GameMaker
2D game engine operated by Opera Norway AS, with a free non-commercial plan and a one-time Professional licence
Quick Overview
| Company | Opera Norway AS |
|---|---|
| Category | Game Engines |
| Headquarters | Norway (city not stated on the page read), Norway |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Norway (EEA) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages checked |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Runs on your own machine |
| Main Features | Free non-commercial licence, Professional commercial licence, Enterprise with console exports and source code access, Igor/CI builds, GX Games export |
| Pricing | Free (non-commercial); Professional $99.99 one-time; Enterprise subscription (price not shown) |
| Best For | Solo developers making commercial 2D games on a one-time licence |
| Replaces | Unity (2D) |
Detailed Review
The GameMaker plans page lists a Free non-commercial licence, a Professional licence with a commercial licence as a one-time purchase, and an Enterprise subscription with console exports and source code access.
The site footer reads Copyright 2026 Opera Norway AS and describes GameMaker as part of Opera.
Plans
Free and Professional export to desktop, web and mobile. Enterprise adds console exports, source code access and Igor/CI builds, billed monthly or yearly.
Ownership
GameMaker is part of Opera according to the footer. The group structure above Opera Norway AS was not verified here.
Licence documents
The legal page lists runtime licences for Free, Professional, Enterprise and Education plus older platform variants.
Limitations to Consider
Commercial use needs the paid Professional licence, and consoles need Enterprise, whose price is not published. The footer ties the product to Opera, so check the wider group structure against your own policy. The engine is closed source and 2D focused, so 3D teams should look at Godot.
Who Should Use GameMaker
Solo developers and small teams making commercial 2D games who prefer a one-time licence and accept a closed-source engine.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free non-commercial plan
- One-time Professional licence
- Desktop, web and mobile export
- Enterprise console exports
- Norwegian contracting entity named in footer
Cons
- Closed source
- Enterprise price not published
- Part of a larger group (Opera)
- Weaker fit for 3D
Alternatives to GameMaker
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
Free for non-commercial use, $99.99 one-time for Professional per the plans page, and Enterprise on a subscription without a published price.
Console export is listed on the Enterprise plan only.
The footer names Opera Norway AS and describes GameMaker as part of Opera.