With Google IO fast approaching and GDC just completed I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the game engines available for mobile devices, specifically for x86 based mobile devices. There are many game engine choices out there, all with a different set of features, pricing, maturity, etc. After conducting a search online, I found a wide variety of game engines that can be used for creating games for Android* based mobile devices. Some provide x86 support, while others can be ported to support x86 devices without too much effort.

Here is the list of game engines I have come across; I have included some features and details about each engine and an example game on the Android Market if I could find one.

• Cocos2D - http://www.cocos2d-x.org/projects/cocos2d-x
• A port to C++ of the popular iPhone Cocos2D engine.
• Cross platform (Android, iPhone, Win32) 2D engine
• C++ based engine that supports x86 Android devices.
• Free engine with full source code.
• Example: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.xmg.cowsvsaliens

• jPCT-AE- http://www.jpct.net/jpct-ae/
• A java 3D engine optimized for Android.
• Nice set of features including 3DS, OBJ and other file support, skeletal animations, shader support, texture compression, collision detection, various lighting modes, transparency, fog, and more.
• An all java game engine that supports x86 Android devices.
• Free for personal and commercial use.
• Example: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mk.grami.max

• Libgdx - http://code.google.com/p/libgdx/
• Cross platform (Windows, Linux, OSX and Android) 2D/3D Android engine. Build, run and iterate on the PC before deploying to phone.
• C++ and Java based engine that easily ports to x86.
• Box2d physics, TMX tile map, shaders, 2D particle system, sprite support, camera apis, OBJ and MD5 model loaders.
• Full source code available for free.
• C++/Java based engine that with a few minor changes I was able to run on x86 Android devices.
• https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tani.penguinattack

• Corona Game Edition - http://www.anscamobile.com/corona/games/
• 2D cross platform (iOS and Android) engine.
• Write games in scripting language Lua.
• Animated sprites, Social API integration, native device features integrated.
• Also used for application and eBook development.
• C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
• License purchase required, free to trial.
• https://market.android.com/details?id=com.base2.walkaboutb
• Unity 3D – http://unity3d.com
  
  • 2D/3D cross platform (iOS, Android, PC) with full-featured integrated editor.
  • PhysX physics engine, C#, javascript or Boo scripting language, multiplayer and network support, streaming assets, etc.
  • License purchase required for phone publishing, try for free.
  • No Android x86 support in current version.
  • https://market.android.com/details?id=com.ArtInGames.AirAttackHDLite
  
  
  
• Adobe AIR – http://www.adobe.com/products/air.html
  
  
  • Use Action Script and Flash to build 2D/3D cross platform (iOS, Android, PC, BlackBerry and TV) apps and games.
  • There are several engines built on top of Flash that provide APIs to build games easily, see a list here http://www.adobe.com/devnet/games/gaming_engines.html
  • Hardware accelerated graphics, native extensions, Android Licensing Service support, and more.
  • Adobe authoring tool purchase required.
  • No Android x86 support in current version.
  • https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.d20studios.heromages
  
  
  
• Andengine - http://www.andengine.org/
  
  
  • 2D Android game engine
  • SplitScreen support, network multiplayer apis, live wallpaper support
  • Primarily a Java engine with some C++ that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Full source code available for free.
  • http://wiki.andengine.org/List_of_Apps_and_Games
  • https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bestcoolfungamesfreegameappcreation.bunnyshooter

• Marmalade SDK (previously Airplay SDK) - http://www.madewithmarmalade.com/
  
  
  • Cross platform (iOS, Android, Symbian, bada, WebOS and other platforms in Beta) 3D C++ game engine.
  • Free to try, license purchase required to publish.
  • C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • https://market.android.com/details?id=com.imperialgamestudio.golfbattle3d
  
  
  
• App game kit -http://www.appgamekit.com/
  
  
  • Cross platform (iOS, Windows, MacOS, Android, BlackBerry, Bada, Meego)
  • A 2D OpenGL based game engine with Box2D. Include support for Sprites, particles, input APIs, sound and music.
  • Looks like it is a C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Write game code in BASIC or has an available upgrade option for writing native C++ code.
  • Free to try, license purchase required to publish.
  • https://market.android.com/details?id=com.texasoftreloaded.theblackhole
  
  
  
• ShiVa3D - http://www.stonetrip.com/
  
  
  • Cross platform 3D game engine with ShiVa3D Editor.
  • Cross platform (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iPhone, Android, Palm, Wii, iPad)
  • C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • https://market.android.com/details?id=com.dvidearts.crusadeofdestiny
  
  
  
• DX Studio - http://www.dxstudio.com/
  
  
  • 3D game engine with editor.
  • Android limited features now supported.
  • C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Currently offered for free.
  
  
  
• SIO2 Engine – http://sio2interactive.com/
  
  
  • 2D/3D cross platform (iOS, Android, bada, WebOS, WIN32 ) game engine.
  • Iterate via simulator on PC
  • Features lua support, exporters for various 3d modeling tools, Bullet physics engine, path finding, sound apis, shader support, animation and networking support.
  • C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Various licenses available for purchase, free to trial.

• Papaya Social Game Engine - http://papayamobile.com/developer/engine
  
  
  • Cross platform (iOS and Android) 2D engine.
  • Write games in scripting language, includes social APIs, physics, and particle effects.
  • C/C++ based OpenGL engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Engine is free to download.
  • https://market.android.com/details?id=com.papaya.papayaFish_hd
  
  
  
• moai - http://getmoai.com/
  
  
  • A mobile platform for game developers
  • Lua scripting language based development engine that has integrated cloud services available.
  • Engine is open source and free to use, pay for cloud services.
  
  
  
• Cuttlefish Engine - http://www.cuttlefishengine.com/
  
  
  • 2D cross platform (Windows Phone, Android, iPhone, Windows PC) game engine.
  • Create game in an editor using scripting language (C# variant).
  • Designer interface to build games, Tile support and Box2d physics engine.
  • License purchase required for the Designer, engine source available for free. Trial available.
  
  
  
• Orx - http://orx-project.org/
  
  
  • 2d cross platform (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux, Andrdoi) game engine.
  • Camera APIs, animations, sound, sprite rendering and data driven for fast and easy prototyping and development.
  • Free open source.
  • C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Example: https://market.android.com/details?id=lyde.sik.gravity

• Unigine - http://unigine.com/products/unigine/
  
  
  • 3D cross platform (Windows, Linux, Max, PS3, iOS, Android)
  • Physics, scripting, etc. Unclear what features are supported for mobile.
  • Evaluation available to companies working on commercial projects. License purchase required.
  • C++ based engine that should easily port to x86 Android devices.
  • Example: http://www.demolicious-game.com/
  
  
  
• Gideros Studio - http://www.giderosmobile.com/
  
  
  • 2D cross platform (iPhone iPad, Android) game engine.
  • Write Lua code in provided IDE, iterate on PC with simulator.
  • Features include Box2d physics engine, fonts, sprites, tile maps and sensor integration.
  • Free version includes Gideros Splash screen, licensed version removes it.
  • iPhone example: http://itunes.apple.com/app/tim-the-timber/id417301495?mt=8
  
  
  
• Candroidengine - http://code.google.com/p/candroidengine/
  
  
  • 2D Java engine.
  • Sprites, tile animation, background APIs, etc.
  • Dalvik only engine that should work on all architectures.
  • Full source code available for free.
  
  
  
• Mages Engine - http://code.google.com/p/mages/
  
  
  • multiplayer client/server game engine
  • Java engine that should work on all architectures.
  • Full source code available for free.
  
  
  
• Unreal Development kit - http://udk.com/
  
  
  • Android support coming at a future date.

• Rokon - http://code.google.com/p/rokon/
  
  
  • 2D engine indicates it will soon start up again as Rokon 3 and will be built upon libgdx.

The great thing about Android on x86 is that it opens a new class of devices for all of the games built on these engines. Unfortunately not all these game engines have support for x86 native binaries but it’s probably just a matter of time. x86 support is available in the latest Android NDK. Porting to x86 for some of these engines may simply be a recompile. We have created a couple of documents to guide you and have forums available to help along the way.

• NDK Android Application Porting Methodologies
• Understanding x86 vs ARM Memory Alignment on Android
• Android* Application on Intel® Architecture Forum link

I hope this list helps those thinking about writing an Android game by providing some details of the choices available. Ideally I will try to update this article with the latest information as it develops, but please feel free to post comments about game engines I did not come across or any updated information you find.