What are the best game development engines for building a new 2D action game with cross-platform release plans?

For a new 2D action game with cross-platform release plans (PC, consoles, maybe mobile), the best engine depends on your team size, target platforms, and how custom you want the tech stack to be.

Top engine picks

1. Unity

Best overall for cross-platform 2D action games

Why it’s strong:

• Mature 2D workflow
• Great cross-platform support: PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, consoles
• Large ecosystem of plugins, tools, tutorials, and hiring pool
• Good performance for most 2D action games
• Strong support for animation, UI, input, and build pipelines

Good for:

• Indie teams
• Commercial releases across multiple platforms
• Games that need lots of middleware or third-party integrations

Downsides:

• Can feel heavy/complex for small projects
• Licensing/pricing has been a concern for some developers
• Requires some care to keep projects organized

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2. Godot

Best open-source option

Why it’s strong:

• Free and open source
• Very nice 2D-first engine
• Lightweight and fast to iterate in
• Cross-platform export support for PC, mobile, and web
• Clean scene/node structure that works well for 2D games

Good for:

• Smaller teams
• Indie projects
• Developers who want full control and no licensing worries

Downsides:

• Console support is not as straightforward as Unity/Unreal
• Smaller ecosystem and fewer mature third-party tools
• Some advanced workflows may require more custom work

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3. GameMaker

Best for pure 2D gameplay-focused development

Why it’s strong:

• Built specifically for 2D games
• Very fast for prototyping action mechanics
• Easier learning curve than many engines
• Strong 2D rendering and animation tools

Good for:

• Tight 2D action games
• Small teams or solo devs
• Projects where speed of iteration matters most

Downsides:

• Less flexible for broader cross-platform ambitions
• Console support and advanced workflows can be more limited
• Can become awkward for larger, more complex games

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4. Unreal Engine

Best if you want high-end tooling and maybe future 3D expansion

Why it’s strong:

• Excellent tooling and production pipeline
• Strong cross-platform support
• Powerful for large-scale projects

Good for:

• Teams with experience in Unreal
• Projects that may evolve beyond 2D
• Teams wanting robust production infrastructure

Downsides:

• Overkill for many 2D games
• Heavier to work with than Unity or Godot for 2D
• Not usually the first choice for a 2D action game

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My practical recommendation

• Choose Unity if you want the safest all-around option for a commercial 2D action game with broad platform release plans, especially if consoles are important.
• Choose Godot if you want a lean, open-source, 2D-friendly engine and can accept more manual work for advanced platform targets.
• Choose GameMaker if your game is strictly 2D, gameplay-heavy, and you value rapid iteration over deep platform flexibility.

Quick decision guide

• Need consoles + strong ecosystem? → Unity
• Want free/open-source + excellent 2D workflow? → Godot
• Want fastest 2D prototyping and simpler tooling? → GameMaker
• Need enterprise-grade pipeline or future 3D potential? → Unreal

Short answer

If you’re building a new 2D action game for multiple platforms, the best starting point is usually Unity, with Godot as the best alternative if you want open-source and a lighter engine.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a head-to-head comparison table,
2. a recommendation based on your team size/budget, or
3. the best engine for consoles specifically.