What are the most popular game engines and their strengths?

**Unity** – Best for 2D/3D games, mobile, indie projects, VR/AR. Cross-platform export, massive Asset Store (70,000+ assets), extensive tutorials, C# programming. Medium learning curve—beginner-friendly with visual scripting but scales to advanced.

**Unreal Engine 5** – Best for AAA games, high-fidelity 3D, photorealistic graphics. Best-in-class graphics (Nanite, Lumen technologies), Blueprint visual scripting (no coding required), free Megascans library. High learning curve but Blueprint system helps beginners.

**Godot 4** – Best for 2D games, indie 3D projects, open-source developers. Completely free and open-source (MIT license), excellent 2D tools, lightweight, beginner-friendly. Low to medium learning curve, very approachable especially for 2D.

**Roblox Studio** – Best for multiplayer games on Roblox platform. Built-in multiplayer support, instant massive audience, drag-and-drop 3D world building, teaches Lua/Luau programming. Locked into Roblox ecosystem but low to medium learning curve.

**GameMaker** – Best for 2D games only. Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface, fast 2D prototyping, good for platformers and arcade games. Very low learning curve, accessible for beginners.

**Construct 3** – Best for 2D games, browser-based games. Pure drag-and-drop (no coding required), browser-based (access anywhere), HTML5 export. Very low learning curve—easiest engine for absolute beginners.

For younger campers (ages 6-12), Scratch, Construct 3, or Roblox Studio provide excellent introductions. For middle schoolers and teens, Unity offers the best balance of power, resources, and career relevance. Advanced high schoolers interested in cutting-edge graphics should explore Unreal Engine.