GDevelop vs Unity, Godot & Unreal: Built-In AI Makes Gamedev Easier

Engines like Unity, Godot, and Unreal are powerful, yet they expect you to manage scripts, assets, and settings before you can even test an idea.

GDevelop takes a different path. It’s open-source, visual, and fast. And now, with built-in AI tools, it helps you start, finish, and polish your game more quickly than ever.

Whether you’re a beginner learning game design or an experienced dev looking to move faster, here’s how GDevelop compares to Unity, Godot, and Unreal, and why its new AI Chat and AI Agent features change the equation.

GDevelop vs Unity

Unity has long been a go-to in indie development. Perhaps the go-to. It’s flexible, supports 2D and 3D, and has a large ecosystem. But Unity’s power comes with setup friction: installing packages, scripting in C#, managing prefabs, and frequent version updates.

Unity's user interface.

GDevelop is different.

You open it, create a scene, and start adding gameplay visually, no compiling, no external code editors. With the new AI Chat, you can ask questions like “How do I make a platformer jump higher?” and get instructions tied to your actual project.

The AI Chat will answer any questions related to GDevelop, based on up-to-date documentation!

And when you need a feature implemented, AI Agent can do it for you, creating the logic, events, and even adjusting object properties.

Where Unity requires you to learn C# before building, GDevelop’s AI helps you learn by building.

The result is faster prototypes, less setup, and less frustration, especially for small projects, mobile games, or feature-specific implementation.

The AI Agent implements mechanics based on your requests!

GDevelop vs Godot

Godot has gained a lot of love for being open-source and lightweight. Its node-based system and GDScript language are beginner-friendly compared to other engines.

However, for newcomers, Godot still asks you to understand scripting concepts, object hierarchies, and signals before you can create something playable.

This is where GDevelop’s AI tools stand out.

Instead of reading through documentation or tutorials, you can describe what you want:

“Make it so that when the player character touches a coin, the coin disappears”.

Godot's scripting language - By SakuraMiyazono - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

The AI Agent will build it for you using GDevelop’s event system.

You can then study the logic, edit it, and improve it, effectively learning by doing.

Where Godot helps you write code, GDevelop helps you avoid unnecessary code entirely.

And because both are open-source, you keep full ownership of your project.

GDevelop vs Unreal Engine

Unreal is unmatched for cinematic visuals, 3D rendering, and high-end experiences. But for small studios, schools, or solo creators, its complexity and hardware demands can slow progress.

GDevelop aims for the opposite.

GDevelop focuses on quick iteration, small install size, and near-instant previews. You can build 2D and light 3D games that run on web, mobile, or desktop in minutes.

Unreal's Blueprints - Unreal Engine itself, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Adding AI into the workflow makes this even smoother, instead of wiring Blueprints or digging through menus, you can let GDevelop’s AI Agent generate systems for you: enemies, UI, upgrades, and more.

The result isn’t a replacement for Unreal’s AAA capabilities, but it’s a faster, lighter way to bring your ideas to life without overhead.

Plus, it's integrated within the game engine, so unlike tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, both the AI Chat and the AI Agent are optimized for GDevelop and the Agent can even modify your project!

Where GDevelop’s AI Really Changes the Game

1. Starting Faster

Other engines require setup: SDKs, scene structures, scripting templates. GDevelop’s AI can build your first mechanics directly from plain text prompts.

You can go from idea to playable prototype in a single sitting.

2. Finishing Projects You Start

Many creators stall mid-project. The AI Chat acts as a mentor inside your editor, explaining what went wrong, helping you debug, and suggesting improvements. You don’t need to leave your workspace or search forums.

3. Polishing Without the Pain

Finishing touches like menus, transitions, or score systems often take the longest. GDevelop’s AI Agent can handle these repetitive tasks, letting you focus on creativity and testing.

4. Learning While You Build

Unlike using generic AI tools outside your editor, GDevelop’s assistants know your scenes, objects, and variables. The explanations you get are practical, accurate, and project-aware, so every time you ask for help, you actually learn the engine better.

Generic AI tools don't have access to your projects, making them less useful.

Tips to Get the Most from GDevelop’s AI

• Use specific prompts (“Make the enemy patrol between two points, chase player within 200px”).
• Save before asking the Agent to make large changes.
• Use AI Chat for learning, not just fixing, it explains concepts as it guides you.
• Treat generated logic as a base: test, tweak, iterate.

Remember: you stay in control. The AI suggests, you decide.

Final Thoughts

GDevelop’s built-in AI tools don’t try to replace you, they remove the busywork that slows creative progress.

If you’ve ever opened Unity or Godot and thought, “I wish I could just tell it what I want,” that’s now possible inside GDevelop.

The combination of open-source accessibility, visual logic, and context-aware AI means you can start faster, learn faster, and finish your games sooner.

Try it yourself, open GDevelop, click Ask AI, and describe your idea. You’ll see how quickly a concept becomes a real, playable game.