Corona SDK

Corona SDK is a free, cross-platform 2D game engine for building apps and games on mobile, desktop, and TV devices. You write code in Lua, a lightweight scripting language used in hits like Angry Birds and Warcraft. The engine handles graphics (OpenGL), audio, physics, and more, so you can focus on gameplay. One codebase lets you target iPhone, iPad, Android, Amazon Fire, Mac, Windows, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV.

What makes Corona SDK stand out is its live build system. Update your code and see changes instantly in the simulator — no waiting for compiles. For device testing, deploy once and push updates over your local network. The engine is optimized for performance, with fast OpenGL rendering and Lua's lightweight execution. A large plugin marketplace offers integrations for ads, analytics, social media, and other services. Corona SDK is also open source, so developers can add custom features or fix bugs themselves.

Corona SDK is ideal for indie developers and small studios who want to build 2D games quickly. It's also useful for prototyping and educational projects. Use cases include creating mobile games like Designer City and Gunman Taco Truck, or building cross-platform utilities and interactive books. With a community of over 500,000 developers and active forums, help is easy to find.