Makermint vs v0Read the guide
Comparison
Makermint vs Stencyl
Stencyl builds games from blocks you connect. Makermint builds them from what you type.
Jump to a section
Share this article
Key takeaways
Stencyl builds 2D games from blocks you connect yourself; Makermint builds one from a sentence you type.
Stencyl's free tier only publishes to the web; desktop and mobile export need a paid plan.
Makermint casts your photo as the playable character; Stencyl games use art and actors you build.
Stencyl is a block-based game maker, in the spirit of Scratch, where you drag, connect and configure blocks to build 2D games yourself and can publish to app stores and desktop on a paid plan. Makermint takes a written description and hands back a playable 2D game in minutes, in the browser, with the art handled and no blocks to learn.
Stencyl is a block-based game creation platform that pays homage to MIT's Scratch project: you build 2D game logic by dragging and connecting visual blocks instead of writing text code. It has drawn a large community of hobbyist and indie developers, and Stencyl says more than 500,000 people have used it. Power users can go further, writing custom code and building custom blocks alongside the visual system. The editor itself is a desktop application you download and install on Windows, Mac or Linux.
What Stencyl does well
- Block-based visual programming inspired by Scratch, with hundreds of ready-made blocks
- Optional custom code and custom blocks for advanced logic, for developers who want it
- A scene designer and actor editor for building levels, appearances and behaviors
- Publishes to iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and HTML5
- An extension marketplace for ad networks and third-party plugins
- A long-running platform with a large developer community
Where it asks more of you
- Runs as a downloaded desktop application rather than a browser-based editor
- You build every scene, behavior and animation yourself by connecting blocks, and we have not found a prompt-to-game step in Stencyl's documentation
- You supply or create your own art and sound for the blocks to use
- The free tier publishes to web only with a Stencyl splash screen; desktop export is $99 a year, and iOS and Android export is $199 a year
What Makermint does differently
Cast yourself in the game
Upload a clear photo and Makermint casts that person as the playable character. No blocks, no actor editor, just a photo.
Change it by asking
Ask for a tweak in plain language and play the next version. No rewiring blocks or hunting for the right one in a marketplace.
Straight to a shareable link
Describe the game you want and play a 2D version in your browser in minutes, with a link ready to share, no install required.
How they compare: feature by feature
| Feature | Makermint | Stencyl |
|---|---|---|
| Describe a game in plain words and get one built | Yes | No |
| Block-based visual coding | No | Yes |
| Photo casting as the playable character | Yes | Not documented |
| Visuals handled for you | Yes | You supply your own art |
| Browser-based editor, no download | Yes | No |
| Free tier | Free during early access | Web/HTML5 only, with Stencyl branding |
| Desktop export (Windows, Mac, Linux) | No | Paid plan, $99/year |
| Mobile export (iOS, Android) | No | Paid plan, $199/year |
| Time to a playable first game | Minutes | Hours to days, built by hand |
| Publish to a built-in community showcase | Yes | Third-party game portals |
Which one should you choose?
Choose Makermint if
Choose Makermint if you would rather describe the game you want and play it in minutes, want yourself or a friend cast as the character, or would rather not learn a block system or keep a desktop install.
Frequently asked questions
Not fully. Stencyl is for building every scene and behavior yourself with blocks and shipping to app stores and desktop. Makermint is for turning a written description into a playable 2D game in minutes with a link to share.
No. Makermint has no block editor. You describe your game and ask for changes in plain language instead of connecting blocks.
Yes, with photo casting. Upload a clear, front-facing photo and Makermint casts that person as the playable character, instead of building an actor by hand.
No. Makermint publishes to the web with a share link. Stencyl's paid plans add iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux export.
Yes, Makermint is free during early access. Stencyl's free tier is limited to web publishing with its own branding.
Make your first 2D game free
Describe it in a sentence, or start from a showcase game. See why creators try Makermint alongside Stencyl. Free during early access.