Game Development

For 3D games specifically, see 3D / WebGL — Babylon.js, PlayCanvas, R3F.

2D web game frameworks

• ★ Phaser 4 — the long-running default for HTML5 2D games. Sprites, physics (Arcade / Matter / P2), input, audio, scenes. MIT.
• ★ PixiJS — fastest 2D WebGL/WebGPU renderer; lower-level than Phaser. Pair with your own logic.
• Excalibur — TypeScript-first 2D engine; modern API.
• Kaboom / kaplay — beginner-friendly; great for game jams. (Kaboom forked / continued as kaplay.)
• MelonJS — older, mature.
• LittleJS — tiny (single file) game engine.
• Defold — Lua-scripted, free, strong for cross-platform; commercial-friendly license.

Visual editors / IDEs

• Construct 3 — visual no-code 2D engine; subscription.
• GDevelop — open source visual game maker.
• Cocos Creator — free, Chinese-led, used heavily for mobile/web games in Asia.
• Defold Editor — paired with Defold engine.

Physics engines

• Matter.js — popular 2D physics; integrates with Phaser / PixiJS.
• Planck.js — Box2D port to JS.
• Rapier (Rust→WASM) — fast 2D + 3D physics; bindings for R3F.
• Cannon-es — 3D physics; older.

Networking / multiplayer

• Colyseus — open-source authoritative multiplayer game server in TypeScript.
• Nakama — open-source multiplayer / auth / chat platform.
• PartyKit — Cloudflare-based realtime backend; works for game state too.
• Geckos.io — UDP for the browser via WebRTC data channels.

Asset workflow

• Aseprite — pixel art editor.
• Tiled — tilemap editor; standard format consumed by every engine.
• TexturePacker — sprite sheet packer.
• OpenGameArt, itch.io free assets, Kenney.nl — free game art.

Sound / music

• Howler.js — audio playback (covered in Media Players).
• Tone.js — for music apps.
• bfxr / sfxr / jsfxr — generate retro sound effects.

Distribution

• itch.io — the indie / hobbyist marketplace; HTML5 games run in the page.
• CrazyGames, Poki, GameDistribution — HTML5 game portals; pay royalty share.
• Steam via Electron / Tauri wrapper (or native ports).

Pick this if…

• Default 2D web game: Phaser.
• Performance / custom rendering: PixiJS + your own engine.
• Game jam / learning: Kaboom / kaplay or Excalibur.
• No-code visual maker: Construct 3 or GDevelop.
• Multiplayer: Colyseus or PartyKit.
• Want to ship beyond the web (mobile / Steam): Defold or Godot (non-JS).