Top RPG 20XX Alternative Software for Retro RPG Creation
RPG 20XX aims to be a modern reimagining of the classic RPG Maker 2003 engine, offering advanced features while maintaining a retro feel and a user-friendly, script-free event system. It promises to eliminate common annoyances, provide global battle events, a quest system, and be freely available under the MIT license. However, for those seeking similar game development experiences or different approaches to creating their dream RPGs, exploring a robust RPG 20XX alternative is a smart move. This article dives into some of the best tools available for crafting your own role-playing adventures.
Best RPG 20XX Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a familiar interface, more advanced scripting, or something entirely open-source, these alternatives offer diverse pathways to bringing your RPG vision to life. Let's explore the top contenders that can serve as excellent substitutes for RPG 20XX.
RPG Maker
The RPG Maker series is the spiritual predecessor and inspiration behind RPG 20XX. Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Steam, it's a commercial suite focused on easy 2D JRPG creation. It boasts a complete RPG Game Engine with no coding required, royalty-free assets, text boxes, textured tiles, and visual programming, making it an excellent and familiar RPG 20XX alternative for those who appreciate its core design philosophy.
001 Game Creator
001 Game Creator empowers users to create various game genres with simple point-and-click scripting, making it a versatile RPG 20XX alternative. It's a commercial product available on Windows, Web, Windows Mobile, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, Windows Phone, and iPad. Its key features include no coding required, 2D game capabilities, drag-and-drop functionality, and web-based creation, offering a broad reach for game deployment.
RPG Paper Maker
RPG Paper Maker is a free and open-source game maker engine that stands out with its unique blend of a 3D universe using 2D sprites and simplified 3D objects. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it offers a distinct aesthetic that sets it apart as a compelling RPG 20XX alternative, especially for those interested in a different visual style.
Open RPG Maker
Open RPG Maker is a free and open-source clone that draws inspiration from the RPG Maker series (including 2000, 2003, and XP) while adding its own features. Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, it provides a familiar environment for game creation and is an excellent open-source RPG 20XX alternative for users seeking a free and community-driven project.
RPG Playground
RPG Playground offers an easy and fun way to make and play games, requiring no programming. It's a free option available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Chrome OS. Its accessibility and focus on game design over coding make it a user-friendly RPG 20XX alternative, perfect for beginners or those who prefer to focus solely on story and mechanics.
Solarus
Solarus is a free and open-source Action-RPG game engine written in C++ with Lua as its scripting language. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it caters to developers who desire more control through scripting while still focusing on RPG creation. As an open-source RPG 20XX alternative, it provides flexibility for those looking to expand beyond click-together systems.
EasyRPG
EasyRPG is a free and open-source project designed to be an interpreter and editor compatible with RPG Maker 2000 and 2003. It's available on Windows and Linux and boasts cross-platform compatibility, portability, and visual programming. This makes it a highly relevant RPG 20XX alternative, especially for those who wish to work with existing RPG Maker 2000/2003 projects or create new ones with similar compatibility in mind.
OHRRPGCE
The OHRRPGCE (Official Hamster Republic RPG Construction Engine) is a free, open-source, and cross-platform utility (Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux) for creating 2D RPG games in a classic style. It features 2D game creation and scripting capabilities, providing a robust and accessible RPG 20XX alternative for aspiring developers who want creative freedom without complex coding.
fgmk
fgmk is a Python-based editor specifically designed for making retro, 2D RPG games. It organizes games using plain text files, images, and an index.html file containing the engine. As a free and open-source RPG 20XX alternative available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Python, it appeals to developers who prefer a text-file-driven approach and enjoy working with Python.
Dart RPG
Dart RPG is an open-source, browser-based 2D RPG and game editor. It functions as a game maker directly in your browser, allowing you to create 2D tile-based RPGs that are saved in your browser's local storage. This free, self-hosted, and web-based RPG 20XX alternative offers unparalleled convenience for development directly within a web browser, making it highly accessible.
Each of these RPG 20XX alternative options brings unique strengths to the table, from familiar interfaces and no-code solutions to open-source flexibility and browser-based convenience. Evaluate your specific needs, desired level of control, and operating system to choose the best fit for your next retro RPG masterpiece.