A downloadable tool

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Learn how a game engine works by writing your game like a document

Available on 🪟Windows, 🍎Mac, and 🐧Linux
An educational game engine focused on learning, experimentation and creativity.
Alpha • active development
 
Educational • learn by experimenting
 
2D • C++ • OpenGL


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😎 A different way to learn 😎
game development

Instead of starting with complex editors or thousands of lines of code, you begin by writing your game like a game design document, using simple variables inside a text editor.
The engine interprets your text and turns it into a playable game.
MGE logo
Most game engines help you make games,
but very few help you understand how a game engine works.
📝 Write like a doc
Focus on the idea first. Your text becomes your game.
⚡ Instant iteration
Change one value, re-run, and learn by experimentation.
🧠 Real engine learning
Designed to help you understand how an engine works.
MGE was created to:
  • Support your continuous learning journey in game creation
  • Understand how a game engine works and how games are built on top of it
  • Experiment and learn game design rules
  • Discover how to create visuals and music for games
  • Prepare you to work with C++, OpenGL, or other engines later
The goal is not to stay on MGE forever, but to leave with real knowledge.

📖 Companion book 📖

A companion book is currently in development to help students master the fundamentals of solo game development with the Montfra Game Engine.

Designed to be both educational and enjoyable, it introduces key concepts through the story of the engine’s creation, making learning more concrete and engaging.

The following topics will be covered:
  • Game design
  • Music creation
  • Rendering basics
  • Game engine architecture
  • Practical feedback from development experience
And much more to come later this year!

⚙️ HOW DOES IT WORK? ⚙️

The graphical interface of the game engine is a simple text editor. You can write your ideas as simply as you would in your favorite text editor. 
Demo screenshot
The magic comes from variables. A variable is simply a piece of text with the following format: [VAR:VAL], where VAR is the name of the variable and VAL is the value of the variable.
Each variable represents a core game concept:
  • 📷 Camera behavior
  • 🏃‍➡️ Avatar properties
  • 🪂 Physics rules
  • 🌄 Level structure
  • etc.
The goal is to focus on ideas first, not implementation.
Examples:
Official list of variables

This is the official list of variables and their respective values for the current version of the engine :
Official list of variables
From text to playable game
  • The editor parses your document
  • The engine interprets each variable with the C++ library
  • A playable game is generated instantly


👉 Alternatively, you can use the C++ library directly, without relying on the graphical interface.

This library is composed of three modules: Graphics, Physics, and Audio.

While the graphical interface is built on top of this C++ library, it does not yet expose all of its available features.

Alpha 2 will provide access to a complete and comprehensive manual for the C++ library.

🛣️ LEARNING PATH 🛣️

MGE is designed as a progressive learning tool:
  1. 🟢 Beginner
    Use the text-based editor to learn core game concepts
  2. 🟡 Intermediate
    Understand how the engine interprets your game design
  3. 🔵 Advanced
    Use the C++ library directly and explore the engine internals
  4. 🚀 Next step
    Move to another engine or build your own

🕹️ WHAT CAN YOU LEARN 🕹️
WITH MGE?

MGE introduces you to the full solo game creation pipeline, at an educational level:
  • 🎮 Game design fundamentals
  • 🧩 Engine logic & architecture
  • 💻 C++ programming
  • 🎨 Visual structure (sprites, shapes, scenes)
  • 🔊 Audio & music basics (planned)
  • 🧠 Problem solving & systems thinking

🦘 INCLUDED DEMO 🦘

2D Platformer Demo
The current alpha includes a simple 2D platformer demonstrating:
  • camera behaviors
  • player movement
  • physics & gravity
  • level layout through text variables
Demo screenshot

🟢 WHO IS THIS FOR? 🟢

✔ Students learning programming
✔ Curious game designers
✔ Indie developers interested in engine internals
✔ Anyone who wants to understand game engines

🔴 WHO IS THIS NOT FOR? 🔴

✖ People looking for a full commercial engine
✖ Advanced 3D projects
✖ Production-ready pipelines

🗓️ 2026 ROADMAP 🗓️

MGE has massive potential. Here’s the 2026 roadmap…
Version Focus Status
Alpha 1 Graphical editor with core set of variables for simple 2D platformers. 
+
Access to the complete C++ library, consisting of three modules: Graphics, Physics, and Audio.
The library comes with a demo and documentation.		 ✅ Current version
Alpha 2 Graphical editor with additional variables for 2D top-down games.
+
Complete manual for the C++ library
 🔜 Planned
Book Release Learn game engine development with MGE 🔜 Planned
And many more 3D surprises to come 🙈

🚀 FINAL WORD 🚀

MGE is an experiment, a learning tool, and a long-term project.
If you are curious about how games really work, you are in the right place.
❤️ Thank you for being part of the journey.
We are actively looking for feedback to guide future development.
👉 What should be the priority?
  • 🎵 Audio & music tools?
  • 🎨 Visual features?
  • ⚙️ Technical features?
  • 📘 Game design systems?
  • 🏪Are you interested in a Steam release featuring a simplified, one-click automatic installation?
Leave a comment and help shape MGE.


💬 Discord community

Join the server to discuss the game, report bugs, and follow updates.

Join the Discord community
MGE – Montfra Game Engine • Alpha • Built for learning
More information

Download

Download NowName your own price

Click download now to get access to the following files:

Montfra-Game-Engine-Alpha1.zip 17 MB

Development log

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