How an Open-Source Underdog is Reshaping Game Development

The game development landscape is experiencing a seismic shift as the Godot Engine emerges as a formidable challenger to traditional industry giants. In 2024, this open-source engine achieved unprecedented growth, with the number of games published on Steam surpassing the entire previous year's total by August¹. This surge in adoption isn't merely coincidental; it represents a fundamental change in how developers approach game creation.

The engine's meteoric rise became particularly evident at the 2024 GMTK Game Jam, where Godot-developed games comprised 37% of all submissions, nearly matching Unity's 43% share². This dramatic closing of the gap between the two engines marks a historic shift from previous years, when Unity dominated the landscape with significantly higher percentages. What makes this transformation even more remarkable is that it stems not just from Unity's recent controversies, but from Godot's own technical merits and community-driven evolution.

At its core, Godot represents a democratisation of game development, offering a completely free, open-source alternative that doesn't compromise on capability or ease of use. Its intuitive node-based system and Python-inspired GDScript language have made it particularly appealing to indie developers and small studios³. With successful titles like Brotato, Cassette Beasts, and Dome Keeper demonstrating the engine's potential¹, Godot has proven itself capable of producing commercially viable games while maintaining its commitment to remaining free and open-source.

Killer Features that Make Godot a Solid Choice for Your Next Game

Godot 4.3 brings several killer features that significantly enhance game development capabilities. The engine now includes advanced audio features with new interactive music nodes for layered compositions and smooth transitions, alongside improved 2D physics interpolation for smoother gameplay. The visual development experience has been enhanced with an overhauled shader editor, redesigned TileMap system using TileMapLayer nodes, and improved pixel art stability^4,5.

Looking ahead to Godot 4.4, which is currently in beta, developers can expect powerful new animation tools including markers for creating sub-regions of animations, LookAtModifier3D for procedural animation, and SpringBoneSimulator3D for improved character movement⁶. A standout addition is the new "Game" tab that allows fine-tuned control over running games from within the editor, including the ability to override in-game cameras and select objects during gameplay⁶.

The rendering capabilities continue to evolve across both versions, with Godot 4.3 introducing depth-based fog, Direct3D 12 support, and a new Compositor effects API for programmable rendering pipelines^5,7. Godot 4.4 further expands these capabilities with Metal rendering backend support for Apple users, improved performance for 2D lighting and mobile rendering, and enhanced XR features including editor support for devices like Meta Quest 3 and Quest Pro⁶.

Tools You Should Consider to Help with Your Godot Projects

The open-source nature of Godot means that it's capabilities are constantly being extended by the community, with mountains of tools and add-ons to assist with your development goals. Here is a breakdown of some of the most highly recommended tools you should check out:

Development Tools

• Phantom Camera stands out as an essential tool that provides advanced camera control functionality, making it easier to create dynamic camera movements and cinematics in both 2D and 3D games
• Jolt Physics offers significantly improved physics simulation compared to Godot's default system, making it a crucial add-on for games requiring precise physics calculations
• LimboAI provides robust solutions for implementing state machines and behaviour trees, making it easier to create complex game AI systems

Visual and Environmental Tools

• Asset Placer has become indispensable for 3D environment creation, allowing developers to quickly populate their 3D worlds
• Terrain3D offers advanced terrain manipulation capabilities, essential for creating outdoor environments
• DebugDraw3D provides crucial debugging visualisation tools for 3D development, helping developers identify and fix issues more efficiently

Content Creation

• Dialogic serves as a comprehensive dialogue system manager, making it easier to implement complex narrative structures and conversations in games
• Gaea provides environmental and procedural generation tools that enhance world-building capabilities

Development Workflow

• Todo Manager helps developers organise their tasks and track progress directly within the Godot editor, improving project management efficiency
• Input Helper combined with Sound Manager provides streamlined input handling and audio management systems that simplify these crucial aspects of game development

Torch Bearers: 5 Godot Games that Shine

There are already a handful of extraordinary games on Steam built in Godot that prove it is a capable engine that, in the hands of hard working developers, can be used to create genre defining classics:

Brotato

Developed by French solo developer Thomas Gervraud under the studio name Blobfish, Brotato (2022) redefined the roguelike shooter genre by casting players as a potato wielding up to six weapons against alien hordes^8,9. Its uniqueness lies in its absurd premise combined with deep strategic customisation, offering hundreds of weapons, items, and character builds that enable wildly divergent playstyles. The auto-targeting combat system lowers the barrier to entry while allowing players to focus on build optimisation and wave management.

Players praise Brotato for its addictive "just one more run" loop and accessibility, with Steam reviews highlighting its perfect balance of chaos and strategy^9,10. The game’s success (it sold over one million copies in early access) cemented Godot’s viability for high-performance action titles. Its minimalist art style and frequent updates, including local co-op DLC, have sustained a dedicated community^8,11.

Cassette Beasts

Bytten Studio, a UK-based indie team, created Cassette Beasts (2023), a monster-collecting RPG where players transform into creatures using retro cassette tapes^12,13. The game innovates with a fusion system that generates over 14,000 unique monster combinations, blending elemental reactions and strategic turn-based combat. Set on the mysterious island of New Wirral, it merges open-world exploration with a narrative focused on inter-dimensional travellers.

Fans adore its nostalgic pixel-art aesthetic paired with modern mechanics, such as environmental puzzles and character-driven storytelling^12,14. Praised as a "love letter to Pokémon with adult depth," Cassette Beasts is celebrated for challenging genre conventions while delivering heartfelt writing^12,14.

Halls of Torment

Developed by Chasing Carrots, Halls of Torment (2023) reimagines horde survival games with a retro-90s aesthetic inspired by Diablo and Vampire Survivors^15,16. Players battle through procedurally generated dungeons, unlocking traits and items that synergise into powerful builds. Its fixed isometric camera and pre-rendered sprites mirror classic RPGs, while modern roguelike progression keeps runs fresh.

The game’s difficulty curve and "bullet heaven" combat resonate with players, who highlight its satisfying power progression and homage to ARPGs^17,18. Godot’s flexibility enabled optimisations for handling thousands of on-screen entities, crucial for its chaotic late-game stages¹⁵. With over 26,000 Overwhelmingly Positive Steam reviews, it exemplifies Godot’s capacity for polished, high-intensity projects¹⁹.

Dome Keeper

German studio Bippinbits crafted Dome Keeper (2022), a roguelike that splits gameplay between mining resources underground and defending a dome from alien waves. Its two-phase loop of calm exploration followed by tense tower defence creates a rhythmic balance praised for strategic depth^20,21. Unique gadgets, like automated resource lifts, allow players to customise their approach across runs.

The pixel-art style and synth-heavy soundtrack amplify its atmospheric isolation, while meta-progression through permanent upgrades keeps players engaged¹⁰.  Ported to Godot 4 for multiplayer and console releases, it became a breakout hit with 1 million+ sales, proving the engine’s scalability^22,23. Community modding tools further extended its longevity, with a dedicated jam fostering creative expansions²².

Cruelty Squad

Finnish developer Consumer Softproducts (Ville Kallio) created Cruelty Squad (2021), a dystopian immersive sim that blends tactical stealth with grotesque body horror^24,25. Its intentionally jarring visual design uses low-poly models, garish textures, and UI clutter to subvert modern aesthetics and critique capitalism. Gameplay rewards experimentation, allowing players to exploit systems like organ trading and stock markets.

Despite its abrasive presentation, the game garnered a cult following for its unapologetic creativity and emergent gameplay^24,26. Players liken it to a "psychedelic Deus Ex," praising its nihilistic humour and depth hidden beneath surface-level chaos²⁵. Built in Godot, Cruelty Squad is yet another example of the versatility of the engine and its ability to handle dense physics interactions in unconventional projects.

TLDR - Godot Is Awesome!

As Godot continues to reshape the game development landscape, its impact extends far beyond being just another free engine. The remarkable success stories of games like Brotato, Cassette Beasts, and Dome Keeper demonstrate that Godot is not only capable of producing commercially successful titles but can also support diverse and innovative game designs. With its growing market share, evidenced by representing 37% of submissions at the 2024 GMTK Game Jam, Godot has established itself as a serious contender in the industry.

The engine's commitment to remaining free and open-source, combined with its robust feature set and active community development, positions it as a powerful force in democratising game development. As Godot's ecosystem continues to evolve with advanced features like improved animation tools, enhanced rendering capabilities, and expanded platform support, it's clear that this underdog has transformed into a leading choice for developers worldwide. The success of Godot represents more than just technical achievement; it symbolises a fundamental shift in how games can be created and who can create them.

References

1. Automaton | Godot Engine is seeing “explosive growth” – the total number of Godot games published on Steam this year has already surpassed last year’s, with 5 months left to go 
2. YouTube | Popularity Explosion. Godot In The Future The #1 Game Engine?
3. GamesIndustry.biz | What is the best game engine: is Godot right for you?
4. 80.lv | Godot 4.3 Has Been Released
5. GameFromScratch | Godot 4.3 Released
6. Godot | Dev Snapshot: Godot 4.4 beta 1
7. GameOnLinux | Godot Engine 4.3 is out now with huge new features and a fancy release page
8. Wikipedia | Brotato
9. YouTube | This Week in Godot
10. Reddit | Why is Godot so popular when seemingly no successful game have been made using Godot?
11. Godot Forum | Public trust is Godot
12. Godot | Godot Showcase - Cassette Beasts
13. Wikipedia | Cassette Beasts
14. YouTube | Let's Play Godot
15. FullCleared | Inside Halls of Torment: An Interview with Chasing Carrots
16. Godot | Showcase: Halls of Torment
17. Reddit | Most technically accomplished game using Godot?
18. GamingOnLinux | Fight off the immense hordes in Halls of Torment 1.0 out now
19. Steam Store | Halls of Torment
20. Godot | Showcase: Dome Keeper
21. Game Developer | How Dome Keeper focuses on systems that feed into one another
22. GamingOnLinux | Modding support returns to Dome Keeper in the latest update
23. RawFury | Dome Keeper
24. Vice | Good Luck Finding a Stranger, More Interesting Game in 2021 Than ‘Cruelty Squad’
25. Wikipedia | Cruelty Squad
26. Reddit | Review: Cruelty Squad - Super Bunnyhop