GameGuru Classic

About

GameGuru Classic is a user-friendly game creation tool, designed to make game-making accessible for everyone. It offers a range of features such as a character creator, model importer, building maker, and a complete scripting language, along with over 6GB of free game assets. The focus is on providing a fun, intuitive experience, allowing users to create their own games quickly and easily, with no technical expertise required.

Genres & Tags

Educational

Play Modes

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,517 reviews

graphics42 positive mentions

optimization18 negative mentions

GameGuru is easy to use and great for beginners who want to create simple FPS games without extensive coding knowledge.
The community is active and supportive, providing helpful resources, tutorials, and assets for users.
The software allows for quick prototyping and level design, making it fun to experiment with game creation.

The graphics and AI are outdated and often buggy, leading to a frustrating user experience.
Many essential features are missing, such as a proper inventory system, cutscenes, and multiplayer support.
The reliance on paid DLC for additional assets can be a significant drawback, making it feel like a cash grab.

graphics
229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
17%
The graphics of the game engine are widely criticized for being outdated, resembling visuals from the early 2000s or even late PlayStation 2 standards, which many users find unacceptable in today's gaming landscape. While some appreciate the simplicity and ease of use for creating games, the overall graphical quality is deemed poor, with limited customization options and performance issues on various systems. Despite these shortcomings, a few users note that with the right assets, it is possible to achieve decent visuals, but this often requires significant effort and external tools.
- “The graphics are dated by modern standards, looking like late PlayStation 2 / early PlayStation 3 graphics, but they do the job.”
- “The graphics aren't bad either - not high end, but definitely a cut above other simpler engines.”
- “It's intuitive, easy to learn, good quality visuals, and fun!”
- “The graphics are horrid, yet I can barely run it on a computer that can run things such as Unity without a smidge of lag.”
- “But the few things this engine does well are buried under horrendous visuals and slapped together technical and design aspects that can't easily be fixed given that this engine is straight out of the Nintendo 64 era.”
- “Horribly outdated graphics, would barely meet PS2 standards.”
optimization
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The optimization of this game engine is widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, especially when handling detailed open-world maps or adding multiple assets. Many find it unoptimized for lower-end systems and note that even simple tasks can lead to drastic FPS drops. While some improvements have been promised, the overall sentiment is that the engine still requires substantial optimization to meet the needs of serious game developers.
- “They have been actively working to improve GameGuru, adding PBR (which helps accurately model the flow of light for more realistic environments), increased optimization (higher frames per second in gameplay), and fixing fundamental bugs before creating new content.”
- “But the devs are promising to improve performance soon, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and I expect even better things to come.”
- “Also, the team is currently working on a faster, more efficient engine that will render objects more efficiently, as well as add many performance boosts to it.”
- “Open-world detailed maps slow down performance tremendously.”
- “The game engine is based on 'FPS Creator', which is the main reason I bought it. I expected a modern version of it with newer features, but the result is a complete failure, since the engine performance is terribly poor. FPS just slows down when adding simple things to the scene, like a couple of models; even painting the floor with another texture would lead to extreme FPS drops.”
- “First off, performance is terrible, even after the sought-after performance update.”
gameplay
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
8%
The gameplay aspect of the engine is generally seen as accessible for beginners, featuring easy drag-and-drop mechanics and basic scripting through Lua, but it lacks complexity and depth for more advanced developers. Users report limitations in creating engaging gameplay experiences, often resulting in simplistic or uninteresting games, particularly for those without coding experience. While the engine has made improvements in optimization and asset quality, many feel it still falls short in delivering a robust gameplay experience.
- “Personally, I'm happy with this as it was very cheap and allows me to play with creating environments and gameplay mechanics (definitely have to use Lua here though) quickly to see if they work or not before putting the time and effort into starting something in an engine like Unity, which requires a lot more effort.”
- “Easy to understand drag-and-drop mechanics for non-coders, and some great utilities for testing multiplayer games out.”
- “I would totally recommend it if you want to dive into game development without investing a lot of time learning programming and mechanics on how to operate the game engine itself.”
- “And yet, under the 20 hours mark, I already hit a wall on mechanics that the platform is unable to do.”
- “Not to mention that the models are crappy, and the gameplay itself will always be awful, no matter how good you make the game.”
- “The mechanics are painfully simple, and reminiscent of Doom, but in a bad, buggy way.”
stability
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The stability of the game-making software has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues with the trigger systems that can lead to lost progress. Many recommend saving projects regularly due to the software's tendency to freeze, especially when using the building editor or loading assets. Overall, the consensus is that the software feels unfinished and is plagued by glitches, making it a poor choice compared to more reliable alternatives.
- “Using Lua, I was able to create a script that works bug-free in just over an hour, utilizing less than 100 lines of code.”
- “When I originally wrote the script in Lua to make it work bug-free, it took about 4 or 5 hours and was just over 500 lines of code.”
- “My main reason I dislike it is because whenever you try and use the building editor, do not try and delete anything; my game completely freezes up and refuses to do anything whenever I try and delete a misplaced wall or floor.”
- “Terrible, the game design is so buggy and glitchy it's absolutely mind-blowing. No wonder this game design kit is so cheap. If anyone is looking at reviews, definitely do not use this; you have been warned. Best of luck with Unity and Unreal Engine. If you're a beginner, try Core.”
- “As of now, GameGuru is broken, buggy abandonware. Don't buy it.”
story
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
74%
7%
The reviews highlight a significant lack of built-in features for crafting a rich narrative, such as advanced AI dialogue and quest systems, which limits the storytelling potential of the game engine. While users can utilize Lua scripting to create their own storylines, the overall experience heavily relies on individual creativity and effort, making it challenging to produce a compelling narrative. Many reviewers express disappointment in the absence of a robust story framework, suggesting that those focused on story-driven games may want to reconsider their purchase.
- “Dynamic, progressive environments, constant uncertainty, and distrust in a suspenseful plot aim to make the player feel immersed.”
- “Imagination, storytelling, and coherent gameplay are all far more important to make a good gaming experience.”
- “You will first want to write a storyline, create a flowmap, and make a list of items to use in your game creation.”
- “That's right, no advanced AI, no personalized HUDs, menus, item systems, inventory, storylines.”
- “This software also lacks making a story and not having a story-rich game, which is very important.”
- “Final thoughts: good and easy to use software, if you're planning on making a story-driven game you might want to wait before purchasing.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with a score of 3/10 indicating significant limitations. While users appreciate the ability to import their own music and utilize a music engine for ambient sounds, they find the access to these features somewhat simplified and restrictive. However, the availability of affordable assets and a robust asset store enhances the overall experience for those looking to create unique soundscapes.
- “There's a nice music engine scoped in, but simplified access is a bit limited at the moment.”
- “It's easy enough (with some basic math) to get cued ambience/background music fades across a range of tracks, and it's all easily triggered via zones, objects, or even scripted events.”
- “I must mention the asset store on the GameGuru website; it has an amazing set of music, objects, and packs for a ridiculously cheap price.”
- “Sound & music: 3/10”
- “Can I only use the art and music GameGuru brings me?”
- “The same will happen with sound, music and scripting.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game development software is highlighted as being accessible and enjoyable, particularly for creating ironic or intentionally silly games. Users appreciate the lighthearted atmosphere of the community, especially during live Twitch streams, where the host's comedic style adds to the overall fun. Additionally, the gameplay mechanics, such as characters flying after explosions, contribute to the humor, making it a good choice for creating entertaining small LAN games.
- “Besides the point, the software is actually pretty good for beginners, and it's great if you want to make ironic and funny trash games, even if it's unintentional.”
- “Also, they take some of their time to broadcast live on Twitch once per week, streaming interactive tutorials and answering any questions you may have, always with a very good mood added to it (I am personally a fan of gamegururavey and his jingles; he's just hilarious).”
- “It's so funny when you blow up the guys and they go flying and smack into a wall.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of GameGuru has drawn criticism from users who feel misled by its advertising, claiming it promotes itself as an easy game-making tool while failing to deliver on that promise. Many users express frustration over the perceived lack of value for their investment, describing the experience as a cash grab and calling for better transparency regarding the product's capabilities and community support. Despite some acknowledgment of improvements, the overall sentiment reflects dissatisfaction with the business model and the quality of the product.
- “However, please don't make a bad game and put it on Steam; make something good, not a cash grab.”
- “The sales ads didn't mention that, and I didn't manage to find that out until after I'd tried working with the program for 5 hours.”
- “Although I do not agree with GameGuru's business model, update priorities, and advertising it as a finished product, I must say it is getting better.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere in the game is diverse, featuring modern buildings for contemporary adventures, gothic structures for classic RPG settings, and chilling environments suited for horror experiences. While there are some technical challenges with lighting and day/night cycles, the overall ambiance is expected to effectively enhance gameplay.
- “There are modern buildings for your present-day adventures, older gothic buildings for the typical RPG, and buildings with an atmosphere that gives you chills for your terrifying horror games!”
- “I'm still fiddling with atmosphere and day/night scripts and have a couple of issues with light source positioning, but it appears that it will do the job.”
- “I'm still fiddling with atmosphere and day/night scripts and have a couple of issues with light source positioning, but it appears (at this stage) that it will do the job.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, with concerns that criticism of this feature could lead to permanent bans from moderators, making it difficult to voice frustrations.
- “This is very time-consuming and tedious, and since the mods will perma-ban you for any hint of criticism (even for repeating information from their own store page), it might become impossible.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight the potential for enhanced character development through upcoming features like "character design" and a "particle system," indicating a strong foundation that is expected to improve further.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is heavily overshadowed by technical issues, including frequent crashes, poor AI behavior, and frustrating modding experiences. Players express feelings of frustration and disappointment due to the game's instability and the challenges faced when trying to customize their experience. Overall, the emotional engagement is significantly diminished by these persistent problems.