Stride
Stride is a free, open-source C# game engine for creating 2D and 3D games and other interactive content for desktop and VR.
What Stride is
Stride is a free, open-source C# game engine for creating 2D and 3D games and other interactive content for desktop and VR. Its Game Studio includes editors for assets, scenes, sprites, user interfaces, and curves, along with tools to manage and modify game assets. The engine includes physics and navigation meshes for collisions, events, and character pathfinding, as well as visual scripting. Graphics options include physically based materials, light probes, particles, post effects, customizable shaders, DirectX 12, and Vulkan. Stride supports C# 14 and .NET 10, asynchronous scripting, and hot reload for scripts and shaders. It has native Oculus and HTC Vive support and lets users preview VR from the scene editor. The MIT license allows use, modification, and distribution. Listed development requirements include Windows 10 or 11, an x64 CPU, a Direct3D 10-or-newer compatible GPU, at least 4 GB RAM, and 5 GB disk space. The community-driven project says it has no full-time developers dedicated solely to its advancement.
Good
- Free to use, modify, and distribute under MIT.
- Supports 2D, 3D, and VR content.
- Includes visual scripting, physics, and navigation meshes.
- Supports mobile export.
Watch out
- Development requirements list Windows 10 or 11.
- Project has no full-time developers dedicated solely to advancement.
Who it suits
Stride may suit developers building desktop or VR games and interactive content, including indie and AAA developers. Its listed uses also include training simulations and architecture or engineering software.
Verdict
Stride provides a broad engine toolset under the MIT license, with desktop, VR, and mobile export support. Consider the stated development requirements and community project model when deciding whether it fits your needs.
Plans and prices
From Stride's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Stride Game Engine | Free | Free to use, modify, and distribute under the MIT license |
The facts
Each one read from Stride's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Development requirements
- The listed development requirements include Windows 10 or 11, an x64 CPU, a Direct3D 10 or newer compatible GPU, 4 GB RAM minimum, and 5 GB disk space.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Stride provides its manual in English and Japanese, beginner introduction videos, and intermediate scripting tutorials on YouTube.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Editor
- Game Studio includes tools for creating and managing game assets, scenes, sprites, and user interfaces.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Game Studio
- The included Game Studio toolchain lets users create, manage, and modify game assets, with editors for scenes, UI, sprites, and curves.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- Stride offers physically based materials, light probes, particles, post effects, customizable shaders, and graphics APIs including DirectX 12 and Vulkan.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The site lists Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Rider as C# scripting environments for Stride.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The site describes Stride as suitable for indie and AAA developers and for making PC and VR games, training simulations, and architecture or engineering software.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- Stride is free to use, modify, and distribute under the MIT license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Mobile export
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
- Physics and navigation
- The engine includes physics and navigation mesh systems for collisions, events, and character pathfinding.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Stride is a free, open-source C# game engine for creating 2D and 3D games and other interactive content for desktop and VR.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Project model
- Stride describes itself as a non-profit, community-driven project with no full-time developers dedicated solely to its advancement.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- Stride supports C# 14 and .NET 10, asynchronous scripting, and hot reload for scripts and shaders.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Scripting languages
- C#checked 24 Sep 2026
- Source code model
- open_sourcechecked 24 Sep 2026
- Support
- The project points users to its documentation, Discord community, and GitHub Discussions for help.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Visual scripting
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
- VR
- Stride has native support for Oculus and HTC Vive and includes tools for previewing VR from the scene editor.checked 9 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Stride is a free, open-source C# game engine for 2D and 3D games and interactive content on desktop and VR.checked 9 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 24 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- Stride 4.4 says non-Windows platform support is no longer experimental and that projects can be built on Linux and macOS; the download FAQ lists Windows as supported and Android, iOS, Linux, and macOS as experimental.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Target platforms
- Windows is currently supported; Android, iOS, Linux, and macOS are listed as experimental, and the engine supports most popular VR devices.checked 9 Oct 2026
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