Could I be working on the Rust competitor to Godot?

Ryan L. Kopf
4 min readFeb 2, 2024

Rust, an innovative programming language celebrated for its safety and performance, is the bedrock of an incredible project I’m developing: RPGFx.com. This endeavor is poised to redefine the landscape of role-playing game creation by leveraging the full capabilities of Rust combined with WebAssembly (WASM), ensuring that games built with RPGFx.com run seamlessly in web browsers.

RPGFx.com is not just another tool; it’s a sophisticated platform designed to empower creators to bring their most ambitious RPG ideas to life. It features a robust editor that simplifies the process of game development. With intuitive panels, users can effortlessly manage entities, maps, and layers — core components of any RPG. This level of control and flexibility is unparalleled, allowing for a granular approach to game design that caters to both novice and experienced developers.

One of the most striking features of RPGFx.com is its ability to export games into JSON files, offering a versatile and accessible format for game data. This feature not only facilitates easy sharing and distribution but also opens up possibilities for further customization and integration with other tools and platforms.

Screenshot of the current release of RPG Studio FX.

The question of whether RPGFx.com could stand as a Rust-based competitor to Godot is compelling. Godot has established itself as a versatile and user-friendly engine, supporting a wide range of game types beyond RPGs. However, RPGFx.com’s focus on RPG development, combined with the advantages of Rust and WASM, positions it as a specialized tool that could carve out its own niche in the game development community.

The decision on whether to open source RPGFx.com or commercialize it remains open. The direction taken could significantly influence its role in the game development ecosystem. Open sourcing the project could foster a community of contributors who can extend and enhance the platform, while commercializing it might provide the necessary resources for sustained development and support.

Comparisons to other game creation tools like Unity or Game Maker might come to mind, but RPGFx.com’s unique proposition lies in its specialization in RPGs and its use of Rust and WASM. This combination of features makes it a compelling choice for developers looking for performance, safety, and web compatibility.

As RPGFx.com continues to evolve, its potential to become a key player in the realm of game development, especially for RPGs, is undeniable. Whether it will rival Godot or carve out its own distinct path remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that RPGFx.com represents a significant step forward in the use of modern programming languages and technologies in game development, with the promise of bringing innovative and engaging RPGs to a wider audience.

Will This Be the Godot Killer?

As the creator of RPGFx.com (RPG Studio FX), I find myself at a crossroads, contemplating whether my platform could potentially be the “Godot killer” that the game development community has been pondering. With RPGFx.com, I’ve leveraged the robustness of Rust and the versatility of WebAssembly (WASM) to craft a tool that’s not just another game engine but a specialized platform for creating immersive role-playing games. This unique blend of technology positions RPGFx.com as a strong contender in the realm of game development tools, especially against established giants like Godot.

The journey ahead for RPGFx.com, whether it veers towards open sourcing or commercialization, is pivotal. The choice between these paths is not straightforward; it’s influenced by considerations around community building, sustainability, and innovation. Open sourcing RPGFx.com could create a vibrant community of contributors, enhancing the platform’s capabilities and fostering an environment of collective growth akin to what has been seen with Godot. Alternatively, opting for a commercial route could provide the necessary funding to propel RPGFx.com forward, ensuring the platform’s continuous evolution and support.

My platform’s dedication to RPG development sets it distinctly apart from more generalized engines like Unity and Game Maker. This focus could establish RPGFx.com as the go-to tool for developers passionate about crafting role-playing games, offering them a tailored solution that bypasses the limitations of adapting broad-spectrum tools to the specific demands of RPG creation.

Moreover, the potential integration or collaboration with Rust-based systems like Bevy presents an exciting avenue for RPGFx.com. This could not only expand its utility but also reinforce its standing within the Rust game development community. Considering the possibility of using what I’ve learned through developing RPGFx.com to build an editor for systems like Bevy, I’m exploring how to further innovate and provide value to developers.

So, could RPGFx.com be the “Godot killer”? It’s a question that hinges on how well it meets the needs of RPG developers and how it evolves in response to the community’s feedback. My goal is to create a platform that not only rivals established engines like Godot but also offers a specialized, powerful toolset for RPG creation. Whether RPGFx.com will redefine the game development landscape remains to be seen, but the potential is undoubtedly there. As I navigate these strategic decisions and continue to develop the platform, my focus remains on delivering a tool that empowers creators to bring their RPG visions to life like never before.

If you wanna start coding in Rust, read my tutorial!

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Ryan L. Kopf

Serial C.E.O. and Entrepreneur. Great at technology, innovation, and entertainment arts.