Unity vs. Unreal Engine: Which is Best for Indie Developers?

11 Mar, 2024

6 min read

Did you know the Global Gaming Market was valued at 350.2 Billion USD in 2022? A decade later, sales generated by the global gaming industry are expected to reach USD 1065.12 billion in 2032 (source). How the gaming world has revolutionalized from games like Crash Bandicoot to God of War and Flappy Bird to Spider-Man, the gaming arena has come a long way. But those are just a handful of games that we remember. What happened to the hundreds and thousands of them released during this period? They disappeared.

A part of the reason behind their failure could be the choice of the wrong game engine. The right engine choice means developing the right game, often leading to global success. Esports, for example, with so many up-and-coming players with unlimited potential who risk it all to win massive cash prizes; choosing the optimal game engine for your concept is critical, as it can truly make or break your game idea and commercial viability in an increasingly competitive industry.

Speaking of game engines, Unity and Unreal Engine stand out as the two titans of the game-developing industry, each offering its own sets of unique features and advantages. If you are a business owner, a startup founder, an agency owner, or anyone looking to develop video games, this blog will help you make a more informed decision about choosing between Unity and Unreal Engine for your next game development project.

Introduction to Unity and Unreal Engine

Unity and Unreal Engine represent two different systems in game development. Their unique features make them the most commonly sought-after engine by game developers. For the user-friendly interface and one-of-a-kind cross-platform support, it has become a very common choice for indie developers. The design and easily accessible asset store make it easier for developers to follow up on their ideas and create what they want.

Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is developed by one of the world’s largest video game and software companies. It boasts futuristic graphics and a dash of realism that can’t be distinguished. Unreal Engine has extremely powerful rendering capabilities. The physics engine is advanced, as it’s being used by several AAA titles. For newcomers, though, the complex scripting language can be troubling as they go through the steep learning curve.

Difference Between Unity And Unreal Engine

Ease of Use For Beginners

Talking about being easy to learn and easy to use, Unity takes the upper hand with its user-friendly interface and design. The drag-and-drop feature simplifies the game development process. It’s the ideal choice for beginners joining the creative world of game development. The vast library of tutorials, community support, and resources make Unity’s appeal a unique one for aspiring game developers.

Unreal Engine, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve because of its tough interface and advanced features. Don’t get us wrong, several newcomers are appalled by this and are up for a challenge. Being worth the wait, the graphical and customizable capabilities and options Unreal Engine offers are unparalleled. For game developers looking for UHD visuals and cinematic experiences, Unreal Engine is the top choice.

Cost Factor

Several game developers out there are in it for the money. To generate profit from a game, they have to make sure they get what they invest into it. The decision-making process, especially for indie developers, plays an important role in choosing which engine to work with. Unity is free with essential features, making it accessible to most developers of all budgets. However, the “freemium” meta takes place when wanting to unlock advanced features and remove the Unity watermark. Unity also allows developers to invest in subscription plans based on revenue thresholds.

Unreal Engine works with a very similar model, giving a free version with full access to its stock of tools. The only time Unreal Engine takes money is when it charges a royalty fee on the gross revenue generated beyond a certain point. It is indeed the more attractive option for indie developers who want to minimize upfront costs while also scaling their projects however they wish.

Level of Coding Required

Are you wondering what level of coding these engines need? Well, it varies significantly. Unity uses C# as its primary scripting language for ease of learning and simplicity. Meanwhile, Unreal Engine uses C++ for scripting, which offers better performance and control over in-game mechanics. While C++ may be more challenging for beginners, the best indie developers would be better off using whatever suits the needs of their game the best.

Agencies that provide Unity Game Development Services or Unreal Game Development Services are experts in all the languages required of them. Hence their capability to work with both engines can be relied upon.

Community Size and Support

What most developers don’t realize is that the community size and support around an engine play a crucial role in the development process of a game. Unity offers a massive community of developers, artists, and collaborators who are all together to share their knowledge about the engine. Unity provides several opportunities for developers to seek help when needed. They can do this through active forums, Q&A platforms, and live events.

Since Unreal Engine is relatively new, it doesn’t have as big of a community as Unity does. However, the robust community is comprised of seasoned professionals and veterans of the gaming industry. You can find official documentation, which even a professional game development company uses. You can also find user-generated tutorials. There are comprehensive resources to support your developing hunger. Similarly to Unity, Epic Games, the company behind Unreal Engine, often organizes events and workshops. These provide chances for networking and skill-building.

Unity Vs Unreal Engine – Battle Of The Engines

Let’s do a head-to-head comparison of both engines:

	Unity	Unreal
Developer	Unity Technologies	Epic Games
Supported platforms	Mobile, desktop, web, console, VR/XR	Mobile, desktop, console, VR/XR (less than Unity offers)
Primary audience	Mobile, indie, and beginner developers	AAA devs and indie teams striving for realism
Open source	No	Yes
Price	Freemium Model	Freemium Model
Graphics level	Average graphics	Futuristic cutting-edge graphics
2D/3D support	Yes	Yes (limited for 2D)
Asset marketplace	Unity asset store	Unreal Engine marketplace

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Right Game Engine

Since we’re now up-to-date on both the engines, what engine would work best for indie developers? Well, the simple answer is both. That’s right. Depending on the specific requirements and complexities of one’s project, both Unity and Unreal Engine can make for an amazing game development process if utilized in the right way. Make use of the game development services Cubix offers and make the right choice from the get-go!

Ease: If you want a game development tool that is easy to use and is compatible with different platforms, Unity is a great choice for indie game projects.
Quality Extensive: If you want to create visually stunning and realistic games that push boundaries, Unreal Engine is the best option. While Unreal Engine may be difficult to learn, its graphics capabilities are worth it if you want to make an immersive gaming experience.
Target Platform: If your target platform is the web, then Unity can be worked with to create your project. Although Unity does offer cross-platform functionality, it isn’t as immersive and heavy on the details as Unreal Engine.
Budget: In subscription costs terms, Unity is more expensive, but Unity doesn’t charge as much as Unreal Engine does on royalties. If you’re planning to market your game globally and expect a high success rate, Unity is your choice as you’ll retain more of your money, but Unreal Engine offers the same as it cancels out its high royalties fee by having cheap subscription fees.

So Which Game Engine Would You Choose?

Both Unity and Unreal Engine have great features and advantages for best indie developers starting their game development journey. Unity is easy to use and accessible, while Unreal Engine has amazing graphics and customization options.

Now that you’ve learned about the capabilities and suitability of Unity and Unreal Engine for your project goals, the next step is turning your gaming vision into reality. However, developing a high-quality title from concept to completion is an immense challenge without the right team and Unity Game Development Services.

If the thought of onboarding developers, implementing your desired gameplay mechanics, debugging issues, and deploying to multiple platforms sounds overwhelming, Cubix can handle it all for you. With over 15 years of experience with next-gen game development services, and having delivered over 100 titles across all major genres and engines, we’ve perfected our processes. From unity game development to blockchain-based game development and everything in between, Cubix is the go-to choice for leading brands worldwide.

Whether your game is an action-adventure, role-playing masterpiece, or innovative mobile experience built in Unity or Unreal, our accomplished team of engineers, designers, and producers have the expertise to launch your game into the hands of devoted fans worldwide.

Contact us today to discuss how we can leverage our extensive portfolio to develop your game from scratch to a successful release.