Solar2D

Solar2D Game Engine (Corona SDK) is a Lua-based game engine designed for developing 2D games for mobile, desktop, and connected TV devices. According to the vendor, Solar2D provides a platform for developers to create cross-platform games with ease. The product is said to be suitable for companies of all sizes, from indie developers to large publishers. Professions and industries that the vendor claims benefit from using Solar2D include game developers, mobile app developers, software engineers, indie game studios, and educational institutions.

Key Features

Cross-platform: According to the vendor, Solar2D allows developers to develop games for multiple platforms including iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, or HTML5 using a single code base. This is claimed to help reach a wide audience without the need for separate development processes.

Build Fast: The vendor states that Solar2D includes an Instant-update Simulator that allows real-time code changes without the need to rebuild or redeploy. Developers can test games on real devices with automatic code and asset updates over the local network, which is claimed to save time during development.

Live Builds in actions: Solar2D is said to make it easy to build and deploy games to real devices for testing and debugging purposes. The vendor claims that code and asset updates are automatically pushed to devices over the local network, simplifying the testing and iteration process.

Plugins for all needs: Solar2D offers a wide range of plugins available in the Solar2D core and third-party stores. According to the vendor, developers can extend the functionality of Solar2D with plugins for in-app advertising, analytics, media, and more.

Call any native library: The vendor claims that Solar2D allows developers to call any native library or API (C/C++/Obj-C/Java) using Solar2D Native. This is said to provide flexibility and access to a wide range of native functionality to enhance games.

Production ready: Solar2D is described as an official fork of the Corona SDK, a game engine with over 10 years of active development. The vendor states that it is used by hundreds of thousands of apps and developers, ensuring stability and reliability. According to the vendor, Solar2D is suitable for both indie developers and large publishers looking to create high-quality games.

Lua-based: Solar2D uses the Lua scripting language, which is claimed to provide a lightweight, fast, and powerful scripting environment. The vendor states that Lua is widely used in the gaming industry and has been utilized in popular franchises like Warcraft, Angry Birds, and Civilization, offering a familiar and accessible language for game development.

Completely free: According to the vendor, Solar2D is completely free to use with no hidden fees, charges, or royalties. Whether you are an indie developer or a large publisher, there are no costs associated with using the engine, providing a cost-effective solution for game development.

Privacy aware: The vendor claims that Solar2D does not track user data or make any server calls without explicit permission. Games built with Solar2D are said to only make network requests that are explicitly requested by the developer, ensuring privacy and data protection.

Community: Solar2D boasts a vibrant community of thousands of developers using the engine for live games. According to the vendor, developers can engage with the community through forums and Discord chat to seek help, share ideas, and collaborate. The vendor claims that the community provides a wealth of knowledge and resources from experienced developers within the Solar2D community.

Open Source: Solar2D is an open-source project with all source code and resources available under the MIT license. The vendor states that developers have the freedom to modify, customize, and contribute to the engine's development, offering transparency and flexibility to tailor Solar2D to their specific needs.