Solarus

Solarus

Solarus is a free and open source 2D game engine written in C++. It focuses on retro-style action RPGs and can be used to create Zelda-like games. Solarus is cross-platform and supports quests, sprites, tiles, audio, and more out of the box.
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open-source game-engine c 2d retro rpg zeldalike crossplatform quests sprites tiles audio
Solarus alternatives ➤

Solarus: Free and Open Source 2D Game Engine for Retro-Style Action RPGs

A cross-platform game engine supporting quests, sprites, tiles, audio, and more, ideal for creating Zelda-like games.

What is Solarus?

Solarus is an open-source game engine designed for creating 2D action/adventure games in the style of the classic Legend of Zelda games for NES and SNES. It is written in C++ and is cross-platform, supporting Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and web browsers.

Some key features of Solarus include:

  • Tilemap editor built-in for easy world design
  • Sprite and animation support
  • Audio support for OGG and MIDI
  • Scripting system for events, entities, UI, and more
  • Quest system to create sequences, dialogs, and cinematics
  • Entity behaviors and AI scripts
  • Collision engine and path finding
  • Support for gamepads and touch input
  • Shaders and visual effects

With Solarus, developers can focus on designing levels, writing game logic, and creating content rather than building core engine features from scratch. Its gameplay programming model is simple yet flexible enough for experienced devs. And its extensive editor facilitates rapid world-building. While inspired by classic 2D Zeldas, Solarus can bring that nostalgic retro feel to new original games.

Solarus Features

Features

  1. Tile-based maps
  2. Sprites and animations
  3. Quest system
  4. Dialogs and menus
  5. Scripting with Lua
  6. Audio support
  7. Gamepad and keyboard controls

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS)

Active community support

Good for creating 2D action RPGs

Extensible through Lua scripting

Cons

Limited documentation

Steep learning curve

Not as full-featured as commercial engines

Mostly geared towards Zelda-like games

Official Links

Official Website
https://www.solarus-games.org/

The Best Solarus Alternatives

Top Games and Game Engines and other similar apps like Solarus

Here are some alternatives to Solarus:

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RPG 20XX
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fgmk
Suggest an alternative ❐

RPG JS icon

RPG JS

RPG JS is an open-source JavaScript framework designed to help developers create text-based roleplaying games that run in a web browser. It provides a structure and tools for managing common RPG elements like:Game statePlayer character and NPC entitiesTurn-based combat systemDialogue trees and text parsingInventory, quest, and equipment systemsSaving and loading...
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RPG 20XX

RPG 20XX is a flexible and powerful role-playing game creation engine and framework for developers to build 2D RPG games across platforms. It provides a complete toolset for designing RPG elements like maps, characters, items, quests, dialogues, cutscenes and more out of the box.The key features include:Intuitive map editor to...
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Fgmk

fgmk is a free, open source game creation tool for designing 2D video games. It is inspired by and based on Game Maker Studio, providing a more approachable and beginner-friendly alternative.Using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, fgmk allows users to visually build gameplay mechanics, design levels, integrate graphics, audio, and other...
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