LDtk

Free plan Open source APILinuxMacWindows

What LDtk is

LDtk is a free, open-source 2D level editor for game developers, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports Grid-vania, linear, and free-world layouts, with drag-and-drop reorganization. A visual editor lets users create rules for automatic tile skinning, while custom entities can hold typed properties such as hit points, patrol paths, or inventories. LDtk exports PNG images and JSON entity data, with optional Tiled TMX export. It also loads Aseprite files directly and can reload them when saved. The editor focuses on platformer and top-down perspectives and does not support isometric 3D. Backup features can restore unsaved changes after an application crash. Community importers and loaders are listed for engines including Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, Löve 2D, and Bevy. LDtk has no stated usage limits, and content created with it can be used commercially. The site links to documentation and an official Discord community.

Who it suits

LDtk suits game developers making 2D platformer or top-down levels who want custom entities and tile-skinning rules. It is available across Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no stated usage limits and commercial use allowed.

What it does well

Free and open source with no stated usage limits.
Supports Grid-vania, linear, and free-world layouts.
Custom entities can store typed properties.
Exports PNG and JSON, with optional Tiled TMX.
Can restore unsaved changes after a crash.

What to know first

Does not support isometric 3D.
Focuses on platformer and top-down perspectives.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
LDtk	Pay-what-you-want, including free · No usage limitations stated · Commercial use allowed	Free
Free	all editor features · no usage limitation · commercial use allowed	Free
Pay what you want	optional contribution through itch.io	On request

As ldtk.io lists them, read 2 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the LDtk website.
Download LDtk for Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Arrange levels using a Grid-vania, linear, or free-world layout.
Define auto-layering rules and any custom entities you need.
Export PNG images or JSON entity data, or choose optional Tiled TMX export.

Verdict

LDtk offers level layout, automatic tile skinning, entity properties, and several export options in a free editor. Its stated perspective focus is platformer and top-down rather than isometric 3D.

Questions

Is LDtk free?

Yes. The LDtk plan is free, billed pay-what-you-want, including free, with no usage limitations stated.

Can I use content made with LDtk commercially?

Yes, commercial use of content made with LDtk is allowed.

Is LDtk open source?

Yes. The maker describes it as free and open source and links to its source code.

Which operating systems does LDtk support?

LDtk is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

What can LDtk export?

It exports PNG images and JSON entity data, and offers optional Tiled TMX export.

Which game engines have listed importers or loaders?

Community importers and loaders are listed for Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, Löve 2D, and Bevy.

Facts from LDtk's own pages

Aseprite: LDtk loads Aseprite files directly and supports live reloading when they are saved. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
Aseprite integration: LDtk loads Aseprite files directly and refreshes changes when the source artwork is saved. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Auto-layering: A visual editor lets users define rules for automatic tile skinning. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
Auto-layers: Auto-layers can draw textures and details automatically from collision or other rule inputs. · deepnight.itch.io, 15 Oct 2026
Auto-rendering: Visual rules can automatically generate tiles and decorative details from level data. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Backup behavior: LDtk includes backups and can restore unsaved changes after a crash. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Backups: LDtk offers backups and can restore unsaved changes after an application crash. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
Company registration: AFJV lists Deepnight Games as a one-person French studio founded in 2020 with Bordeaux headquarters and one employee. · afjv.com, 15 Oct 2026
Custom entities: Users can create entities with typed custom properties such as hit points, patrol paths, or inventories. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Documentation and support: Official documentation covers the interface and in-game implementation, with JSON resources, bug reporting, and an official Discord community. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Documentation depth: An independent technical review says the online documentation is comparatively lacking, although built-in tool documentation is strong. · reddit.com, 15 Oct 2026
Engine integrations: The official importer directory lists integrations for Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, LÖVE, and Bevy. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Entities: Users can define custom game entities with typed properties such as hit points, patrol paths, or inventories. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
Enums: Projects can define enums for entity fields, and enums can be synchronized from Haxe source files. · deepnight.itch.io, 15 Oct 2026
Export: LDtk exports PNGs and JSON entity data, and offers optional Tiled TMX export. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
Founded: 2020 · ldtk.io, 28 Sept 2026
Haxe orientation: An independent review notes that the codebase and companion API are written in Haxe, making Haxe developers the natural audience even though other languages can parse the JSON. · hysenlabs.com, 15 Oct 2026
Integrations: The maker lists community importers and loaders for engines including Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, Löve 2D, and Bevy. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
JSON format: LDtk stores project data in JSON and publishes schemas and QuickType files for version 1.5.3. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Language loaders: Community loaders or APIs are listed for Haxe, C, C++, C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, Haskell, Go, Python, Rust, and Kotlin. · ldtk.io, 15 Oct 2026
Layer types: The editor supports integer-grid, tile, and entity layers. · deepnight.itch.io, 15 Oct 2026
Legal entity: Pappers identifies Deepnight Games as an EURL registered in Bordeaux, with €2,500 share capital and electronic-game publishing as its principal activity. · pappers.fr, 15 Oct 2026
Level design: Users can arrange levels in Grid-vania, linear, or free world layouts and reorganize them by drag and drop. · ldtk.io, 2 Oct 2026
License: The source repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026

Where LDtk stands on Freedom251

Game Level Editors#3 of 28