Advantages, Differences and Comparison.

Is it worth to start using Godot over Unity?

Recent times

In recent years, the Godot Engine has been steadily rising in popularity. It is becoming a true, able contender in the game industry. Its open-source nature, simplicity, and efficiency make it particularly attractive to indie developers and teams of varying size. Unity of course still remains a dominant force in the industry, but Godot's unique strengths and growing community have positioned it as a serious threat to current state of affairs. In this article we will explore the differences between the two engines, compare them directly in chosen subjects, and finally, highlight the advantages one might gain from by switching to Godot.

Why should you consider moving to godot?

It's completely open source free!

Godot is a free open source software (FOSS). What does it mean? Among others: Its' source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/godotengine), so whether you're a small indie developer or a larger commercial team, the costs of using it remain ZERO. In Unity's case: it operates on a subscription-based model, which can become costly, especially for successful games that require Pro licenses or revenue-sharing models once certain thresholds are met.

Not dead weight

56 megabytes. That is how much Godot Engine weights in its entirety. Godot requires fewer system resources, and runs efficiently on a variety of hardware. Unity while robust has grown significantly in size and complexity... With large projects often requiring more powerful hardware for smooth operation. There is a small catch with Godot though. You have to download its' export templates separately, and they can be more than 500 megabytes in size :)

Customizability and Control

Godot allows full control over the engine's inner workings since it's open-source. Developers can modify the engine to suit the unique requirements of their projects. Unity, on the other hand, is closed-source, and while it's highly customizable via plugins and assets, you're still constrained by the limitations.

C# Support and GDScript Flexibility

Unity supports C#, but so does Godot! Godot supports both C# and its own scripting language, GDScript, designed to be similar to Python, offering an easy learning curve and faster development speed for smaller projects. GDScript is particularly praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in rapid prototyping, which makes it more beginner-friendly.

Scene System

Godot's unique node-based scene system is both powerful and intuitive. In Godot, everything is a scene, and scenes can be nested or reused, promoting modularity and reusability in game development. This scene system is often seen as easier to grasp than Unity's object-oriented approach, especially for new developers or those working on complex hierarchies of objects. In Unity, while the object-oriented model is familiar to many, it can become cumbersome to manage as a project scales.

2D Game Development

One of Godot's standout strengths is its 2D game engine, which is fully separated from its 3D engine (unlike Unity), offering specialized tools for 2D games. Developers frequently praise Godot's 2D capabilities for being lightweight, efficient, and precise, making it a strong choice for anyone building 2D games. While Unity is also capable of 2D game development, its primary focus is on 3D, and some developers find it clunky for 2D, as many of its features are overkill or less efficient for 2D projects.

Export Options

You can easily export your games to multiple platforms, like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even HTML5, without worrying about extra costs. Whether you're making a small indie game or a big project, Godot's export system is completely royalty-free. Unity also supports multiple platforms, but for some, you'll need a Unity Pro subscription, and if your game does well, you'll have to share a portion of your earnings once you hit certain revenue thresholds.

Focused and Simple for 2D Games

Developers working on 2D games often prefer Godot for its simplicity and efficiency. Godot's 2D engine is separate from its 3D engine, avoiding the overhead and complexity of Unity's 3D-first architecture for simple 2D titles.

When to Choose Godot

• While developing a 2D game and want a lightweight, easy to learn tool for yourself.\
• When You're a solo developer, or a small studio looking to avoid subscription fees and license costs.\
• If you prefer a community-driven, open-source engine with full access to the source code.\
• You're a student or beginner looking to learn game development without breaking the bank.
• Or maybe if you want a highly customizable engine that can be tailored to your project's specific needs.

A few counterarguments

Advanced 3D Capabilities

If you're developing large-scale, complex 3D games, Unity's high-end 3D tools and features like advanced rendering, physics, and animation systems are still more advanced than what Godot currently offers. Unity has also integrated advanced features like HDRP (High Definition Render Pipeline) for AAA-level graphics and URP (Universal Render Pipeline) for better performance across platforms.

Larger Community and Ecosystem

Unity's community is strong. Really. Its' massive asset store is a huge contributor to development speed for both solo developers and teams. Size of the community also grants more tutorials, tools, assets, and third-party plugins.

VR/AR Support

Unity is a leader in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) development, providing mature, well-supported solutions for platforms such as the Oculus Rift and Microsoft's HoloLens. Its robust ecosystem and comprehensive toolset make it a strong choice for VR/AR projects. While Godot has made significant strides in VR capabilities, especially with recent updates, it is still developing in this area and does not yet offer the same level of maturity and feature set as Unity. However, our team has successfully created several demo-projects in VR on Oculus 3, and there is great hope for the development of VR libraries, especially with the confirmed collaboration between Meta (the owner of Oculus 3) and W4 Games to expand the open-source Godot ecosystem on Meta Quest.
https://www.w4games.com/blog/w4-games-news-1/w4-games-and-meta-team-up-to-expand-open-source-godot-ecosystem-on-meta-quest-28

A quick summary

Feature	Unity	Godot
License	Proprietary, subscription-based	Open-source, free (MIT license)
Scripting Languages	C#, UnityScript	GDScript (Python-like), C#
2D Support	Adequate, but secondary to 3D	Specialized and optimized for 2D
3D Support	Advanced and feature-rich	Growing but less advanced than Unity
Ease of Use	High, but can become complex	Simpler, especially for small projects
Performance	High performance, scalable	Efficient, but less optimized for large 3D games
Asset Store	Large, robust Unity Asset Store	Smaller, but GAS is there to have your back :)
Learning Curve	Moderate to steep (depending on experience)	Gentle for 2D/indie projects, steeper for advanced 3D

Conclusion

Migrating from Unity to Godot can offer significant advantages, especially in terms of cost savings, flexibility, and ease of use, particularly for 2D games and smaller projects. However, Unity remains the more robust choice for large-scale 3D games, VR/AR projects, and developers seeking the support of a large community and ecosystem. The choice ultimately depends on your project's scope, budget, and long-term goals. If you're looking for an open-source, lightweight engine that excels in 2D and is community-driven, Godot is worth serious consideration.