11 Best Java Game Development Libraries 2024

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by Kanika Maheshwari dot icon Updated: Feb 15, 2024

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Here are some famous Java Game Development Libraries. Some of the use cases of Java Game Development Libraries include creating various types of games such as 2D and 3D Games, Educational Games, Mobile Games, or Multiplayer Games.


Java game development libraries are collections of pre-built code that allow developers to quickly and easily create complex games. These libraries provide a wide range of features, such as animations, audio, graphics, physics, artificial intelligence, user inputs, and much more. By using these libraries, developers can create high-quality games in less time than it would take to build them from scratch.


Let us look at the libraries in detail below.

libgdx

  • Cross-platform game development library.
  • Built-in tools such as a particle editor, a sprite editor, and UI designer.
  • Supports 3D game development.

libgdxby libgdx

Java doticonstar image 21591 doticonVersion:1.11.0doticon
License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

Desktop/Android/HTML5/iOS Java game development framework

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            libgdxby libgdx

            Java doticon star image 21591 doticonVersion:1.11.0doticon License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

            Desktop/Android/HTML5/iOS Java game development framework
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                      jmonkeyengine

                      • Offers a flexible scene graph to provide an intuitive and powerful way to create, arrange, and animate 3D objects.
                      • Built-in physics engine that allows developers to easily add physics-driven elements into their games.
                      • Has a large and active community of developers.

                      jmonkeyengineby jMonkeyEngine

                      Java doticonstar image 3436 doticonVersion:v3.6.0-stabledoticon
                      License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                      A complete 3-D game development suite written in Java.

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                                jmonkeyengineby jMonkeyEngine

                                Java doticon star image 3436 doticonVersion:v3.6.0-stabledoticon License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                A complete 3-D game development suite written in Java.
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                                          lwjgl 

                                          • Platform-independent. 
                                          • No bugs. 
                                          • Allows developers to create and run applications written in multiple languages. 

                                          lwjglby LWJGL

                                          Java doticonstar image 531 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                          no licences License: No License (null)

                                          [LEGACY] LWJGL 2.X - The Lightweight Java Game Library.

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                                                    lwjglby LWJGL

                                                    Java doticon star image 531 doticonVersion:Currentdoticonno licences License: No License

                                                    [LEGACY] LWJGL 2.X - The Lightweight Java Game Library.
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                                                              playn 

                                                              • Provides a unified game services API. 
                                                              • Provides a game state management system. 
                                                              • Enables developers to build rich, interactive experiences with advanced graphics support. 

                                                              playnby playn

                                                              Java doticonstar image 227 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                              License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                              A Java game development framework that deploys to JVM, HTML5, Android and iOS.

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                                                                        playnby playn

                                                                        Java doticon star image 227 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                        A Java game development framework that deploys to JVM, HTML5, Android and iOS.
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                                                                                  jbox2d 

                                                                                  • Allows for more realistic and complex motion simulation. 
                                                                                  • A unique get/set interface for setting and reading the properties of objects. 
                                                                                  • A broad set of features, including collision detection, etc. 

                                                                                  jbox2dby jbox2d

                                                                                  Java doticonstar image 887 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                  License: Permissive (BSD-2-Clause)

                                                                                  a 2d Java physics engine, native java port of the C++ physics engines Box2D and LiquidFun

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                                                                                            jbox2dby jbox2d

                                                                                            Java doticon star image 887 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (BSD-2-Clause)

                                                                                            a 2d Java physics engine, native java port of the C++ physics engines Box2D and LiquidFun
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                                                                                                      slick2d 

                                                                                                      • Easy to develop 2D games quickly and efficiently. 
                                                                                                      • Wide features such as a GUI library, audio support, and more. 
                                                                                                      • Provides an OpenGL backend for hardware accelerated graphics and Cross-platform compatibility. 

                                                                                                      slick2dby joshmarcus

                                                                                                      Java doticonstar image 20 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                      no licences License: No License (null)

                                                                                                      2D game library based on LWJGL (git clone of hg repository at https://bitbucket.org/kevglass/slick)

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                                                                                                                slick2dby joshmarcus

                                                                                                                Java doticon star image 20 doticonVersion:Currentdoticonno licences License: No License

                                                                                                                2D game library based on LWJGL (git clone of hg repository at https://bitbucket.org/kevglass/slick)
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                                                                                                                          AndEngine 

                                                                                                                          • Offers a wide variety of graphical effects and shader support. 
                                                                                                                          • Has built-in support for multiplayer gaming. 
                                                                                                                          • Has built-in support for virtual reality.  

                                                                                                                          AndEngineby nicolasgramlich

                                                                                                                          Java doticonstar image 3152 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                                          License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                                                          Free Android 2D OpenGL Game Engine

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                                                                                                                                    AndEngineby nicolasgramlich

                                                                                                                                    Java doticon star image 3152 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                                                                    Free Android 2D OpenGL Game Engine
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                                                                                                                                              corona_sdk 

                                                                                                                                              • Features the Corona Simulator, which allows developers to quickly test and debug their games on multiple platforms without having to deploy them. 
                                                                                                                                              • Based on the Lua scripting language. 
                                                                                                                                              • Offers an extensive library of plugins. 

                                                                                                                                              corona_sdkby adjust

                                                                                                                                              Java doticonstar image 7 doticonVersion:v4.29.3doticon
                                                                                                                                              no licences License: No License (null)

                                                                                                                                              This is the Corona SDK of

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                                                                                                                                                        corona_sdkby adjust

                                                                                                                                                        Java doticon star image 7 doticonVersion:v4.29.3doticonno licences License: No License

                                                                                                                                                        This is the Corona SDK of
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                                                                                                                                                                  java-sdk 

                                                                                                                                                                  • Support for the JavaFX library for creating modern, dynamic user interfaces. 
                                                                                                                                                                  • Comprehensive documentation with tutorials and sample code. 
                                                                                                                                                                  • High-level APIs for advanced game AI and physics. 

                                                                                                                                                                  java-sdkby watson-developer-cloud

                                                                                                                                                                  Java doticonstar image 582 doticonVersion:v9.3.1doticon
                                                                                                                                                                  License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                                                                                                  :1st_place_medal: Java SDK to use the IBM Watson services.

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                                                                                                                                                                            java-sdkby watson-developer-cloud

                                                                                                                                                                            Java doticon star image 582 doticonVersion:v9.3.1doticon License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                                                                                                            :1st_place_medal: Java SDK to use the IBM Watson services.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      Stellar  

                                                                                                                                                                                      • Advanced networking capabilities. 
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Comprehensive audio support. 
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Support for 2D and 3D graphics. 

                                                                                                                                                                                      Stellarby Vrekt

                                                                                                                                                                                      Java doticonstar image 5 doticonVersion:0.14doticon
                                                                                                                                                                                      no licences License: No License (null)

                                                                                                                                                                                      2D game library that is simple to learn and use.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                Stellarby Vrekt

                                                                                                                                                                                                Java doticon star image 5 doticonVersion:0.14doticonno licences License: No License

                                                                                                                                                                                                2D game library that is simple to learn and use.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                          afroman-client 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Supports both DirectX and OpenGL graphics APIs. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Fully compatible with other popular game development libraries. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Provides support for multi-threaded programming. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          afroman-clientby qwertysam

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Java doticonstar image 5 doticonVersion:2019.5.1doticon
                                                                                                                                                                                                          no licences License: No License (null)

                                                                                                                                                                                                          An open-source multiplayer Java game engine with no third-party libraries.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                    afroman-clientby qwertysam

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Java doticon star image 5 doticonVersion:2019.5.1doticonno licences License: No License

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    An open-source multiplayer Java game engine with no third-party libraries.
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