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8 Best JavaScript Game Development Libraries

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by Dhiren Gala dot icon Updated: Apr 28, 2023

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Here are the best JavaScript game development libraries for your web application. You can use these libraries in JavaScript to build features such as animations, physical movements, collision detection, sound effects, and more.


Open-source JavaScript game development libraries provide various tools and frameworks for game developers of all levels. Whether you're looking to create a simple casual game or a complex 3D game, there is an open-source JavaScript library that can help. These libraries support both 2D and 3D game development and are known for their ease of use and flexibility. Using JavaScript libraries, you can create rich 3D worlds in your games with compelling motion and various moving objects. Also, you can incorporate built-in physics and real-time lighting effects in the games.


We have handpicked top and trending JavaScript libraries for game development based on popularity, licensing, and unique features to help you build video gaming applications:

Impact:

  • Used mainly for 2D game development with HTML5 and JavaScript
  • Provides various tools, including sprite animations, particle effects, and physics. 
  • Includes powerful plugins for adding extra functionality and a 3D environment to your games.

Impactby phoboslab

JavaScript doticonstar image 1856 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
License: Permissive (MIT)

HTML5 Game Engine

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            Impactby phoboslab

            JavaScript doticon star image 1856 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (MIT)

            HTML5 Game Engine
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                      Babylon:

                      • Used for its incredibly powerful Web rendering capabilities.
                      • Provides tools such as physics-based collisions and particle effects.
                      • Supports a wide range of 3D formats.

                      babylonby babel

                      JavaScript doticonstar image 1716 doticonVersion:v7.0.0-beta.30doticon
                      License: Permissive (MIT)

                      PSA: moved into babel/babel as @babel/parser -->

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                                babylonby babel

                                JavaScript doticon star image 1716 doticonVersion:v7.0.0-beta.30doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                PSA: moved into babel/babel as @babel/parser -->
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                                          Phaser:

                                          • Used for building HTML5 games for desktop and mobile web browsers.
                                          • Provides features such as sprite animation, particle effects, and physics.
                                          • Offers WebGL and Canvas rendering.

                                          phaserby photonstorm

                                          JavaScript doticonstar image 34535 doticonVersion:v3.60.0doticon
                                          License: Permissive (MIT)

                                          Phaser is a fun, free and fast 2D game framework for making HTML5 games for desktop and mobile web browsers, supporting Canvas and WebGL rendering.

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                                                    phaserby photonstorm

                                                    JavaScript doticon star image 34535 doticonVersion:v3.60.0doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                    Phaser is a fun, free and fast 2D game framework for making HTML5 games for desktop and mobile web browsers, supporting Canvas and WebGL rendering.
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                                                              PixiJS

                                                              • Used for building beautiful web and visual experiences in games.
                                                              • It is a fast and lightweight 2D rendering library for HTML5 games.
                                                              • Includes powerful features such as sprite animations and a fast WebGL renderer.

                                                              pixiby Coder2012

                                                              JavaScript doticonstar image 13 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                              no licences License: No License (null)

                                                              2D game using PIXI js

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                                                                        pixiby Coder2012

                                                                        JavaScript doticon star image 13 doticonVersion:Currentdoticonno licences License: No License

                                                                        2D game using PIXI js
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                                                                                  Engine/PlayCanvas:

                                                                                  • Used for writing and testing code, setting up different scenes, and exporting the games.
                                                                                  • It’s a cloud-based game engine for creating 3D HTML5 games.
                                                                                  • Provides a range of performance optimizations.
                                                                                  • Also offers VR compatibility.

                                                                                  engineby playcanvas

                                                                                  JavaScript doticonstar image 8418 doticonVersion:v1.63.6doticon
                                                                                  License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                  Fast and lightweight JavaScript game engine built on WebGL and glTF

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                                                                                            engineby playcanvas

                                                                                            JavaScript doticon star image 8418 doticonVersion:v1.63.6doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                            Fast and lightweight JavaScript game engine built on WebGL and glTF
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                                                                                                      MelonJS:

                                                                                                      • Used generally for 2D game development.
                                                                                                      • It’s a lightweight yet powerful HTML5 game engine.
                                                                                                      • Provides a simple and flexible set of tools for building 2D games.
                                                                                                      • Offers support for sprite animations, tilemaps, and physics-based collisions. 

                                                                                                      melonJSby melonjs

                                                                                                      JavaScript doticonstar image 5383 doticonVersion:15.3.0doticon
                                                                                                      License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                      a fresh, modern & lightweight HTML5 game engine

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                                                                                                                melonJSby melonjs

                                                                                                                JavaScript doticon star image 5383 doticonVersion:15.3.0doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                a fresh, modern & lightweight HTML5 game engine
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                                                                                                                          Godot:

                                                                                                                          • Used for creating 2D and 3D games.
                                                                                                                          • Provides a set of tools, including a visual editor and a scripting API.
                                                                                                                          • Supports a wide range of platforms. 

                                                                                                                          godotby nodejitsu

                                                                                                                          JavaScript doticonstar image 263 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                                          License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                          Godot is a streaming real-time event processor based on Riemann written in Node.js

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                                                                                                                                    godotby nodejitsu

                                                                                                                                    JavaScript doticon star image 263 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                    Godot is a streaming real-time event processor based on Riemann written in Node.js
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                                                                                                                                              p5.js:

                                                                                                                                              • Used typically in User Interface and Graphics applications.
                                                                                                                                              • Focuses on creative coding for artists, designers, educators, and beginners.
                                                                                                                                              • Provides simple and intuitive tools for building interactive animations and games.
                                                                                                                                              • Offers support for 2D graphics with input handling and sound.

                                                                                                                                              p5.jsby processing

                                                                                                                                              JavaScript doticonstar image 19399 doticonVersion:v1.6.0doticon
                                                                                                                                              License: Weak Copyleft (LGPL-2.1)

                                                                                                                                              p5.js is a client-side JS platform that empowers artists, designers, students, and anyone to learn to code and express themselves creatively on the web. It is based on the core principles of Processing. http://twitter.com/p5xjs —

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                                                                                                                                                        p5.jsby processing

                                                                                                                                                        JavaScript doticon star image 19399 doticonVersion:v1.6.0doticon License: Weak Copyleft (LGPL-2.1)

                                                                                                                                                        p5.js is a client-side JS platform that empowers artists, designers, students, and anyone to learn to code and express themselves creatively on the web. It is based on the core principles of Processing. http://twitter.com/p5xjs —
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