game templates to choose from: platformer, 3D mission, and shooter.  Sploder gives you more freedom to actually build your own levels by placing where your character starts in the level, walls, power ups, and enemies.  Of course, you can upload your game to their server in order to share your creation with others on the website as well as play games made by others.  While Sploder is a neat free online game maker that is easily accessible to everyone, it is more of a level designer than a game maker as you don’t have control over the finer aspects of the game you are making.
  7. Game Gonzo – This gamemaker is very similar to Sploder.  You get to choose form various game templates such “floater”,  “racer 3D”, and “tennis”.  The creator walks you through several steps to choose what images and sounds will be used for the various objects in the game.  When you’re done, you can save your game and it will be available on their website.
  8. Fupa Kingdoms Defense – As the name implies, you get to build your own tower defense game and upload it to share your TD game with everyone else.  You can also play the TD games others have made as well.  You can change the graphics of the background, creeps, and towers.  Changing the stats of the creeps and towers is also possible.  And yes, you can set the path of the creeps as well.
  9. World’s Biggest Pacman – an HTML5 game that lets players create their own pacman levels and upload them.  All levels are player-created and are all inter-connected to other mazes that players have uploaded in order to create one gigantic pacman game.
  10. ChallengeYou – Apparently they give you the ability to make 3D Shockwave games.  Actually, they all seem to be first person games where you have to find the finish point.  The graphics seem to be a bit dated, but at least it’s 3D.  Just like the other free online game makers, you can upload your levels and share them with other creators.

These game makers are all free and easy enough to use for just about anyone since little or no programming is required.  But you may have noticed that you don’t really get to make your own unique game.  Some of these game makers are more like level designers. If you get allergies just thinking about programming, then these game makers will let you realize those creative ideas to an extent. Some of the more advanced ones serve as a good introduction to game development and logic, which will bring you closer to learning how to program.

If you are ready to start writing some code then go on to my post about Game Making Programs that utilize scripting as opposed to full-on programming from scratch.  Programming gives so much more freedom to make that unique game you’ve been dreaming of.

20 thoughts on “Free Online Game Makers

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  2. Great games, but extremely difficult when reaching later levels. You should get these games if you want a challenge and like to punch everything 😉 Visit GameroomGuys.com for a great gaming experience.

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