Should I make a mobile app with Godot?

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Hey everyone!

I’ve been considering developing a mobile application for some time now, but I’ve run into the dilemma of not knowing which programming language to use for it. Recently, I’ve noticed that some programs for computers are being developed using Godot, and that has caught my attention.

Do any of you have experience developing mobile apps with Godot? Do you think it’s a good idea to use this tool for that purpose? I would love to hear your thoughts and advice on this.

I’m excited to explore this possibility and see what I can achieve. Thanks in advance for yo

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Yes, Godot is nice for mobile game development

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Entirely depends on your use case.

For me, I’m trying to develop an Android launcher, so I’ve developed a plugin and while I can actually launch apps and I can set my app as the phones launcher, I cannot send the app icons back. ByteArray is broken right now it seems

So if you need any data return any more complex than an int or string, reconsider. You can still run android specific code and what not, but you may have trouble passing data back and forth.

C# in 4 is experimental right now but it seems to work just fine for me.

It’s absolutely possible, HOWEVER you will also he running in uncharted territory. Be prepared for complex problems you can’t Google because YOU are the first person to bump into it.

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Heya!

I’ve been developing an app in Godot the last year and a half or so and I’m having a lot of fun doing so.

My main targets are iOS and Android but I build for desktop as well.

The Good

  • A surprising amount of GUI support for a game engine. You would think that the ability to build a GUI is just an afterthought for most games. However the amount of support for various GUI elements is really really great. We mimic Material design for our app and it does come really close to looking like it. We are not completely there but more on that later.
  • Cross platform deployment. Building for Android, Windows and Linux from Linux is super duper easy and a breeze. Apple being apple makes things harder and I’ve been using my old Macbook on the side to build the iOS releases. I’ve seen hints that you can also cross-compile from Linux but I have not tried it yet.
  • GDScript is really nice and easy to use.

The meh

  • This is not a Godot thing but you should be aware of it regardless: When you build an app that looks like a native app (in our case Material) they expect it to behave that way. Sadly there is lot of hidden magic that makes a native app, well native. Think about the way various screen transition, or elements fade in and out. When creating an app that looks native but is not really native people might feel your app is “clunky” without being able to exactly tell you why that is.

The Bad

  • (Mobile) Apps are not the main use-case for Godot and sometimes serious bugs get through the review process because there are only a limited amount of people using it for this use-case. We had to file Github issues multiple times because core functionality either broke or was changed. We don’t mind this since we think it outweighs the pros but it’s something to consider.

Feel free to PM me if you run into any issues, I might have already seen them.

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Godot for Mobile App Development: A Promising Option

Godot has gained significant traction in recent years as a versatile game engine, but it’s also a viable choice for developing mobile applications. Here’s why:

Advantages of Using Godot for Mobile Apps:
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Godot allows you to develop applications for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and even desktop systems, from a single codebase. This saves time and effort.

Strong Community and Resources: There’s a growing community of developers using Godot, which means you can find plenty of tutorials, plugins, and support online.

Efficient Workflow: Godot’s node-based visual scripting system can streamline the development process, especially for those without a strong programming background.

Performance Optimization: The engine is designed to be efficient, and it offers tools for optimizing performance on mobile devices.

2D and 3D Capabilities: Godot is well-suited for both 2D and 3D applications, making it versatile for various types of projects.

Considerations Before Choosing Godot:
Learning Curve: While Godot’s visual scripting can be a benefit, it might still require some learning time, especially if you’re new to game development.

Specific Requirements: If your app has very specific requirements or needs to integrate with native features, you might need to write some platform-specific code.

Project Scope: For very large or complex mobile apps, you might consider other frameworks or languages that offer more specialized features.

Overall, Godot is a great choice for developing mobile apps, especially if you’re looking for a versatile, efficient, and cross-platform solution. If you’re comfortable with its learning curve and believe it aligns with your project’s needs, it’s definitely worth exploring.

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I’ve done a bit of mobile dev with Godot, and it’s definitely possible, especially if you’re making a game or interactive app. Godot is lightweight, free, and the scripting is beginner-friendly. Just keep in mind that it’s not as strong with native mobile features compared to frameworks like Flutter or React Native. If your app doesn’t need tons of specific mobile integrations, Godot could be a fun and flexible choice.