Describe it, then play it
Say what the player does, how they win, and the look you want. You can attach a sketch or a style reference. Manus builds a first version and opens it in the Preview tab, with nothing to install.
Comparison · Updated November 2026
Manus vs GDevelop: Which Is Right For You?
Describe a game and Manus builds it. GDevelop is a free, open-source engine for making games yourself.
Manus vs GDevelop: feature comparison
A side-by-side look at how each tool makes, tests, and ships a game.
| Capability | Manus |  GDevelop |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A general AI agent. Its Game Dev feature turns a description into a playable browser game. | A no-code, open-source game engine with a visual editor. |
| How you build | Describe the game in chat and attach reference images. Ask for changes in the same conversation. | Place objects in scenes, add ready-made behaviors, and write the logic as events made of conditions and actions. |
| Role of AI | AI builds the whole game, including the code, art, and sound. | AI works inside your project. The agent builds features, and the chat answers questions. |
| Coding | Not needed. You can read the code in the Code tab, or copy and download it. | Not needed. You can extend the engine with extensions or JavaScript. |
| 2D and 3D | 2D and 3D browser games, such as the 3D shooter Iron Rift FPS. | 2D and 3D games, drawn with PixiJS and Three.js. An in-app tutorial walks through a 3D GTA-like game. |
| Art and sound | Generates the art and sound with the game. Ask Manus to edit or replace any image, sound, font, or animation. | Use your own files or GDevelop Asset Store packs. Free packs add to your game in one click. |
| Testing and tuning | Play in the Preview tab. A tweak panel made for each game changes values like speed, gravity, damage, and spawn rate as you play. | Preview from the editor. A debugger lets you pause the game and edit variables while it runs, and a profiler finds slow events. |
| Multiplayer | For online play, choose Multiplayer in Configure. Manus writes the client and server code and deploys the server to a Cloud Computer, which is a separate subscription. | Built-in lobbies, leaderboards, and player accounts. Every plan includes multiplayer: the Free plan allows 1 lobby with up to 4 players, and paid plans allow unlimited lobbies with up to 8 players. |
| Publishing | Publish as a website with its own link, or add a custom domain on upgrade. Share the link on X, Reddit, Facebook, or Discord. | Publish free on gd.games, upload to web portals like Itch.io, Poki, or CrazyGames, or export for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. |
| Player data | A dashboard shows active players, game opens, retention, and top countries. | A Game dashboard with analytics on sessions and how long players stay, plus player feedback and leaderboards. Available to all GDevelop accounts, with limits by plan. |
| Open source | No. Manus is a hosted service. | Yes. The editor and engine use the MIT license, and you don't have to open-source your games. |
| Pricing | Paid plans start at $20 a month for 4,000 credits, plus 300 refresh credits a day, and yearly billing saves 17%. Building a game uses credits. Daily refresh credits work only with Manus 2.0 Lite. Online multiplayer needs a Cloud Computer, sold separately. | Free plan. Silver is $7.99, Gold $13.99, and Pro $39.99 a month, with up to 40% off yearly. |
| Best for | Going from an idea to a playable, shareable browser game without learning an editor. | Building and selling full 2D and 3D games, with control over every rule and builds for app stores and Steam. |
Prices are in US dollars, billed monthly, and can change. Check Manus pricing and GDevelop pricing before you buy.
What you can do with Manus
An AI agent that builds the game, then lets you shape it as you play.
Tune it while you play
Each game gets its own tweak panel for values like speed, gravity, damage, and spawn rate. The Game Dev launch post shows it in action.
Edit any asset by asking
Every image, sound, font, and animation is in one place. Ask Manus to edit or replace one, or select a single character and change only that.
Multiplayer and sharing
For online multiplayer, Manus writes the server code and runs it on a Cloud Computer, sold separately. Share by link and track players.
What you can do with GDevelop
A free, open-source, no-code game engine that you control by hand, with AI help when you want it.
Write game logic as events
Game logic is written as events. Each event has conditions, such as the player touching a coin, and actions, such as adding to the score. Ready-made behaviors add common logic to objects.
Ask AI to build or answer questions
In Ask AI, an agent adds objects, behaviors, and events. A chat answers questions. GDevelop says its AI doesn't train on your games.
Export to web, mobile, and desktop
Package a game for the web, Android, iOS, or desktop. Desktop builds run on Windows, macOS, and Linux and suit Steam. One-click iOS builds need the Gold or Pro plan.
Extend the engine and sell your games
The editor and engine are open source under the MIT license. You can sell your games without open-sourcing them, and extend the engine with extensions or JavaScript.
Make a game with AI or by hand: one idea, two workflows
The same game idea, built in each tool:
“A colorful 2D platformer where a fox jumps between floating islands, collects stars, and avoids spiky enemies.”
In Manus
- 1Type the idea in Manus. Attach a sketch of the fox if you have one.
- 2Manus builds the rules, art, and sound, then opens a first version in the Preview tab. This uses credits, and the amount depends on the game.
- 3Play it. If the jumps feel floaty, raise the gravity in the tweak panel.
- 4Ask for more in the same chat, such as "Add a night level with a boss."
- 5Publish the game and share its link.
In GDevelop
- 1Open GDevelop and start a new project or a template.
- 2Add the fox, platform, and star objects with your own art or Asset Store packs.
- 3Add a ready-made behavior so the fox can run and jump on the platforms.
- 4Write an event: when the fox collides with a star, delete the star and add 1 to the score.
- 5Or click Ask AI and describe a feature for the agent to build.
- 6Preview it, then publish on gd.games or export for mobile or desktop.
Both tools make 2D and 3D games. To start in 3D with Manus, try the 3D game maker.
Where each tool is stronger
Neither tool wins at everything. Here are the trade-offs.
Where Manus is stronger
No editor to learn
You describe and play. There are no scenes, events, or behaviors to set up first. See how to make a game without coding in Manus.
Art, sound, and code from one description
Manus creates the assets with the game, so you don't need to find or draw them first.
A tweak panel made for each game
Manus adds a panel to each game that changes values like speed, gravity, damage, and spawn rate while you play. You do not set it up yourself.
Where GDevelop is stronger
Builds for app stores, Steam, and web portals
Export for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, then publish on Google Play, the App Store, the Amazon App Store, or Steam. Web builds go to Poki, CrazyGames, Newgrounds, Game Jolt, and Itch.io, and a separate export covers Facebook Instant Games.
Multiplayer on every plan
Lobbies, leaderboards, and player accounts are built in. The Free plan includes 1 lobby with up to 4 players.
Exact control over every rule
You decide each event and behavior. The debugger and profiler help you find bugs and slow events.
Things to consider
Manus
- Games publish as websites that open in a browser. Manus doesn't document an app store or Steam export.
- Each game uses credits, and the amount depends on how complex it is.
- Online multiplayer needs a Cloud Computer, which is a separate subscription.
GDevelop
- You build the logic yourself with events, or ask its AI for help.
- One-click iOS builds need the Gold or Pro plan.
- Companies with more than $50,000 in yearly revenue must use the Pro plan.
Should you use Manus or GDevelop?
Choose Manus to have AI build your game. Choose GDevelop to build it yourself.
When to choose Manus
- You want AI to build a playable version of your idea
- You don't want to learn an editor or events
- You want the art, sound, and code made for you
- You want to share a browser game with a link
When to choose GDevelop
- You want to sell your game on Steam, Google Play, or the App Store
- You want to control every rule by hand, with AI help when you want it
- You want an open-source engine
- You want to learn game development step by step
Or use both
Not sure an idea is fun yet? Make a quick version in Manus and play it with friends. If it works and you need app store builds, rebuild it in GDevelop.
Frequently asked questions
Is Manus a good GDevelop alternative?
Yes, if you want AI to build the game for you. In Manus, you describe the game in plain words, and Manus builds a playable browser game with the rules, art, and sound. You change it by asking or with the tweak panel, then share it with a link. GDevelop is the better fit if you want to build every rule yourself in an editor, or if you need builds for the App Store, Google Play, or Steam.
What is GDevelop?
GDevelop is a free, open-source game engine for making 2D and 3D games without code. You write game logic as events made of conditions and actions, add ready-made behaviors to objects, and publish to the web, mobile, and desktop. The editor and engine use the MIT license.
Is GDevelop free?
Yes. GDevelop's Free plan costs $0 and includes the open-source engine, publishing on gd.games, and 40 AI credits a month. The paid plans are Silver at $7.99, Gold at $13.99, and Pro at $39.99 a month, with up to 40% off when you pay yearly. GDevelop requires companies with more than $50,000 in yearly revenue to use the Pro plan.
Does GDevelop have AI?
Yes. In the GDevelop editor, Ask AI opens an agent that builds features in your project and a chat that answers questions. The Free plan includes 40 AI credits a month, and the paid plans include 200 to 3,000 AI credits a week.
Can I make a game with AI without coding?
Yes, with either tool. In Manus, you describe the game and ask for changes, and you never have to touch the code. In GDevelop, you build with events and behaviors instead of code, and its AI agent can build features for you.
Can Manus and GDevelop make 3D games?
Yes. GDevelop makes 2D and 3D games and draws 3D scenes with Three.js. Its in-app tutorials include one called "Make a 3D GTA-like game." Manus makes 2D and 3D browser games, and its game gallery includes 3D games such as Iron Rift FPS.
Can I publish my game on the App Store, Google Play, or Steam?
GDevelop can. It exports games for Android and iOS, and for Windows, macOS, and Linux, which you can publish on Steam. One-click iOS builds need the Gold or Pro plan. Manus publishes each game as a website that opens in a browser from its link, and you can download the game code. Manus doesn't document an app store or Steam export for games.
Is GDevelop open source, and what language does it use?
Yes. GDevelop's editor and engine are open source under the MIT license, and you don't have to open-source the games you make. The engine is written in TypeScript, and the editor in JavaScript with React. You don't need to code, but you can extend the engine with JavaScript.
How much do Manus and GDevelop cost?
Manus paid plans start at $20 a month with 4,000 credits, plus 300 refresh credits a day, and yearly billing saves 17%. Daily refresh credits, on free and paid plans, work only with Manus 2.0 Lite. Building a game uses credits, and the amount depends on how complex the game is. Online multiplayer games also need a Cloud Computer, which is a separate subscription. GDevelop has a free plan, and its paid plans cost $7.99 to $39.99 a month, with up to 40% off yearly.
Which is better for beginners, Manus or GDevelop?
If you want a playable game with few manual steps, Manus fits: describe the game, play it, and ask for changes. If you want to learn how games are built, GDevelop teaches the ideas through its event system, in-app tutorials, and courses such as the GDevelop Essentials Course, with full access from the Silver plan.
More ways to make games with Manus
Describe it. Play it. Share it.
Tell Manus your game idea. It builds a game you can play, tweak, and share with a link.