Freedom251 › Game Engine Software
Gideros
What Gideros is
Gideros is a free, open-source development technology for making cross-platform games with Lua or Luau. It targets Android, iOS, macOS, tvOS, Windows, HTML5, Linux, UWP, and Xbox One, with mobile and console export options. Its development tools include a lightweight IDE, desktop and device players, a texture packer, and a font creator. Games can be checked on a real device over Wi-Fi in about one second without an export or deployment step. Gideros uses C/C++ and OpenGL and describes its runtime as operating at native speed. Plugins can connect Lua with existing C, C++, Java, or Objective-C code. Automatic scaling selects suitable image resolutions for different screens. Android projects can be prepared for Android Studio or exported as APK or AAB after configuration. Web output uses WebGL and WebAssembly, while Windows output can be a Visual Studio solution or standalone executable. Development systems listed are Windows 10, macOS Big Sur or later, and Linux, requiring at least a 1 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM.
Who it suits
Gideros suits developers building games for several platforms with Lua or Luau. It is also relevant to teams needing device testing, plugins, and export options for mobile, desktop, web, console, or Quest targets.
What it does well
- Free plan with no development or publishing limitations
- Open-source Lua and Luau game technology
- Exports to many mobile, desktop, web, and console targets
- Real-device Wi-Fi testing in about one second
- Includes IDE, players, texture packer, and font creator
What to know first
- Development systems require at least 1 GB RAM
- Android export requires configuration before APK or AAB output
- Some integrations depend on available plugins
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gideros | Free · No limitations to developing and publishing apps | Free |
As gideros.rocks lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Gideros provides a free, open-source route for creating Lua-based games across a wide set of targets. Its quick device testing, built-in tools, scaling, and plugin support make it suitable for developers who want one technology for multiple platforms.
Facts from Gideros's own pages
- Android export
- Android projects can be exported for Android Studio or directly as APK or AAB once configured, with support for Google Play APIs and other stores. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Apple platforms
- The site lists iOS, Apple TV, and macOS game development, with ads, in-app purchases, and other plugins available. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The Gideros forum invites users to subscribe and ask questions and has categories for general questions, plugins, tutorials, and bug reports. · forum.gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Console export
- Yes · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Developer tools
- The included development set has a lightweight IDE, desktop and device players, a texture packer, and a font creator. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Device testing
- The site says games can be tested on a real device over Wi-Fi in about one second without an export or deployment step. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The developer guide links to documentation for classes, methods, events, properties, and plugins, with examples. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Download systems
- The download page lists Windows 10, Mac OS X Big Sur or later, and Linux as supported development systems, with at least a 1 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM required. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Mobile export
- Yes · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Multiplayer tools
- Yes · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Performance
- Gideros is built on C/C++ and OpenGL and describes its game runtime as running at native speed. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Plugins can extend Gideros, including by binding existing C, C++, Java, or Objective-C code to Lua. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Gideros is a free, open-source cross-platform technology for creating games with Lua. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Quest export
- The site says Gideros can export an APK suitable for Meta Quest 2 and 3. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- Gideros supports automatic screen scaling and selecting the appropriate image resolution across screen sizes. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Scripting languages
- Lua,Luau · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Source code model
- open_source · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Target platforms
- Android,iOS,macOS,tvOS,Windows,HTML5,Linux,UWP,Xbox One · gideros.rocks, 21 Sept 2026
- Web export
- Gideros can create HTML apps using WebGL and WebAssembly. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
- Windows export
- Gideros can export a Visual Studio solution for Windows Store apps and a standalone Windows executable. · gideros.rocks, 9 Oct 2026
Where Gideros stands on Freedom251
- Game Engine Software#36 of 92