Construct
2D game maker from Scirra Ltd in London, sold by subscription with no royalties
Quick Overview
| Company | Scirra Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Game Engines |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom (Europe, non-EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages checked |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Construct 3 engine, Construct Animate, Construct Game Services, 166 asset packs, flexible seat management, addons, JavaScript scripting SDK |
| Pricing | Subscription plans (Personal, Startup, Business); see website for current prices |
| Best For | Indie developers and small businesses making 2D games |
| Replaces | Unity (2D), GameMaker |
Detailed Review
Construct 3 is sold through Scirra. All plans unlock every feature, include 166 asset packs and are described as royalty free with zero royalties on anything created.
The company footer gives Scirra Ltd, Studio 414, The Lightbulb, 1 Filament Walk, Wandsworth, London SW18 4GQ, company number 07626452.
Plan structure
A Personal licence is not permitted for registered businesses. The Startup plan is for businesses under $50,000 USD annual revenue, under $100,000 USD assets and up to 3 employees. Larger businesses need the Business plan.
Related products
Scirra also sells Construct Animate for animation and Construct Game Services for adding game features. A free trial is offered for Construct and Animate.
Education and docs
The site has an education section with classroom pricing, a manual, an addon SDK and a JavaScript scripting overview.
Limitations to Consider
Construct is subscription-based, so you pay for as long as you want to keep editing with all features. Plan eligibility depends on revenue, assets and headcount thresholds, and gambling-related businesses must contact Scirra. The pages checked do not state an open-source licence. For free tooling see Godot or GDevelop.
Who Should Use Construct
Small studios and educators who want a visual 2D engine from a UK vendor and prefer predictable subscriptions to royalties.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- All features unlocked on every plan
- No royalties
- 166 asset packs included
- Startup tier for small businesses
- Free trial available
Cons
- Subscription only
- Eligibility thresholds by revenue and headcount
- Closed source on the pages checked
- Gambling businesses need special arrangements
Alternatives to Construct
Other European game engines worth comparing before you decide:
Godot Engine
Netherlands · MIT-licensed 2D and 3D engine run by a Dutch foundation
Defold
Sweden · Lightweight cross-platform engine owned by a Swedish foundation
GDevelop
United Kingdom · No-code game engine with an MIT-licensed core and French team
Flax Engine
Poland · C# and C++ 3D engine with full source on GitHub
See all European game engines or compare them directly against Unity (2D) on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The pricing page states zero royalties for anything created.
No, Personal is not permitted for registered businesses. Small businesses use Startup, larger ones Business.
Scirra Ltd is in London, company number 07626452.