2D vs 3D Game Development: Understanding the Key Differences

From the beginning, one of the major decisions a game designer needs to make is to decide between 2D and 3D game development. Though many artistic choices are made during the game’s creation, the graphics and art style truly stand out. 

For instance, Ori and the Blind Forest and The Last of Us: Part II show that graphics can make games even more enjoyable. A 2D vs 3D game development choice can significantly impact the gameplay mechanics, design complexity, and audience reached.

In this blog, we break down the technical, creative, and financial factors that distinguish 2D from 3D game development to give you an insight into making a decision.

The Shift From 2D To 3D In Video Games: A New Era Of Immersion

The shift of video games from 2D to 3D visuals makes them user-friendly. Because of the emergence of the Skyrim title in 2011, gamers became accustomed to playing in a world that seemed full of complex characters and complex quests that simply could not be viewed properly in any 2D game.

With the advent of 3D technology, developers were able to incorporate more elements of gameplay, like dynamic settings and realistic physics. By giving the game environments a realistic appearance, techniques like normal mapping and graphics shaders enhanced the lower-level details.  

This game development trend changed the way games were played and gave depth to the storytelling of the games, which included modern stories and adventures of the gamification.

Difference Between 2D And 3D Games: What Sets Them Apart?

The distinction between “2D” and “3D” in video games hinges on their dimensional structure. 3D games provide a sense of realism and depth, allowing players to explore richly detailed worlds. On the other hand, 2D games, with their flat designs, often create a different style of gameplay that emphasizes simpler mechanics and linear progression. 

This fundamental dimensionality impacts how players engage with the game, with 3D offering a more immersive experience.

Movement 

Movement in 2D games is often linear, which means that the character moves along a defined axis with a more or less defined path from one point to another. In 3D games, players could move freely in any possible direction and explore open environments, thus creating dynamic gaming possibilities.

Environment

This is the most distinctive aspect of 3D games. A 3D game always has a detailed environment with beautiful landscapes and highly realistic surroundings. In the case of 2D games, simplicity is given preference and less importance to the environment, but more emphasis is on core gameplay and stylized visuals.

Controls

Control of 2D games tends to be simple which therefore makes them accessible even for beginners. To the majority though, detailed schemes of control often needed for playing games in three dimensions are tougher and urge participation within the game but do require a little time before learning how to play.

Objectives

Objectives in 2D games are simple and align with the linear gameplay and mechanics. The complexity of objectives in 3D games is much more extensive, allowing for more complex gameplay and paths for the player to take on side missions and sandbox-like interactions.

Key Applications Of 2D vs 3D Game Design

Whether to build a 2D or 3D game is usually determined by specific objectives and targets as well as the user interface that will be used. It is now time to discuss what kind of advantages each possesses and where it exceeds the most.

Advantages of 2D Game Design

Accessibility and Simplicity: The most important difference in favor of the 2D games is that they are easier to grasp, perfect for starters and those who don’t play computer games often. They draw in a wide audience base and cater to all levels of skill due to the ease of using the controls and playing the games.

Cost-Effective and Faster Development: Originally, the development of 2D games was more efficient in terms of time and other resources required than that of 3D games. Such efficiency enables developers to design updates and new levels and since the gameplay is usually short and very engaging this makes the 2D suitable for hyper-casual games.

Straightforward Engagement: Since the goals of 2D games are easy to understand, and their mechanics easy to master, the games provide simple entertainment. They are generally ‘pick-up-and-play’ games, thus highly suitable for portable platforms and casual/ social gaming.

Advantages of 3D Game Design

Immersive Realism: The first advantage of three-dimensional economic models is that the environments appear more realistic, which typically attracts hardcore players. This extra dimension improves the experience of exploring, interacting, and even fighting in these environments.

High-quality visuals and Rich Detail: 3D games offer highly realistic three-dimensional environments, they may include intricate graphics and detailed imagery to create a fascinating impression for players who appreciate highly detailed environments. Many games, particularly those with better components such as texture, lighting, and other features, will always be excellent pieces of art.

Expansive Gameplay and Freedom: Using many planes in gameplay makes these games more engaging by incorporating various motions, choices, and strategies into playing fields. These games are better suited to game genres including extensive tasks, an active environment, and an open world feel.

Top 2D And 3D Game Development Tools 

With the abundance of game development tools available today, both inexperienced and seasoned creators can work on relevant and efficient platforms. An outline of some of the most often used programs for making 2D and 3D games is provided below:

1. GameMaker Studio 2

If you’re specifically looking at 2D platformers, there is GameMaker Studio 2 which is easy to use and offers a trial for free. Popular for making games such as Undertale, it is easy for newcomers with a lot of tutorials on how to create. 

GameMaker Studio 2  becomes a top choice for any 2D game development company, because of its integrated scripting language, GML, which enables the creation of custom game logic for distinctive gameplay experiences.

2. Construct 3

Developed as a tool for 2D games, Construct 3 is an HTML5-based software that enables users to create games with no coding experience. The ease of use is because it uses a drag-and-drop system and the user can build games for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Construct 3 also has an online community for more support making it ideal for primary builders.

3. Unity

Formerly designed for only 3D games, Unity has a 2D option now and it has become one of the most favorite game engines for indie developers. Although basic knowledge of C# is needed for this tool, some numerous lessons and guides make it fairly easy to master. Unity supports the exportation of games to almost any platform possible, catering for both 2D and 3D games.

Unity’s powerful capabilities for creating detailed, immersive environments make it a top choice for studios that provide 3D game development services.

4. Godot

Godot is an open-source game engine for developing 2D and 3D games. It uses the GDScript language and a visual editor, and it is an excellent tool for 2D games, as it provides drag-and-drop facilities. However, the engine has fewer users than other search engines, making it challenging for a novice to find the necessary resources to resolve issues.

5. Unreal Engine 4

Unreal Engine is particularly known for the ultimate quality of the 3D games and excellent graphics. Though more complex and often well-suited for professional developers, it has a Blueprints visual scripting system that enables designers to create games without coding. 

Hence, projects requiring AAA-quality visuals thus turn to an Unreal game development company to avail of the advanced tools and capabilities of the engine. Even though Unreal poses a steep learning curve as well as demands quite demanding system resources, it continues to be the go-to for elite 3D game immersion.

How Much Does It Cost To Develop A 2D Or 3D Game?

The cost of game development largely depends on several factors such as the choice of the game engine, the sophistication of graphics, gameplay, needs for the soundtrack, and how the development team will be structured. 

It’s important to note that you can’t develop a 3D game for the price of a 2D game; the game development comparison makes it clear that the complexity and resource intensity of 3D projects lead to increased costs.

Cost Examples Across Games

For instance, simple games like Flappy Bird are said to have a cost of about $300 because of the mere mechanics and low graphics they have. More complex games like Candy Crush for example can cost up to a hundred thousand dollars because they are deep, graphically designed, and have updates as well. 

Meanwhile, the developing budget for the much-flaunted augmented reality game Pokemon Go is around $650,000 on the other hand, great titles like GTA V bring their costs up to about a staggering $265 million, in part because these have complex 3D environments, detailed graphics as well as ample content in them.

General Cost Trends

Generally, the development of a 2D mobile game app is much cheaper than that of a 3D game. Not because 2D games are not extensively supported, but because 3D games seem to offer a whole different level of detail and realism and complexity, thus expenses.

Outsourcing Options

However, if you lack the skills and motivation to create games on your own, outsourcing the game to a mobile game development company is the most practical option. 

TekRevol is an innovative game development company with great experience in developing interesting games in 2D and 3D formats as well as across different domains such as web gaming, mobile, and virtual reality (VR). Our pioneering approach and best practices for 2D and 3D game design result in immersive experiences that engage players. Especially, our portfolio features the ‘Ether Legends‘ story, a testament to a commitment to excellence and creativity in game development.

The Bottom Line

The future of 2D vs 3D game development will likely coexist, each carving out its niche in the gaming market.  But If you’re confused about how to choose between 2D and 3D development,  then remember that games are different in terms of features about movement, camera view, graphics quality, tools, and testing. Therefore, the final decision depends on your vision for your game. If you are trying to make a lightweight, inexpensive, and quick game, then 2D is your best way to go. But if you are going to develop a more visual and interactive game, then 3D would be worth your investment.

Player preference is also essential in your game for success because an exciting game can keep users engaged for much longer. Pleasing graphics will increase user satisfaction as well as retention. Choosing your game also requires thought for the target audience as well as their gaming habits to make it appeal best to the intended players.