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Surge Engine is a 2D retro game engine with an included Sonic-like game (Surge the Rabbit) for anyone who wants to make their own platformers like classic Sonic. The developers just released a big new version.

It's free, open source and cross-platform for Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, macOS and easily installable on Steam Deck via Flatpak (Flathub). Fun to see how many different styles of game engines are out there, and with this having a full example game it's easy to learn from.


Pictured - Surge the Rabbit

Here's all the highlights of what's new in version 0.6.1:

  • Ported the game engine to Android.
  • Partial rewrite of the engine. Made the engine mobile-ready with a massive performance update covering many areas: rendering, scripting, collision detection, entity and brick systems, loading times, and more!
  • Improved the physics system. Made it faster and more robust.
  • Introduced the mobile mode and the mobile level editor.
  • Introduced the MOD loader and its compatibility mode.
  • Introduced the Import Utility for upgrading MODs.
  • Introduced support for Player 2 & AI-controlled characters.
  • Introduced player transformations and numerous player flags.
  • Introduced keyframe-based animations and custom sprite properties.
  • Introduced wavy water effects and internal support for shaders.
  • Introduced a new Pause Menu.
  • Introduced a new Options Screen.
  • Added support for various special characters in bitmap fonts.
  • Made numerous additions to the SurgeScript API.
  • Updated several SurgeScript objects. Introduced new items and new components.
  • Reimplemented nanoparser, the asset system, the animation system, the entity system, the brick system, the particle system, the level height sampler, and more.

See more on the official site and GitHub.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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2 comments

nwildner May 20
Nice. These screenshots reminds me of others like Bubsy(Snes), Jazz Jack Rabbit(PC), and I see some potential where features from those games might also be incorporated to Surge Engine.
Linux_Rocks May 20
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