Compare Terra Engine
A fast way to decide. Terra Engine is built for one genre, so it is better to know early whether it is yours.
The short answer
Terra Engine is a good choice if you are making a top-down 2D pixel RPG with real-time action combat and want ready-made RPG systems with an editor for each of them. It is the wrong tool for 3D, turn-based or isometric games, and you should test online co-op yourself before you build a release plan on it.
Good fit
- You are making a top-down 2D pixel RPG with free 8-direction movement and a tile-based world.
- You want real-time action combat: arc swings, roll, block and parry with counter.
- Your game has farming, mining, fishing, crafting or house building.
- You want dungeons, mines, quests, dialogue, merchants, companions, weather and day and night ready to use.
- You want your game content as readable JSON in Git, not in a closed project file.
- You want to drive your editor from scripts (Pro license).
- You want a Steam Deck build pipeline from the start.
- You want co-op for up to 5 players on a host model.
- You bring your own pixel art, or build on the art of the starter project.
Not a good fit
- You are making a 3D game, a side-scrolling platformer, a shooter or a puzzle game.
- Turn-based combat is the core of your game. Combat in Terra Engine is real-time.
- You need an isometric view, or tile sizes other than 16 and 32 px.
- You need vehicles, such as cars or mounts.
- Your main need is online multiplayer shipped soon, with dedicated servers, matchmaking or anti-cheat. Co-op runs on a host player, and Steam lobbies are still being added.
- You need console export without a porting partner.
- You want a large library of included art. Art assets are not included.
- You need a polished public manual and a large community today. The documentation is working documentation, and the product is young, with one reference game.
- You need the editor interface in English today. It is German at the moment, and an English interface is in preparation.
Comparison with other tools
Terra rows come from the product itself. The other columns are general public knowledge and prices come from aggregators. Check the vendors' sites before you decide.
| Terra Engine | RPG Maker MZ | GameMaker | Godot (plain) | Unity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Top-down pixel RPG | JRPG, tile maps | 2D games | Any 2D and 3D | Any 2D and 3D |
| Price | 999 or 2,999 EUR, update license | About 80 USD, one-time | Free tier, Pro about 100 USD one-time (unverified) | Free | Free up to 200,000 USD revenue, then per seat (Pro about 2,310 USD a year) |
| RPG systems ready | Yes: inventory, quests, combat, farming, crafting, saves | Yes, turn-based JRPG | No, build yourself | No, build yourself | No, build yourself |
| Real-time action combat | Yes | Not native (plugins) | Build yourself | Build yourself | Build yourself |
| Turn-based combat | No | Yes | Build yourself | Build yourself | Build yourself |
| Code needed | For new mechanics only | Optional (JavaScript plugins) | GML or visual | GDScript or C# | C# |
| Multiplayer | Co-op up to 5 players, host model, Steam lobbies in progress | No | Possible, build yourself | Built-in networking, build yourself | Possible, build yourself |
| Export | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Steam Deck pipeline verified | Windows, macOS, web, mobile | Wide, consoles with partners | Wide | Very wide, including consoles |
| Source access | Readable code; changing the engine with Pro | Plugins | No | Yes | Partial |
| Art included | Starter project with its own art | Yes, large library | No | No | No |
| Command interface for scripts | Pro license | No | No | No | No |
Where Terra Engine is stronger
- Ready RPG systems with an editor for each
- Real-time action RPG
- Open JSON content
- A command interface for scripts (Pro license)
- A Steam Deck pipeline
- Strict architecture and a large test suite
Where it is weaker
- Genre range
- Platform range and testing outside macOS and Linux
- Ecosystem and community size
- Included art
- Online multiplayer
- Track record: one game in development