Defold vs GameMaker:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, GameMaker had more branded searches than Defold among game engines worldwide. GameMaker had about 270,000 branded searches, while Defold had 12,100. GameMaker made up 21% of all game engine searches we track, and Defold accounted for 0.94%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about game engines, GameMaker appeared in four of the five answers and Defold in one. GameMaker was mentioned before Defold in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
GameMaker, about 22 searches for every 1 for Defold
Who does AI mention more?
GameMaker, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Defold in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
GameMaker, named ahead of Defold in 3 of 4 answers
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Top game engines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GameMaker was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Defold was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. GameMaker was listed before Defold in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Godot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Unity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- GameMaker4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Unreal Engine4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
GDevelop2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Construct2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Phaser2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
RPG Maker1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Defold1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
LÖVE0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about game engines
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best game engine for beginners?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which game engine should I use for a 2D game?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best game engines?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“game engine”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“free game engine”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 27, 2026.
Is Defold or GameMaker more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Defold and GameMaker by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 game engines we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for GameMaker, Defold. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | GameMaker | Unreal Engine | GDevelop | Godot | Construct | RPG Maker | Unity | LÖVE | CRYENGINE | Defold | Cocos | Phaser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 24.4% | 18.2% | 12.2% | 9.1% | 14.9% | 6.7% | 8.7% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.73% | 1.2% | 0.87% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.4% | 19.7% | 10.8% | 9.8% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 9% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.79% | 1.2% | 0.94% |
| Jan 2026 | 24.5% | 22.4% | 12.3% | 9.1% | 10% | 8.2% | 7.5% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 24.9% | 18.6% | 12.5% | 9.3% | 12.5% | 8.3% | 8.5% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.75% | 1.2% | 0.88% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.2% | 17.3% | 14.1% | 9.5% | 14.1% | 7.7% | 8.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 1.2% | 0.98% |
| Apr 2026 | 24.7% | 18.4% | 15% | 9.9% | 12.3% | 6.8% | 7.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 0.88% |
| May 2026 | 23.6% | 17.6% | 14.4% | 11.1% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1% | 0.86% |
| Jun 2026 | 20.4% | 22.8% | 12.5% | 12% | 10.2% | 6.8% | 10% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 1.1% | 0.77% |
| Jul 2026 | 20.9% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 13.8% | 7% | 7% | 14.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.77% | 1% | 0.79% |
| Aug 2026 | 20.3% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 14.2% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 11.8% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.75% | 0.96% | 0.65% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.7% | 18% | 14.7% | 12.9% | 12% | 6.6% | 11.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.63% |
| Oct 2026 | 21% | 19.1% | 15.6% | 15% | 12.8% | 7% | 4.9% | 1.1% | 0.94% | 0.94% | 0.85% | 0.64% |
How has branded search for Defold and GameMaker changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- GameMaker was ahead of Defold in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Defold’s share of searches among game engines worldwide moved from 0.73% to 0.94%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 12.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, GameMaker’s share of searches among game engines worldwide moved from 24.4% to 21%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 330K to 270K.
How did search popularity change for game engines worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, GameMaker gained share of searches among game engines worldwide, from 19.7% to 21%.
In October 2026, Defold fell from 9th to 10th among game engines worldwide.
How are Defold’s and GameMaker’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Defold’s and GameMaker’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among game engines
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