Heaps Game Engine Guide¶

Welcome to the comprehensive guide for Heaps.io - a mature, cross-platform graphics engine designed for high-performance games.

What is Heaps?¶

Heaps is a game engine built with Haxe that leverages modern GPU capabilities for both 2D and 3D games. It's the technology behind successful indie games like Dead Cells, Northgard, and Evoland.

Why Choose Heaps?¶

Performance First: GPU-accelerated rendering with automatic batching
Cross-Platform: Deploy to PC, mobile, consoles, and web from a single codebase
Modern Architecture: Component-based entities, shader system, and resource pipeline
Battle-Tested: Used in commercial games with millions of players
Open Source: MIT licensed with active community

Quick Start¶

class Main extends hxd.App {
    override function init() {
        var text = new h2d.Text(hxd.res.DefaultFont.get(), s2d);
        text.text = "Hello Heaps!";
        text.center();
    }

    static function main() {
        new Main();
    }
}

Get Started →

What You'll Learn¶

Getting Started¶

Learn to set up your development environment and create your first Heaps application.

Core Concepts¶

Understand the fundamental systems: game loop, scenes, resources, entities, and rendering pipeline.

Build an Action RPG¶

Follow our step-by-step tutorial series to create a complete top-down action game inspired by Hyper Light Drifter.

Tutorial Preview¶

Throughout this guide, you'll build a fully-featured action RPG with:

⚡ Fluid Movement: 8-directional movement with dash mechanics
⚔️ Combat System: Combo attacks, hitboxes, and visual effects
🤖 Enemy AI: State machines, pathfinding, and varied behaviors
✨ Polish: Particles, screen shake, and shader effects
🎮 Game Feel: Responsive controls and satisfying feedback

Community¶

Prerequisites¶

Basic programming knowledge (preferably Haxe, but JavaScript/TypeScript experience helps)
Understanding of game development concepts
A code editor (VS Code recommended)
Enthusiasm for making games!

Ready to start building? Head to the Installation Guide →