In the early 90s, the gaming industry was limited to 2D mechanics. 3D gaming entered the market in the mid-’90s and revolutionised the gaming world. It was the next step in innovation and provided gamers all around the world with a more versatile and real-world experience. There is a huge difference between 2D and 3D games. The main difference is obvious. With the entry of 3D games into the market, gamers were sure 3D games would become the new norm and replace 2D. Although new innovations in the gaming industry are slowly replacing 2D games, they are still very popular.
The Difference Between 2d And 3d Games
In case you’re not familiar with the concept, the ‘D’ stands for dimension. 2D games are rendered in two dimensions and have only two axes of motion. These are “flat” games that provide limited movement and linear gameplay. 3D games are rendered in 3 dimensions and have depth and volume, which makes the gaming experience interactive and seamless.
Movement
2D games are linear and “flat” in nature. The character may move left and right and up and down, but ultimately there is a start and an end point. Because of the limited movement options, 2D games are typically simple and have a single goal: to complete the level. Because there is limited movement in 2D games, the controls are rather simple, and there are fewer possible movements and interactions with other world objects. The most common example of a 2D game is Super Mario.
Read Also – How Much Does it Cost to Develop Unity 3D Cricket Game?
3D games provide unrestricted movement and 360-degree movement. The character can move freely in every direction, and the objects have length, height, and depth. The’real-world’ setting of 3D games allows the player to explore the world, which makes the game more interactive and interesting.
Animation
In 2D games, the X and Y coordinates of a sprite determine its location on the map. Sprites are flat images that only serve the purpose of filling up the landscape. Because of the 2D environment, sprites have limited preprogrammed animations and Sprites are flat images that only serve the purpose of filling up the landscape. Because of the 2D environment, sprites have limited preprogrammed animations and functionality, which is the reason that they can’t respond to their surroundings or the character.
The process behind animations in a 3D setting is far more intricate. Elements such as light and sound behave realistically and provide a much more immersive experience. You can fully explore the map in a 3D game, which makes the gameplay exciting and unpredictable.
Gameplay and Camera Perspective
The camera angle in 2D games is static and simplified. The camera angle in 2D games is simply observing the game from the side, which provides zero perspectives. 2D games rarely focus on landscapes; they specialise in fun and linear games that are engaging and distract you from the landscape. 2D games use a method known as “parallax scrolling” which moves the background at a different speed than the foreground, providing the illusion of depth.
3D games don’t have the typical ‘finish the level’ objective like many 2D games. A 3D game’s objective is to explore your environment, solve different puzzles, interact with NPCs, and ultimately finish the story. The player can control the camera angle independently of the character, which allows you to observe the world from different angles and provides an aesthetic experience.
Read More – Benefits & Drawbacks of Unity3D Game Development
The Advantages of 2D and 3D Game Development
2D and 3D games both excel in different categories, so it won’t be right to say that one is better than the other. There are various benefits to both 2D and 3D game development.
The Benefits of 2D Games
Simple but effective: 2D games are simple and linear in nature. The simplicity of 2D games makes them a good pastime. Since they only exist in two axes, 2D game development is the best option for simpler games. The straightforward and easy gameplay of 2D games makes them a popular choice among beginners, which provides a vast audience.
Hassle-free development: 2D games are comparatively easier to develop than 3D games. You don’t have to bother about the development of such games as they are relatively easy to create and the development phase is also inexpensive and quick.
Easy controls: 2D games may not be eye-openers, but they are relatively easy to play because of the minimalism of the controls and gameplay.
The Benefits of 3D Games
Realistic and engaging: 3D games offer open-world exploration, which is a boon for hardcore gamers who spend hours playing. The gameplay mechanics and graphics of 3D games are almost lifelike and provide a realistic experience. A 3D game development company focuses on making the gameplay experience immersive and engaging for the player.
Lifelike Graphics: The graphics in video games have seen a huge paradigm shift. A decade ago, games used to have terrible graphics and blocky textures. In 10 years, the gaming industry has been revolutionised, and video game graphics have gone from worst to best.
Versatile: 3D game development offers versatility to the gamer. Various games of different genres can be created by using 3D, and most of these games provide the gamer with freedom of choice and action. Compared to 2D games, they have more features and are more complex.
These points don’t necessarily mean that one is better than the other; some people prefer complex gameplay mechanics while others go for a more simplistic approach.
Development tools to create a 2D or 3D game.
GameMaker Studio 2
This is the perfect tool for an amateur developer and even comes with a free trial. The popular game Undertale was developed using this engine. It provides a simple interface and easy tutorials, making it the optimal choice for beginners.
Unity
Originally created for 3D game development, 2D support was later added to Unity. Working knowledge of C# is required to use Unity, and it is fairly complex, but it is one of the most popular engines for indie game developers. The cost to develop a Unity game is around $20,000 with basic functionalities, but with complex mechanisms, it is sure to increase.
Godot
Godot is a free and open-source engine. This engine is fairly easy to use and uses its own language called GD Script. It is appropriate for both 2D and 3D game development.
Read More – How to Make a Video Game in Unity 3D Using VR Technology?
The cost of developing 2D and 3D games
I’ve had various people ask me ‘How much does it cost to develop a 2D game? There are various factors that determine the development cost of a game. There is no definite number or right answer. It depends on the engine, the complexity of the game, the soundtrack, the graphics quality, etc. Another factor that affects the cost of 2D or 3D game development is whether you develop the game yourself, hire a developer, or outsource it to a game development company.
AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or GTA V spent $212 million and $265 million, respectively, whereas Flappy Bird was made for just $300.
Summing Up
Recent trends indicate that 2D and 3D games can coexist in the same industry. Even with so many technological advancements in 3D gaming, 2D is still going strong. They both hold their own place in the gaming industry and have varying target audiences. 2D games are fairly easy to create, whereas 3D games are complex and require an abundance of resources and technology. If you want to develop your very own 3D game and are not confident enough in your skillset, you can outsource the project to a 3D game development company. They take care of everything from the development phase and even help you with the marketing of the product.
