20 of the best tools & apps you need to start using for game dev in 2023
Our team worked on many projects in 2022 that saw the introduction of some new tools to our toolkit and some old favourites making their regular appearance. We were curious about which programs or apps they found the most useful that year, and we got our team’s feedback on what these actually were. If you’re just starting out in the game development field, why not try a few of these out, they may come in handy along your journey.
Most Popular Gitkraken ( https://www.gitkraken.com/)
GitKraken is a Git client for Windows, Mac, and Linux that provides a simple and intuitive interface for managing Git repositories. It allows developers to easily navigate and visualize the branches, commits, and merge conflicts of their code projects. It also offers features such as drag-and-drop merging, a built-in code editor, and integration with other tools like GitHub and GitLab. GitKraken also includes a feature called "Git Flow, “ a popular branching model used for managing software development. Additionally, it also includes a built-in issue tracker for keeping track of bugs and feature requests. GitKraken is a great option for developers who want a user-friendly Git client that provides a wide range of powerful features for managing code projects. It offers a free version and a paid version with additional features.
Codeacademy (https://www.codecademy.com/)
Codeacademy is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of coding courses for beginners and experienced programmers alike. The platform is known for its interactive lessons, which include quizzes, coding challenges, and projects to help users practice and apply what they've learned. Some of the coding languages and technologies available on Codecademy include Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), Python, Java, Ruby, SQL, Git and more.
Synergy (https://symless.com/synergy)
Synergy is software that allows users to share one keyboard and mouse across multiple computers, making it easy to switch between them. The software is designed to work seamlessly with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems, allowing users to control multiple computers with a single set of input devices.
Brave (https://brave.com/)
Brave is a free and open-source web browser that is designed to protect users' privacy and security. It blocks third-party trackers and ads by default and also includes built-in tools to help users protect their data. The browser is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
PureRef (https://www.pureref.com/)
PureRef is a simple and intuitive image reference manager for artists and designers. It allows users to organize and view their image references in a non-destructive way, without altering the original files. The program has various features, such as the ability to zoom, pan and rotate images, and create multiple projects and folders to organize references. PureRef also supports a wide range of image file formats, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and more. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Figma (https://www.figma.com/)
Figma is a browser-based design tool that allows teams to create, collaborate, and share designs easily. It offers a wide range of features, including vector networks, prototyping, and design systems. It also allows multiple users to work on a single document simultaneously, making it a great option for remote teams. Figma also has a variety of integrations with other tools, such as Slack, Jira, and Adobe Creative Cloud. Additionally, it offers a free plan with some limitations and paid plans for individuals and teams. It is supported by all major browsers, Windows, macOS, Linux, and even iOS and android.
Blender (https://www.blender.org/)
Blender is a powerful and open-source 3D creation software that can be used for creating animated films, video games, visual effects, and more. It offers a wide range of features, including modelling, animation, simulation, compositing, and motion tracking. Blender also has a built-in game engine, which allows users to create interactive 3D content and games. The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Blender also has a large and active community of users who contribute to its development and share resources, tutorials, and support. This makes it a great choice for professional and hobbyist 3D artists, game developers, and more.
Google SketchUp (https://www.sketchup.com/)
SketchUp is a 3D modelling software widely used by architects, interior designers, and builders to visualise their designs. It is considered one of the easiest 3D modelling software to learn and use. SketchUp offers a wide range of tools for creating and editing 3D models, including a set of drawing, modifying, and dimensioning tools, as well as a library of pre-built 3D models. Additionally, it has a built-in rendering engine and supports export to other software. SketchUp is available for Windows and macOS. SketchUp also offers a free web-based version called SketchUp Free, which can be accessed from a browser and a paid version called SketchUp Pro with additional features.
Character Creator 4 (https://www.reallusion.com/character-creator/)
Character Creator 4 is a professional 3D character creation software that allows users to design and customize realistic human characters for use in animation, game development, and other 3D projects. It offers a wide range of features for creating and editing 3D characters, including morph targets, clothing and hair physics, and a large library of clothing and accessory assets. It also includes a powerful rigging system that allows users to easily create animations for their characters. The software also includes a real-time rendering engine, and support export to other software such as iClone, Unity, and Unreal Engine. Character Creator 4 is available for Windows, and it's compatible with most 3D animation and game engines.
iClone 8 (https://www.reallusion.com/iclone/)
iClone 8 is a real-time 3D animation software that allows users to create and edit 3D animations, characters, and scenes. It offers a wide range of features including motion capture, facial animation, physics-based animation, and real-time rendering. It is particularly useful for creating animations for games, films, and virtual reality. iClone 8 is also compatible with other 3D software such as Character Creator, allowing users to import and work with 3D characters and assets created in other software. The software also includes a library of pre-made characters, animations, and other assets that users can use in their projects. It is available for Windows.
Substance Designer (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1775400/Substance_3D_Designer_2022/)
Substance Designer is a professional texturing software that allows artists to create and edit PBR (physically-based rendering) materials for use in 3D animation, video games, and other 3D projects. It offers a wide range of features including advanced node-based texturing, a wide variety of filters, and the ability to create and edit complex materials. It also includes a library of pre-made materials, allowing users to create realistic textures quickly and easily for their projects. Substance Designer also allows users to export their materials to other software such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and Maya. It is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is widely used by game developers, VFX studios, and 3D artists.
Substance Painter (https://www.adobe.com/africa/products/substance3d-painter.html)
Much like Substance Designer, Substance Painter is a professional texturing software that also allows artists to create and edit PBR (physically-based rendering) materials. It is designed specifically for 3D asset texturing, providing a wide range of tools to paint, sculpt, and refine materials in a 3D environment. It allows artists to work in real time and provides a wide range of brushes, filters, and smart materials that allow them to quickly and easily create realistic textures. Substance Painter also offers the possibility to export textures to various 3D software such as Maya, Blender, and Unity. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is widely used by game developers, VFX studios, and 3D artists.
Substance Sampler (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1759610/Substance_3D_Sampler_2022/)
Substance Sampler is a feature of the Substance tools, which allows artists to explore and experiment with different variations of materials, by creating and editing material instances from a master material. The substance sampler can be used to change the colour, roughness, metalness and many other properties of a material. It also supports the ability to add masks and filters to the material, allowing for even more control over the final result. Substance Sampler is available as a plugin for 3D software such as Maya, 3DS Max, and Blender, as well as game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine. It is widely used by game developers, VFX studios, and 3D artists to explore different variations of materials quickly and easily, without having to create multiple copies of the materials.
Unity (https://unity.com/)
Unity is a cross-platform game engine that allows developers to create 2D, 3D, AR, and VR games, simulations, and other interactive content. It offers a wide range of features, including a visual scripting system, physics engine, and support for a variety of platforms such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and more. Unity also has a large and active community of developers and a wide range of resources, such as tutorials, forums, and asset stores. It also offers a free personal version and paid versions for businesses and professionals. In addition to video games, Unity is also used for industries like architecture, automotive, film, education, training, and many more.
Microsoft Visual Studio (https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/)
Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that allows developers to create applications for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. It offers a wide range of features, such as debugging, profiling, code refactoring, and integration with other Microsoft tools and services. Visual Studio supports multiple programming languages such as C#, C++, F#, and Python, and supports a wide range of platforms and frameworks, including .NET, Azure, Xamarin, and more. Additionally, it includes a variety of project templates and a code editor that supports IntelliSense, which provides intelligent code completion and other features to help developers write code more efficiently. It is available for Windows and Mac.
JFXR (https://jfxr.frozenfractal.com/#)
JFXR is a web-based tool that allows users to create and edit 8-bit style sound effects for use in games, videos, and other projects. The tool is easy to use and provides a variety of options to customize the sound effects including waveform, frequency, volume, and more. It supports the ability to export the sound effect to various audio formats such as WAV, OGG, and MP3. jfxr is built on top of the library called JFXR (JavaFX Sound Generator). The tool is free to use and does not require any software installation, you can access it directly from a web browser. It's a great option for game developers, content creators, and anyone looking for an easy-to-use sound effect generator.
Deezer (https://www.deezer.com/en/)
Deezer is a music streaming service that offers access to a vast library of songs, albums, and playlists. It allows users to listen to music on-demand, create and share playlists, and discover new music. Deezer also has a variety of features such as personalized recommendations, flow (a personalized mix of songs based on users' listening history), and live lyrics (which display the lyrics of the song in real-time as it plays). The service is available on multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, and offers a feature called "offline mode" which allows users to download songs and playlists for offline listening. Deezer has both free and paid subscription options, with the paid subscription offering more features such as higher-quality audio and no ads.
123apps (https://123apps.com/)
123Apps is a website that offers a collection of online tools and apps that can be used for various tasks such as image editing, audio, and video conversion, and more. The website offers a variety of tools that are easy to use and can be accessed directly from a web browser, without the need to download any software. Some of the tools provided by 123Apps include a photo editor, a video converter, an audio converter, a QR code generator, and more. The website is free to use, and some of the tools offer both free and paid versions. 123Apps is a great resource for anyone looking for a convenient and easy-to-use collection of online tools and apps to help with a wide range of tasks.
Polycam (https://poly.cam/)
Poly.cam is a website that allows users to create and share 3D models for use in virtual and augmented reality, video games, and other 3D projects. The website is built on top of the Poly API by Google, which is a library of 3D assets. The website allows users to upload their own 3D models, and to browse, search, and use models shared by other users. The website also allows users to export models in various 3D file formats such as OBJ, FBX, and GLTF. It also offers a feature called "Remix" which allows users to import 3D models and edit, customize, and share them. Poly.cam is a great resource for game developers, content creators, and anyone looking for a wide range of 3D models to use in their projects.
Git (https://gitforwindows.org/)
Git for Windows is a version of the Git version control system that is specifically built to run on Windows operating systems. Git is a widely-used tool for managing and collaborating on code projects. It allows developers to keep track of changes to their code, collaborate with others, and revert to previous versions if needed. Git for Windows provides a Windows-native Git command-line interface and includes the Git GUI, which provides a graphical user interface for working with Git. It also includes several other tools such as Git Bash, Git Credential Manager, and Git LFS (Large File Support). Git for Windows is a great option for developers who are working on Windows and want a powerful, flexible, and widely used tool for managing their code projects. It is also a free and open-source software.
As a game developer, there are many different tools out there to help you create the best possible games. There are also quite a few options to choose from when deciding which one will work best for your needs. The above were just some examples of what can be found on this list! We hope that it has given you some insight into what each program offers and helped inspire some ideas about how technology could help improve your next project. Good luck!