The gaming industry is C++! Engines written in C++ and/or C++ as the language for creating games.
C++ is historically the language of choice for game engine development due to its performance, memory control, and ability to handle complex real-time systems.
Over the decades, several engines — from commercial AAA solutions to open-source projects — have been built with this language at their core.
In this article, we present the 100 game engines written in C++, highlighting their supported scripting languages, famous games that used them, and links for those who want to explore them further.
Whether you are a curious developer, an engine enthusiast, or someone looking for the ideal foundation for your next project, this list provides a complete overview of the C++ engine ecosystem in the games world.
01. Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is a game development engine created by Epic Games, known for its high-level graphics and use in AAA games, simulations, and visualizations.
- Written in: C++
- Game development languages: C++ and Blueprints(visual scripting system)
Famous games made with Unreal Engine:
- Fortnite
- Gears of War (series)
- Unreal Tournament (series)
- Batman: Arkham City / Knight
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Street Fighter V
- Mortal Kombat 11
- The Matrix Awakens (demo tech)
Also used in cinema and architecture due to its high graphic realism.
02. Godot
Godot Engine is an open source and lightweight engine for 2D and 3D development, with a focus on usability and flexibility.
Written in: C++ (core) and GDScript (engine scripts)
Languages for game development: GDScript, C#, C++, VisualScript, and several other languages via GDNative.
Famous games made with Godot:
- The Case of the Golden Idol
- Dome Keeper
- Cassette Beasts
- Kingdoms of the Dump
- Lumencraft
Popular in the indie community for being free, lightweight and highly customizable.
03. Unity
Unity is a cross-platform engine widely used for 2D, 3D, VR and AR game development, with a strong presence in mobile and indie games.
Written in: C++ (engine) and C# (scripting API)
Game development languages: Mainly C# (support for others via plugins, but not official)
Famous games made with Unity:
- Hollow Knight
- Cuphead
- Monument Valley
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Among Us
- Genshin Impact
- Inside
Known for its user-friendly interface, large community, and support for multiple platforms.
04. Cocos
Cocos2d and Cocos3d are open source engines focused on 2D and 3D game development, popular in mobile games, especially in Asia.
Cocos2d
- Written in: C++ (Cocos2d-x), Objective-C (Cocos2d-iPhone), JavaScript (Cocos2d-JS)
- Development languages: C++, Lua, JavaScript (varies according to version)
Cocos3d
- Written in: Objective-C (based on Cocos2d for iOS)
- Development languages: Objective-C
Famous games made with Cocos2d/Cocos2d-x:
- Clash of Kings
- Badland
- Geometry Dash
- Big Fish Casino
- Dragon City (initial mobile versions)
Mainly used for lightweight mobile games, with good performance on modest devices.
05. CryEngine
CryEngine is a high-performance engine developed by Crytek, focused on realistic graphics and vast environments, widely used in AAA games.
- Written in: C++
- Development languages: C++, Lua (for scripts), and C# (in newer versions)
Famous games made with CryEngine:
- Crysis (series)
- Ryse: Son of Rome
- Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 and 3
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- The Climb
It stands out for its graphical fidelity and advanced lighting and physics system.
