With the advent of technology, video game development engines have reached the next level. Mobile game developers use different tools and frameworks in game engines to create unique and realistic games that offer an exceptional gaming experience. The game engine acts as a foundation for developing video games, these engines include various tools, customization, libraries, features, plugins, etc, that allow you to enrich your game idea in successful game platforms.
In every game development process, there are two major engines, Unity and Unreal. Picking anyone out of these two can be difficult. In this blog, we are going to discuss every aspect of both game engines so you can know which one will be the most suitable for game development.
Unity vs Unreal Engine for mobile games is a hot topic among developers. In contrast, some gravitate towards Unreal Engine, while others like the accessibility provided by Unity. However, both of them have advantages and disadvantages. This blog will compare the two game engines and their features and development potential so you clear your doubts and choose the best one to give a perfect shape to your game idea.
Table of Contents
To facilitate mobile game development, Unity was launched in 2005 by Unity Technologies. Since its launch, it has progressed a lot and is now among the most preferred game engines used by indie game developers. With the easy-to-learn user interface coupled with a vast active community, Unity climbed to the top and is now dominating the mobile game market. Various prominent mobile games like Pokemon GO and Fall Guys were developed with the help of the Unity game engine.
Moreover, in 2020, Unity launched its Mixed and Augmented Reality Studio known as MARS which is capable of leveraging advanced technologies like AR/VR and developing next-gen mobile games with Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
Now, let’s take a look at the various pros and cons of Unity game engine so you can clear all your doubts regarding Unity game engine, and can make an informed choice.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Free Game Engine( Pro and Plus versions are paid) | Lack of open-source codes |
| Quick game development with C# code | Not popular with AAA game publishers |
| Active Community | Lack of real-time multiplayer capabilities |
| AR/VR Support | Unreal Engine is more graphic-intensive |
| Rich Asset Store | Asset quality is varied |
| Easy-to-use | Advance features for games |
Now that we have familiarised ourselves with the Unity Engine, let’s also look at the Unreal game engine and its features.
The first edition of Unreal Engine was launched in 1998 by Tim Seveeny. Unreal, an FPS shooter, was the very first game developed using the Unreal engine for game development. It is owned by Epic Games and the popular engine is widely known for its portability and compatibility with various platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, etc. One of the most prominent benefits of game development with the Ue is it allows the creation of high-quality graphics and robust game mechanics.
The accessibility and compatibility of Unreal Engine allow developers to import 3D-rendered graphics and Shadow maps to create realistic and lifelike graphics in mobile games.
Here is the list of the pros and cons of the Unreal game engine so you can clear all your doubts.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Open-source game engine | Unity’s asset store is better |
| Top-notch graphics | Lacks in 2D game development |
| The preferred choice of AAA publishers | Python is a professional language which is hard to learn |
| Real-time multiplayer support | Doesn’t support outdated hardware |
| Better rendering than the Unity game engine | Small User Base |
Below we have made a table comparing Unity and Unreal, let’s explore this to learn more about these two engines.
| Feature | Unity | Unreal Engine |
| Graphics and Speed | Great for simple 2D and 3D games, runs smoothly on mobile and small games. | Best for detailed, high-quality 3D graphics and big, complex games. |
| Ease of Use | Easy to learn and use, good for beginners and fast development. | Harder to learn, better for people with more experience. |
| Community Help | Big community with lots of guides, videos, and forums to learn from. | Smaller community but still has good support and resources. |
| Cost | Free for small teams; charges start if you make over $200K a year. | Free until your game makes $1 million; then, you pay 5% of your revenue. |
| Best For | Great for making simple 2D games, mobile games, and small projects. | Best for high-end 3D games, VR, and movie-like graphics. |
Unity is a widely used game engine by developers, it is also known as one of the best engines to work with. Here below, let’s have a look at the games that are made with the Unity engine.
In this game, the players work as crewmates on a spaceship, completing tasks while trying t o uncover impostors. Impostors try to ruin the mission and secretly get rid of the crewmates without being noticed.
In Pokemon Go, players can explore real-world locations to catch Pokemon using AR technology, the game includes geolocation, multiplayer elements, and gamified exploration.
An amazingly hand-drawn game with difficult levels, challenging combat, and an atmospheric world filled with secrets. This is one of the most loved games by every age players.
Cuphead is known for its 1930s-inspired cartoon art style and punishing difficulty, The game is very challenging and provides different hurdles and tricky platforms on every stage.
The Unreal Engine is known for creating visually stunning and performance-intensive games. Here’s a list of some popular games made with Unreal, along with their descriptions:
It is a culture-based game with a blend of royalty in it including building mechanics. Players compete in a shrinking play area, collecting weapons and materials to outlast opponents.
A milestone series that defined cover-based shooting gameplay, Gears of War combines extreme action, gripping storytelling, and cooperative multiplayer modes.
Who doesn’t love PUBG? Of course everyone does, this game is one of the trending and most loved games among players. In this game, players are dropped onto an island where they scavenge for weapons and fight to be the last one standing in this tactical and realistic battle royale.
Final Fantasy is an RPG game that is feature-rich, action-packed combat and stunning game. Its visuals are the center of attraction that grabs every player’s attention.
Unity is the best choice for mobile game development which offers lightweight solutions and optimization for smaller devices.
More players indeed prefer a game that can be played on multiple devices which includes PCs, mobiles, consoles, and more. So every developer must prefer mobile game engines that are compatible with cross-platform game development. Here Unity wins the game, it supports development for iOS, Android, and other platforms as well.
Unity is specially designed for smaller devices which consumes fewer resources while maintaining performance. There are many popular games created by using Unity are: Angry Birds2, Temple Run, and more.
AR/VR is the new trend, every player likes to play games like Pokemon Go and more that are rich in features and give real-life-like experiences in the game. Unity is a pro in Augmented Reality game development.
Debugging is an important part of mobile game development, the game is only successful when it runs smoothly on a platform. With the help of Unity, the game programmer can easily update the game without any hassle.
Unreal engine is a perfect pair for AAA games as its ultimate focus is to deliver top-notch visuals and high-performance mechanics.
Unreal’s advanced rendering features, like Nanite and Lumen( introduced in Unreal Engine5), allow a photorealistic environment and vibrant lighting, an idea for large-scale games with high visual fidelity.
Unreal Engine is great at managing detailed 3D designs, huge game worlds, and smooth, high-quality animations. This makes it ideal for games like Fortnite, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Gears of War.
Unreal provides tools for managing complex AI systems, physics-based interactions, and advanced cinematic experiences, which are essential for AAA games.
Over time a lot of technological advancements have been seen in the competitive gaming world. It has given rise to the various mobile game development engines that have facilitated game development. These mobile game engines have made lives easy for developers by providing various features and tools that promote the creation of games across different platforms.
Unreal and Unity are two of the engines that are preferred by the game developers. Both Unreal and Unity are proficient in their various verticals. This depends on what type of game you want, as developing a game by Unity Engine means you might be focusing on a mobile audience, and if you are developing games using Unreal Engine then you might have a great budget!
Whether you prefer Unity or Unreal to make your game, BR Softech holds the expertise to polish your requirements into a world-class game. Contact us today if you have a fabulous game idea and we can help in capitalizing on that idea.
Ans. Yes, we offer 2D game development with Unity. Our Unity game developers have years of experience working with the game engine and can develop 2D and 3D games.
Ans. The cost of developing a game with Unity is not fixed, it depends on various factors. However, you can contact us if you want to know the exact cost of the Unity game development.
Ans. Both game engines (unity or Unreal Engine) are capable of developing indie games flawlessly. However, if you are a beginner developer, you can choose Unity as it is fairly easy to learn and can be used by beginner developers.
Ans. Unity game engine is known for its user-friendly interface and simple navigation, and even beginners can use it easily. It also offers you a huge community, tutorials, guides, and lots of lessons for any kind of help. Meanwhile, Unreal engine has an advanced user interface that makes it hard to use and to dive in-depth, you have to use C++ language which is tough to learn in comparison to C#.
Ans. To develop 2D games, Unity is the best game engine because it has excellent tools and plugins to create simple and engaging 2D games.
Ans. Unity’s asset store is larger than Unreal, it offers a wide variety of ready-to-use assets and tools. Unreal Engine’s marketplace has high-quality assets, especially for photorealistic projects, but it is comparatively smaller.
Ans. Switching engines mid-project is highly impractical due to differences in architecture, scripting languages, and workflows. It’s best to carefully evaluate both engines before starting your project.
