Game engine
raylib
raylib is a small C library for 2D and 3D. You call functions to open a window and draw. There is no editor.
Developer: Ramon Santamaria and contributors
Overview
The cheatsheet is the documentation. Examples are single files. Bindings exist for other languages, and the library itself is C.
Web builds use the HTML5 backend. Android exists. Neither replaces a desktop compile as the way you learn the API.
Technical specifications
Specs checked 2026-10-05. Version lines move; the download link is the source of truth.
- Developer
- Ramon Santamaria and contributors
- Version line
- Current release
- License
- Zlib
- Business model
- raylib is zlib licensed. Games you ship do not pay a royalty.
- Releases
- Versions are tagged on GitHub. Pin the version your bindings match.
- Editor platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Export targets
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Android
- Languages
- C
- 2D / 3D
- 2D/3D
- VR
- No.
- AR
- No.
- Visual scripting
- No. The API is C functions.
- Beginners
- Yes for learning graphics in C. It is a poor fit if you wanted an editor and assets panels.
- Learning curve
- Low to draw a shape. A full game means you design the architecture.
- Graphics
- Immediate-mode 2D and simple 3D. Enough for stylized games. Not a material editor.
- Team size
- One programmer, or a very small team.
- GitHub stars
- 34,973 · raysan5/raylib
- Documentation
- https://www.raylib.com/cheatsheet/cheatsheet.html
- Assets and examples
- https://www.raylib.com/examples.html
- Download
- https://www.raylib.com
Where it fits
- A tiny API and examples that compile.
- Zlib license.
- 2D and simple 3D without an engine install.
Where it does not
- No editor, scene format, or asset pipeline.
- You write the game architecture.
- It is a library. Physics, UI, and networking are extra decisions.
Matching source
No sample projects are listed for this engine yet.
How does it compare?
A Lua framework if you do not want C.
A Rust engine if you want ECS instead of immediate mode.
Questions
Is raylib a game engine?
It is a library. People ship games with it. It does not include an editor.
Which language is it?
C. Other languages use bindings.
Can I use it in a commercial game?
Yes. The license is zlib.