libGDX
libGDX is a free, open-source Java framework for building 2D and 3D games across desktop, mobile and web targets.
What libGDX is
libGDX is a free, open-source Java framework for building 2D and 3D games across desktop, mobile and web targets. A shared API supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS and HTML5, with platform backends providing access to host capabilities. Graphics use OpenGL ES 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 or 3.2. Audio supports streamed music and WAV, MP3 and OGG playback, along with PCM playback and recording. Input abstractions cover mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, controllers and device sensors. Physics support includes JNI wrappers for Box2D 2D physics and Bullet 3D physics. Networking features include TCP sockets, HTTP requests and a cross-platform WebSocket API. The project lists integrations or third-party support for services including Google Play Games, Apple Game Center, Firebase, Steamworks API, GameAnalytics, Facebook Graph API and AdMob. The setup tool generates a project and downloads required components; Java is supported, with Groovy, Kotlin or Scala available as setup options. Compiling for iOS requires Xcode, which is available only on macOS.
Good
- Targets six desktop, mobile and web platforms.
- Supports 2D and 3D game development.
- Includes Box2D and Bullet physics wrappers.
- Open source under Apache 2.0.
Watch out
- iOS compilation requires macOS and Xcode.
- No console export is listed.
- Visual scripting is not supported.
Who it suits
libGDX suits developers building 2D or 3D games for desktop, mobile and web from a shared codebase. iOS builds require access to macOS for Xcode.
Verdict
libGDX offers a broad set of game-development APIs for teams working across supported desktop, mobile and web platforms. Its iOS build requirement and lack of console export matter when choosing target platforms.
The facts
Each one read from libGDX's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Archived forum
- The project says its forums were archived due to spam issues and remain available as a reference.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Audio
- Audio features include streaming music and sound playback for WAV, MP3 and OGG, plus PCM playback and recording.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Audio and input
- Audio features include WAV, MP3 and OGG playback, while input abstractions cover mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, controllers and device sensors.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Code reuse
- It offers a single API for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS and Web, using various backends to access host platform capabilities.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Console export
- Nochecked 20 Sep 2026
- Documentation
- Documentation is available through the community-driven wiki and Javadocs hosted on javadoc.io.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Game types
- The framework supports writing 2D and 3D games.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- Rendering uses OpenGL ES 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 or 3.2 on all supported platforms.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The feature page names Google Play Games, Apple Game Center, Firebase, Steamworks API, GameAnalytics, Facebook Graph API and AdMob integrations or third-party support.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Language options
- The project setup tool can include Groovy, Kotlin or Scala in addition to Java.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- libGDX is open source under the Apache 2.0 license and maintained by the community.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Mobile export
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Multiplayer tools
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Networking
- Gdx.net provides TCP sockets and HTTP requests, and a cross-platform WebSocket API is also listed.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Physics
- The framework includes JNI wrappers for Box2D 2D physics and Bullet 3D physics.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Product
- libGDX is a cross-platform Java game development framework based on OpenGL (ES).checked 5 Oct 2026
- Project setup
- The gdx-liftoff setup tool creates a project and downloads its dependencies; generated projects use Gradle.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Same codebase
- The framework targets Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and HTML5 from the same codebase.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Scripting languages
- Java,Groovy,Kotlin,Scalachecked 20 Sep 2026
- Source code model
- open_sourcechecked 20 Sep 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its Discord community and also identifies Stack Overflow and Reddit as community platforms.checked 5 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platform requirement
- Compiling a game for iOS requires Xcode, which is available only on macOS.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Target platforms
- Windows,Linux,macOS,Android,iOS,Webchecked 20 Sep 2026
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