Create an indie games studio with free software

Game Kitchen

Article from Issue 298/2025
Author(s):

Open source software can provide every tool you need to create an independent game.

Ever considered making your own indie game and releasing it for the world to play? Earlier generations of game developers were faced with the high cost of the software they needed to make games. However, whether you're working on your own or as part of a small team, it is now possible to put together an entire game development studio with free software.

Apart from being free, many open source applications have an advantage when it comes to community support, and of course, open source tends to offer many alternative options for you to try. Graphics and source code editors, music programs and entire game engines – pro-level tools are there for the taking if you know what to install. Bit by bit, you can piece together a workflow that suits you.

Choose a Game Engine

The first decision you have to make when developing a game is whether to use a full game engine or stick with a lighter framework. Game engines implement a lot of the logic of a game. Apart from drawing the graphics and playing back audio, they also handle the input devices, such as keyboard, mouse, or controller. In other words, a fully featured game engine can implement an entire game, minus the assets you create. These assets are the graphics, levels, and sound effects, along with the game code that describes how your game behaves.

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