Defold

Overview of Defold

Defold is a powerful, completely free game engine designed for creating high-performance cross-platform games. This source-available engine solves common technical challenges faced by game developers, allowing creators to focus on building engaging gameplay experiences rather than wrestling with complex setup or configuration. With its proven track record of successful game releases across mobile, web, desktop, and consoles, Defold has established itself as a production-ready solution trusted by developers worldwide.

The engine supports both 2D and 3D game development and comes with a comprehensive suite of built-in tools including visual editors, debugging capabilities, and Lua scripting support. Thanks to the Defold Foundation's commitment to keeping the engine free forever, developers can access all features without worrying about licensing costs, royalties, or runtime fees. This makes Defold particularly appealing for indie developers, studios working on tight budgets, and educational institutions teaching game development.

How to Use Defold

Getting started with Defold is remarkably straightforward – simply download the editor and begin creating immediately. The turn-key solution requires no additional setup or configuration, not even when building your projects. The integrated development environment provides everything needed in one cohesive package, from visual scene editing to code development and debugging. Developers write game logic using Lua, a lightweight and accessible scripting language, while the engine handles cross-platform compilation automatically through its zero-config cloud build system for native code.

Core Features of Defold

1. Cross-Platform Deployment – Publish to PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, mobile, desktop, and web platforms using a single codebase
2. Integrated Development Environment – Complete editor with visual tools, code editor, debugger, and scene management
3. Lua Scripting Support – Write game logic using the lightweight and powerful Lua programming language
4. Asset Portal Integration – Extend functionality with community-created assets and extensions
5. Production-Ready Tools – Built-in analytics, app economy integrations, and game services support

Use Cases for Defold

• Developing 2D mobile games for Android and iOS platforms
• Creating HTML5 web games for browser-based distribution
• Building console games for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch
• Developing cross-platform indie games with limited budgets
• Creating educational games and interactive learning experiences
• Prototyping game concepts quickly with minimal setup time
• Developing games for emerging platforms like Facebook Instant Games

Support and Contact

For technical assistance and community support, visit the Defold Forum or the official website. You can also contact us via email at contact@defold.com. For organizations requiring dedicated technical support, professional support contracts are available through the Defold Foundation.

Company Info

Defold is developed and maintained by the Defold Foundation, an organization dedicated to keeping the game engine free and accessible to developers worldwide. The foundation ensures continuous development with regular monthly updates and maintains the engine's source-available licensing model.

Login and Signup

No account creation or login is required to download and use Defold. Developers can immediately access the full engine by visiting the Defold download page. The entire development workflow operates offline once the editor is installed, though optional account creation is available for accessing additional services like cloud builds.