pixi.js vs phaser vs matter-js vs aframe vs babylonjs vs playcanvas vs planck vs melonjs vs whs
JavaScript Game and 3D Libraries Comparison
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pixi.jsphasermatter-jsaframebabylonjsplaycanvasplanckmelonjswhs
What's JavaScript Game and 3D Libraries?

These libraries facilitate the development of games and interactive 3D applications in web environments. They provide various tools, frameworks, and engines that simplify rendering, physics, and user interaction, allowing developers to create rich visual experiences without deep expertise in graphics programming. Each library has its unique strengths, catering to different types of projects, from simple 2D games to complex 3D simulations.

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pixi.js176,46144,64053.1 MB4094 days agoMIT
phaser48,696-145 MB-17 days agoMIT
matter-js33,08317,223927 kB2738 months agoMIT
aframe15,84016,90150.3 MB32910 days agoMIT
babylonjs12,00223,66591.5 MB332 days agoApache-2.0
playcanvas7,3299,96266.3 MB5534 days agoMIT
planck4735,0389.85 MB322 months agoMIT
melonjs1036,0014.37 MB298 months agoMIT
whs646,185-55-MIT
Feature Comparison: pixi.js vs phaser vs matter-js vs aframe vs babylonjs vs playcanvas vs planck vs melonjs vs whs

Rendering Capabilities

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is optimized for 2D rendering, providing high-performance graphics capabilities, making it ideal for interactive animations and games that require smooth visuals.

  • phaser:

    Phaser provides a robust rendering engine for 2D games, supporting WebGL and Canvas rendering, allowing developers to choose the best performance option for their projects.

  • matter-js:

    Matter.js focuses on 2D rendering, providing a simple API for creating and manipulating 2D shapes, which is ideal for games that require straightforward graphics without 3D complexity.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame simplifies the creation of VR experiences using an HTML-like syntax, making it accessible for web developers. It abstracts WebGL complexities while providing powerful rendering options for 3D scenes.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js excels in rendering high-quality 3D graphics with advanced techniques like physically-based rendering, shadows, and post-processing effects, making it suitable for visually intensive applications.

  • playcanvas:

    PlayCanvas provides a powerful 3D rendering engine with a visual editor, enabling developers to create and manipulate 3D scenes easily, making it suitable for both beginners and experts.

  • planck:

    Planck.js does not handle rendering directly but integrates well with other libraries for rendering, allowing developers to focus on physics while using their preferred rendering solution.

  • melonjs:

    MelonJS offers a lightweight rendering engine for 2D games, supporting sprite animations and tilemaps, making it easy to create visually appealing 2D environments.

  • whs:

    WHS simplifies 3D rendering with a focus on WebGL, providing an easy-to-use API for creating 3D scenes without deep graphics programming knowledge.

Physics Integration

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js does not include physics but can be easily integrated with physics engines like Matter.js or Box2D for projects that require physics interactions.

  • phaser:

    Phaser integrates with multiple physics engines, including Arcade Physics and Matter.js, allowing developers to choose the best physics solution for their game requirements.

  • matter-js:

    Matter.js is a dedicated 2D physics engine, providing robust collision detection and response, making it ideal for games that require realistic physics interactions.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame supports physics through components like A-Frame Physics, allowing developers to easily add physics interactions to their VR experiences without extensive setup.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js includes a built-in physics engine that supports various physics simulations, making it a powerful choice for applications requiring realistic interactions and behaviors.

  • playcanvas:

    PlayCanvas offers physics integration through its built-in physics engine, supporting both 2D and 3D physics simulations, making it versatile for various game types.

  • planck:

    Planck.js is a physics engine focused on 2D physics simulations, allowing developers to create realistic physics interactions in their games without a full game engine.

  • melonjs:

    MelonJS has basic physics capabilities suitable for 2D games but relies on external libraries for more advanced physics features, keeping it lightweight and easy to use.

  • whs:

    WHS does not provide built-in physics but can be integrated with physics libraries like Cannon.js or Oimo.js for 3D physics capabilities.

Ease of Use

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is relatively easy to use for developers familiar with JavaScript, offering a simple API for rendering and animations, though it may require additional libraries for game logic.

  • phaser:

    Phaser is designed for both beginners and experienced developers, providing a wealth of tutorials and documentation that make it easy to get started with 2D game development.

  • matter-js:

    Matter.js is straightforward to use, with a simple API that allows developers to quickly implement physics in their 2D games without complex configurations.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame is designed for ease of use, allowing developers to create VR experiences with minimal coding. Its declarative syntax makes it accessible to web developers without a 3D background.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set but provides comprehensive documentation and examples to help developers get started with 3D graphics.

  • playcanvas:

    PlayCanvas offers a visual editor that simplifies the development process, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels to create 3D applications.

  • planck:

    Planck.js is easy to integrate into existing projects and works well with other libraries, making it suitable for developers who need physics without a steep learning curve.

  • melonjs:

    MelonJS is user-friendly, with a focus on simplicity and ease of integration, making it a great choice for beginners looking to create 2D games.

  • whs:

    WHS is designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing developers to create 3D scenes with minimal code, making it suitable for those new to WebGL.

Community and Support

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js has a strong community and excellent documentation, providing ample resources for developers to learn and troubleshoot rendering issues.

  • phaser:

    Phaser has a large and active community, offering extensive documentation, forums, and tutorials, making it one of the most supported game development frameworks available.

  • matter-js:

    Matter.js has a supportive community and good documentation, making it easy for developers to find help and examples for implementing physics in their projects.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame has a vibrant community and extensive documentation, making it easy to find resources, tutorials, and support for building VR applications.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js boasts a strong community and active development, with a wealth of resources, including documentation, forums, and tutorials for learning and troubleshooting.

  • playcanvas:

    PlayCanvas has a growing community and offers a wealth of resources, including tutorials and documentation, making it easy for developers to get support for their projects.

  • planck:

    Planck.js has a smaller community compared to others but offers decent documentation for integrating physics into projects, making it a reliable choice for physics simulations.

  • melonjs:

    MelonJS has a smaller community but provides sufficient documentation and examples to help developers get started with 2D game development.

  • whs:

    WHS has a smaller community but provides basic documentation and examples, which can be sufficient for developers looking to create simple 3D applications.

Performance

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is highly optimized for 2D rendering, providing excellent performance for interactive graphics and animations, making it suitable for high-frame-rate applications.

  • phaser:

    Phaser is optimized for 2D game performance, with options for both Canvas and WebGL rendering, ensuring smooth gameplay across various devices.

  • matter-js:

    Matter.js is lightweight and performs well for 2D physics simulations, making it ideal for games that require real-time physics without heavy computational overhead.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame is optimized for VR experiences, but performance can vary based on the complexity of the scene and the device used. It's essential to optimize assets for the best experience.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js is known for its high performance in rendering complex 3D scenes, with optimizations for both mobile and desktop environments, making it suitable for demanding applications.

  • playcanvas:

    PlayCanvas offers excellent performance for 3D applications, with optimizations for both rendering and physics, making it suitable for complex interactive experiences.

  • planck:

    Planck.js is efficient for 2D physics simulations, allowing for real-time interactions without significant performance hits, making it suitable for fast-paced games.

  • melonjs:

    MelonJS is lightweight and performs well for 2D games, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end devices, making it accessible to a broader audience.

  • whs:

    WHS is designed to be lightweight, providing decent performance for simple 3D applications, but may not be suitable for highly complex scenes.

How to Choose: pixi.js vs phaser vs matter-js vs aframe vs babylonjs vs playcanvas vs planck vs melonjs vs whs
  • pixi.js:

    Select Pixi.js for 2D rendering with high performance. It's ideal for projects that need fast graphics rendering and is often used for interactive animations and games.

  • phaser:

    Choose Phaser for 2D game development with a rich feature set, including physics, input handling, and asset management. It's well-suited for both beginners and experienced developers.

  • matter-js:

    Use Matter.js for 2D physics simulations. It's lightweight and easy to integrate, making it perfect for games that require realistic physics without the overhead of 3D.

  • aframe:

    Choose A-Frame for building VR experiences easily with HTML-like syntax. It's great for developers looking to create immersive environments without extensive 3D knowledge.

  • babylonjs:

    Select Babylon.js for high-performance 3D graphics and a comprehensive feature set, including physics, animations, and advanced rendering techniques. Ideal for complex 3D applications.

  • playcanvas:

    Choose PlayCanvas for collaborative game development in the cloud. It offers a visual editor and is suitable for building both 2D and 3D games with ease.

  • planck:

    Use Planck.js for a lightweight physics engine based on Box2D. It's great for developers who need physics in their 2D games without the complexity of a full game engine.

  • melonjs:

    Opt for MelonJS if you want a lightweight 2D game engine that is easy to use and offers a solid framework for developing HTML5 games quickly.

  • whs:

    Opt for WHS if you prefer a simplified approach to 3D development with a focus on WebGL. It's suitable for those who want to create 3D applications without deep technical knowledge.

Similar Npm Packages to pixi.js

pixi.js is a popular 2D rendering library for creating interactive graphics and animations in web applications. It leverages WebGL for high-performance rendering while providing a fallback to HTML5 Canvas for compatibility with older browsers. With its easy-to-use API, pixi.js is widely used in game development, interactive applications, and visualizations, making it a go-to choice for developers looking to create rich graphical experiences.

One notable alternative to pixi.js is phaser. Phaser is a robust framework specifically designed for building 2D games. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including physics engines, input handling, sound management, and tilemap support, making it an excellent choice for game developers. While pixi.js focuses primarily on rendering and graphics, Phaser provides a more complete game development environment, which can be beneficial for those looking to build full-fledged games with various built-in functionalities.

For a detailed comparison of these two libraries, you can visit the following link: Comparing phaser vs pixi.js.

Similar Npm Packages to phaser

phaser is a popular open-source HTML5 game framework that enables developers to create 2D games for web and mobile platforms. With its rich set of features, including a powerful rendering engine, physics systems, input handling, and asset management, Phaser provides a comprehensive toolkit for game development. It is particularly well-suited for both beginners and experienced developers, as it offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and a supportive community. Whether you're building simple arcade games or complex interactive experiences, Phaser makes it easier to bring your game ideas to life.

While Phaser is a robust option for game development, there are alternatives available that cater to different needs. One notable alternative is pixi.js. Pixi.js is a fast 2D rendering engine that excels in rendering graphics and animations using WebGL and HTML5. It is particularly well-suited for projects that require high-performance rendering, such as interactive animations, visualizations, and games. Unlike Phaser, which provides a full game framework, Pixi.js focuses primarily on rendering, giving developers the flexibility to integrate it with other libraries or frameworks for game logic and functionality.

For developers who prioritize performance and rendering capabilities, Pixi.js is an excellent choice. However, if you are looking for a more comprehensive game development framework that includes built-in game mechanics and features, Phaser may be the better option.

To explore the differences and similarities between these two libraries, check out the comparison: Comparing phaser vs pixi.js.

README for pixi.js

PixiJS logo


npm package build status Start new PR in StackBlitz Codeflow discord chat

Examples | Getting Started | Documentation | Discord

PixiJS ⚡️

Next-Generation, Fastest HTML5 Creation Engine for the Web

  • 🚀 WebGL & WebGPU Renderers
  • ⚡️ Unmatched Performance & Speed
  • 🎨 Easy to use, yet powerful API
  • 📦 Asset Loader
  • ✋ Full Mouse & Multi-touch Support
  • ✍️ Flexible Text Rendering
  • 📐 Versatile Primitive and SVG Drawing
  • 🖼️ Dynamic Textures
  • 🎭 Masking
  • 🪄 Powerful Filters
  • 🌈 Advanced Blend Modes

PixiJS is the fastest, most lightweight 2D library available for the web, working across all devices and allowing you to create rich, interactive graphics and cross-platform applications using WebGL and WebGPU.

Setup

It's easy to get started with PixiJS! Just use our PixiJS Create CLI and get set up in just one command:

Screenshot from terminal 

npm create pixi.js@latest

or to add it to an existing project:

npm install pixi.js

Usage

import { Application, Assets, Sprite } from 'pixi.js';

(async () =>
{
    // Create a new application
    const app = new Application();

    // Initialize the application
    await app.init({ background: '#1099bb', resizeTo: window });

    // Append the application canvas to the document body
    document.body.appendChild(app.canvas);

    // Load the bunny texture
    const texture = await Assets.load('https://pixijs.com/assets/bunny.png');

    // Create a bunny Sprite
    const bunny = new Sprite(texture);

    // Center the sprite's anchor point
    bunny.anchor.set(0.5);

    // Move the sprite to the center of the screen
    bunny.x = app.screen.width / 2;
    bunny.y = app.screen.height / 2;

    app.stage.addChild(bunny);

    // Listen for animate update
    app.ticker.add((time) =>
    {
        // Just for fun, let's rotate mr rabbit a little.
        // * Delta is 1 if running at 100% performance *
        // * Creates frame-independent transformation *
        bunny.rotation += 0.1 * time.deltaTime;
    });
})();

Contribute

Want to be part of the PixiJS project? Great! All are welcome! We will get there quicker together :) Whether you find a bug, have a great feature request, or you fancy owning a task from the road map above, feel free to get in touch.

Make sure to read the Contributing Guide before submitting changes.

License

This content is released under the MIT License.

Change Log

Releases

Support

We're passionate about making PixiJS the best graphics library possible. Our dedication comes from our love for the project and community. If you'd like to support our efforts, please consider contributing to our open collective.

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