Unity, Godot, or Unreal: Best Engine for Indie Devs in 2026

A 12-year game dev veteran compares Unity, Godot, and Unreal for indie developers in 2026, focusing on cost, scope risk, and hiring. Unity remains the pragmatic default for 2D and mobile games, Godot offers the cleanest licensing, and Unreal suits teams chasing AAA visuals. The analysis draws from real indie constraints like thin margins and the need for fast iteration.