It’s 2020, and 2D Games are more popular than ever. We have seen a huge surge in the popularity of 3D games, but still, 2D games hold the large following, making it an ideal avenue for game developers. So, if you are thinking of designing a 2D game and you want to know how good Unity is for 2D game development, then this guide is for you. Unity is arguably one of the most popular game engines out there but is it good when it comes to 2D game development? Let’s find out.
What is Unity 2D?
Unity is a popular game engine that you can use to create the 2D and 3D games. If you don’t know what a Game Engine don’t worry we have the right article for you “What Is A Game Engine And How Does It Work?“. In the beginning, there was no native support for 2D games, and developers used to employ the workarounds to get the 2D perspective. However, later on, Unity came with native 2D tools, making it easier for game developers to develop 2D games. So, Unity 2D refers to Unity when we use the 2D Native tools or 2D game development.
Features offered by Unity 2D
Unity 2D comes with tons of features, which makes the 2D game development much simpler for Game developers. In this section, we will look at some of the best features offered by Unity 2D.
2D Animation
The animation is considered one of the most important components of any 2D game, and Unity 2D makes the 2D animation much simpler. It comes with a simpler interface and controls, which you can use to rig sprites and set up bones to create a smooth animation. Also, it allows you to import the PSD to Unity, and you can access the layered artwork directly from the software.
2D Lights
Unity 2D comes with native support for 2D Lights, which offers the full light control in the game. Using Unity 2D, you can easily control the various parameters such as Colors, blending effects, intensity, and fall-off.
2D for ShaderGraph
When it comes to 2D games, Shaders are very important, but it’s surely a hectic job to code them. However, Unity makes things easier by allowing you to build the Shaders visually. All you have to join the nodes on the network graph to create the Shaders, which will surely save a lot of your time.
Tilemaps
Tilemaps is one of the defining features of Unity 2D, which makes the 2D game development much easier for the game developers. Using Tilemaps, you can easily create the grid-based worlds, and there are no limits, which means that you can create large grid-based worlds easily.
Sprite Shapes & Tools
Unity 2D comes with built-in support for Sprite Shapes, and you can easily create the organic 2D environments directly from the platform. It also allows you to import the art assets for your 2D projects in the software, and it comes with built-in support for popular Raster and Vector Formats. Also, there are no restrictions that allow you to explore your creativity and make great shapes.
2D Pixel Perfect
Retro Games are often made in 2D, and one of the biggest challenges with these games is the graphics. Unity comes with “Pixel Perfect Camera Component,” which ensures that the pixels in these games are always crisp and clear. This feature automatically calculates the right viewport according to resolution and adjusts the rotating sprites to ensure that players keep getting a clear pixelated look.
Advantages
Now that you know the various features of Unity 2D let’s take a look at the advantages of using Unity for 2D game development.
Unity Asset Store
One of the biggest advantages of using Unity is its Unity Asset Store that comes with tons of pre-designed components and resources which you can use in your 2D games. Unity Asset Store comes with more than 12000 items, and a vast majority of those items are designed for 2D games. So, if you pick the Unity for 2D game development, you will have a very large resource at your disposal, which will make the whole process much easier for you. Have a look here for the best plugins for 2D game development: “Best Unity 2d Plugins And More For Game Developers“.
Beginner-Friendly
Another great thing about Unity 2D is that it’s great for beginners because it comes with simple controls and tons of pre-designed assets, making Unity an ideal platform for beginners.
Time-Saving
One of the best things about Unity is that it’s designed to help you save your time. For starters, you get the Unity Asset store where you can find many pre-made assets that you can use in your games. On top of that, Unity comes with support and simple controls for handling the animation, lights, sprites, and other aspects, which make the whole process much simpler, and ultimately it will help you save a lot of time.
Community
Another reason why you would want to pick Unity for game development is its vibrant community. The biggest advantage of having a vibrant community is that you will get instant support and advice from the experienced developers out there. Unity has tons of active communities on many forums such as Reddit, Facebook & YouTube, where you can learn about the various issues and other things from experienced developers.
Also, many of these community members have their own video playlists on YouTube, where they share the tutorials and other resources that can improve your skills and workflow.
Disadvantages
Just like any other game engine, Unity also has some disadvantages. Let’s take a look.
Outdated Documentation
Unity is a very capable game engine, but the biggest disadvantage of this platform is that most of its documentation is outdated. It can be a deal-breaker for some people, but we don’t think that it should be. Why? Because Unity comes with a great community, and you can easily find the solution to most problems on community forums. Also, YouTube has tons of Unity tutorials which you can watch to learn the working of the software, and it will work for most people.
Successful Games made on Unity 2D
Unity has been around for years, and it has helped thousands of developers to develop the masterpieces. The following are some of the examples of successful Games that are made on Unity 2D. Let’s take a look.
- Children of Morta
- Forma.8
- Flipping Death
- Hearthstone
- Forgotten Anne
- Tiny Bubbles
- Pixel Ripped
- Night in the Woods
- Snipperclips
- Seasons after Fall
- Phased
These are some of the popular games and these games are loved by millions of players worldwide.
Conclusion
That’s all, folks. Now you know how capable Unity 2D is and how you can use it to create the exciting 2D Games. We outlined the advantages and disadvantages and it’s clear that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Also, the proof of it is the popular games such as Hearthstone, Forma.8, and Flipping Death, which are developed using Unity. So, if you are looking for a reliable platform for 2D game development, then Unity 2D is a solid option for you. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below. Also, don’t forget to visit our website for more useful guides on Unity.
If you want to become a Game Developer but you don’t know how to start please have a look here “How To Become A Video Game Developer?“
