Game players today don’t just want to play games. They expect to be entertained and challenged as soon as they hit the main menu screen. And to engage their players, game developers are using new and improved software for both 2D and 3D animations. What was once a difficult and expensive process is now easy and affordable with today’s web animation software.
Game designers, developers and artists have a difficult time finding the right software that is suitable for their needs. Finding the right animation and motion graphics software can be overwhelming because different teams have different requirements. Some game design teams are looking for extensive character rigging features while others are more interested in developing mouth-driven facial expressions to create compelling 3D animation. For example, an up-and-coming video game company may not require a full-featured 3D suite; they may need software that provides drag-and-drop actions, animation and character creation to meet their budget. On the other hand, some of the most popular games on the market today have been created using Maya LT.
What is the animation software for games?
The animation software for games is an exciting product that allows you to take your characters from a simple walking animation to a fully-fledged dance routine. The software features an easy-to-use interface and can be used by children and adults alike.
How does it work?
The animation software for games is designed to work with all popular gaming consoles, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Once you have installed the software on your console of choice, simply open it up and choose between one of the pre-installed animations or create your own! You can then record yourself performing the animation and save it as a file on your computer.
What are the benefits of using this product?
There are many benefits to using this product. First off, you don’t need any prior experience with creating animations; all you need is some basic knowledge about how computers work (which most people have). Second off, it’s really fun! And third off… well… um… it’s just cool!
Animation software for games
Create high-quality video games with impressive visuals using a video game animation software. With top-notch tools available in such programs, you can produce attention-grabbing video game animations that your audience is bound to enjoy.
Top 10 Video Game Animation Software
- Adobe Animate – Best tools for work with graphics
- Adobe After Effects – Hundreds of graphic templates
- Autodesk 3ds Max – Amazing details
- Autodesk MotionBuilder – Real-time 3D engine
- Blender – Well-designed textures
- – Supports CPU, GPU and VR-rendering
- Daz3D – A collection of 3D-models
- Cinema 4D – A pack of brushes for work
- Mixamo – Automatic Character Rigging
- Dragonframe – Convenient timeline
Using the best video game animation software, you can create animations for video games in both 2D and 3D formats. These programs contain dozens of ready-made characters and templates so the development process of game visualizations will become faster and more interesting.
1. Adobe Animate – Our Choice
Best tools for work with graphics
- Image export without quality lose
Dozens of professional brushesImproved asset warping
- None found
Verdict: Adobe Animate is powerful 2D animation software that allows you to create a game environment, integrate sound into it, and even share projects as augmented reality. It takes animation into a new era by offering the ability to embed video and audio, formatted text, scripts and bitmap graphics.
Adobe Animate free brushes let you create characters that come to life right on the screen. The finished material can be easily edited thanks to dozens of useful tools. You can publish your projects on almost any platform (HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, Flash/Adobe AIR, desktop, mobile phone and TV to show viewers on any screen).
2. Adobe After Effects
Hundreds of graphic templates
- A library of ready-made plug-ins
Advanced audio and video processingVR support
- Rather expensive
Adobe After Effects DOWNLOAD FREE
Verdict: After Effects is a popular program for creating quality animation for video games. Using it, you can create absolutely any visualization and achieve perfect results every time. You can easily set anything in motion with keyframes. Besides, it is possible to create a project from scratch or use ready-made presets.
Among the advantages of this game animation software is the VR support. At the same time, After Effects is being constantly improved, and the developer adds new features on a regular basis. The program is positioned as one of the best free 2D animation software, however, it is also well suited for working with 3D animation. Also, the developer offers comprehensive lessons that will help you understand all the innovations.
3. Autodesk 3ds Max
Amazing details
- High-quality architectural visualization
Well-developed details Built-in Arnold renderer
- Requires powerful computers
Autodesk 3ds Max DOWNLOAD FREE
Verdict: Autodesk 3ds Max is professional game animation software and a top-notch photo animation program with advanced modeling capabilities and flexible plug-in architecture. Remember that you can use it absolutely for free during the trial period of 30 days.
Autodesk 3ds Max lets you create professional-quality 3D animations for games with a built-in texture and color editor, animation tools, and smart keyframe design. Procedural animation and scene modeling tools enable you to create incredibly realistic characters and environments.
4. Autodesk MotionBuilder
Real-time 3D engine
- High-quality architectural visualization
Well-developed detailsIntegrated Arnold renderer
- Windows-compatible only
Autodesk MotionBuilder DOWNLOAD FREE
Verdict: MotionBuilder is professional motion graphics software from Autodesk. This program allows you to create keyframed animations with motion capture and virtual production. Its main advantage is the ability to develop perfectly accurate details of even the smallest objects, such as moving grass or leaves trembling in the wind.
With this game animation maker, you can animate characters in real time, which is especially great for developing video games and animation films. Autodesk MotionBuilder integrates well with other Autodesk products (3ds Max, Mudbox and Maya) and the best compositing software to speed up the overall workflow.
5. Blender
Well-designed textures
- Architecture detailing
Top-quality renderingLots of ready-made plug-ins
- Training covers only work with 3D
Verdict: Blender is quality free video editing software for open source 3D animation. It is used to develop video games, feature-length animation films, visual effects, art, interactive applications, and architectural visualizations.
The feature set of Blender game animation software includes 3D modeling, UV mapping, texturing, particle modeling, soft body modeling, sculpting, rendering, video editing, and compositing. If you don’t want to work on a project manually, you can use ready-made plug-ins: both paid and free.
6. Houdini
Supports CPU, GPU and VR-rendering
- Excellent VFX modeling
Cross-platform A plethora of ready-made templates and materials
- High price
Verdict: Houdini is not only the best motion capture software but also a complete visual programming environment. There is a large library of built-in materials and shaders, which you can use to create the most realistic 3D scenes. Houdini also has a large selection of light sources to enhance your image.
The developer of the program, SideFX also offers Houdini Apprentice, a free version of Houdini FX that students, artists and hobbyists can use to create personal non-commercial projects.
7. Daz3D
A collection of 3D models
- Hundreds of ready-made models
Qualitative editing instruments Convenient timeline
- Only for powerful PCs
Verdict: Daz3D is 3D modeling software great for novice users. Therefore, the developers provide many ready-made models and make it possible to download them from various paid sites. Plus, Daz3D offers a 3D content marketplace where you can buy and sell your models, poses and props.
This free VFX software for PC has many useful animation tools. For example, the Puppeteer tool displays various poses as a node in a grid, allowing users to animate their model by moving the mouse pointer between these nodes. If you want, you can also assign different poses to the models on the timeline, and the program will automatically generate movements between them.
8. Cinema 4D
A pack of brushes for work
- Supports plug-ins
RenderingSimple interface
- Limited free version
Verdict: Cinema 4D is a program that focuses on advanced 3D modeling, making it one of the most popular video game development tools. It is also useful when you need to add more complex layers to your art projects.
The character creation tool simplifies the whole process and allows you to create animations of any complexity. Adding hair or fur is now a very simple procedure thanks to a special set of tools that allows you to change the hairstyle, appearance and movement of the hairline. This game animation software allows you to develop video games both from scratch and using several dozen ready-made elements.
9. Mixamo
Automatic Character Rigging
- A multitude of handy tools
Library of animation filesSimple UI
- May freeze
Verdict: Mixamo is a video game graphics development service optimized for beginners. You can upload your 3D files and mark some key elements like knees and elbows. Mixamo then processes the file and creates a complex weighted rig ready for 3D animation.
This game animation software offers a library of ready-made files sorted by genre. Therefore, it is a great option for those, who don’t want to create the graphics from scratch. Among the shortcomings – the performance of the program depends on the quality of the Internet connection, so in some situations it may freeze and malfunction.
10. Dragonframe
Convenient timeline
- Straightforward UI
High-quality sound processingConvenient for creating projects from scratch
- Expensive
Verdict: Dragonframe is popular video game animation software that is especially convenient for creating projects from scratch. It contains many ready-made materials that will help greatly simplify workflow for beginners.
One of the advantages of this program is the preview mode, which allows users to watch the preliminary results in real time. At the same time, the playback and step control functions are fully customizable according to the user’s needs.