Net Forge and PlayCanvas: when to use each
Net Forge, the open-source multiplayer browser game engine built for AI coding agents, is published on npm under @netforge with source at github.com/netnetdev/net-forge.
Pick PlayCanvas when you want a mature 3D web engine with a browser-based visual editor, and when the project is a 3D app, product viewer or single-player game as much as an online one. Pick Net Forge when the project is an online game you want to start from a finished multiplayer template and change in code, with your own coding agent.
npm create netforge@latest my-game -- --template racer --yesAt a glance
| PlayCanvas | Net Forge | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | "An open-source game engine built on WebGL2 and WebGPU" for 3D apps, games and visualizations (GitHub) | A browser game engine plus ten multiplayer templates |
| Language | JavaScript or TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Rendering | WebGL2 and WebGPU, glTF 2.0 with Draco and Basis compression | three.js, WebGPU with a WebGL2 fallback |
| Physics | ammo.js rigid bodies | Rapier (deterministic WebAssembly build), the same on client and server |
| Editor | PlayCanvas Editor, browser-based and visual | None; code and a declarative game file |
| Multiplayer model | Your choice of networking library | Authoritative room host stepping the shared simulation |
| License | MIT (npm) | MIT |
| Latest version (checked 2026-10-23) | 2.23.3, released 2026-10-15 | @netforge/engine 0.2.0 |
| Best for | Visual, editor-driven 3D work for the web | Online games in ten genres, built in code |
When to pick PlayCanvas
- You want a visual editor in the browser. The PlayCanvas Editor is a browser-based visual editor (GitHub).
- You want a general 3D engine. PlayCanvas covers 2D and 3D graphics on WebGL2 and WebGPU, glTF asset streaming, ammo.js physics, positional audio and mouse, keyboard, touch and gamepad input.
- You work in React or with web components.
@playcanvas/reactand@playcanvas/web-componentsgive a declarative way to build scenes. - Your project is not only a game. Product configurators, visualizations and interactive scenes are a natural fit.
When to pick Net Forge
- The game is online. The room host and each browser run the same
@netforge/engine-simsimulation; the browser predicts its own player and the host stays authoritative. See Netcode and prediction. - You want a finished game to start from. Ten templates ship with rules, rendering, input, bots and a headless playtest. See Templates.
- Your coding agent writes the rules.
src/game.tsis declarative and validated, andnpm run checkplays it headless with bots. See The typed game API.
Honest limits of Net Forge
Net Forge has no visual editor and is young (0.2.0). It is built for games in its ten genres, not for general 3D apps. Game code may import only @netforge/engine. The public repository's room host is for play on your own computer and network; the production room server is the hosted Net Forge service.
Moving from PlayCanvas
| PlayCanvas | Net Forge |
|---|---|
| Entities with components in the Editor | Prefabs declared in src/game.ts |
Script components (initialize, update) | system() callbacks on the 30 Hz simulation tick |
| Rigid bodies and collision components (ammo.js) | Rapier bodies and the character motor in @netforge/engine-sim |
| Assets uploaded to the project | Library asset ids such as "style.lowpoly.bat" |
| Your networking layer | The template's authoritative room |
A first step: start the template nearest your game and play it in two tabs.
npm create netforge@latest my-game -- --template racer --yes
cd my-game
npm run play -- --players 2For a side-by-side table of the 3D options, see 3D multiplayer browser game engines compared.
FAQ
Is PlayCanvas open source?
Yes. The PlayCanvas engine is MIT licensed (npm).
Does PlayCanvas support WebGPU?
Yes. Its README describes the engine as built on WebGL2 and WebGPU (GitHub). Net Forge also uses WebGPU, through three.js, with a WebGL2 fallback.
Can I use the PlayCanvas Editor with Net Forge?
No. Net Forge templates draw with three.js and are set up in code. The two do not share a scene format.
Which one is better for a multiplayer game?
If you want to choose and wire your own networking, PlayCanvas gives you the engine and leaves that choice open. If you want the multiplayer already working in a finished game, start from a Net Forge template.