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love2d/love

LÖVE is a free, open-source framework for making 2D games in Lua, running on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.

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What is it?

LÖVE is a framework for building 2D games with the Lua programming language. Developers write game code in Lua and run it through the LÖVE runtime, without having to set up a full engine or build pipeline from scratch.

The framework targets desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Its core is written in C++ and depends on libraries such as SDL3, OpenGL or Vulkan, OpenAL for audio, and FreeType and harfbuzz for text rendering.

The repository hosts the framework's source code, with a test suite in the testing folder that exercises the LÖVE APIs. Documentation is maintained on the project wiki, and the main branch is used for the next major release, so it is not considered stable.

Key features

  • 01Write 2D games in Lua with a ready-made API for graphics, audio, input and physics.
  • 02Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
  • 03Supports OpenGL 3.3+, OpenGL ES 3.0+, Vulkan and Metal graphics backends.
  • 04Builds from source with CMake on *nix systems, with Xcode projects for Apple platforms.

Use cases

  • Making small to medium 2D games or game prototypes in Lua.
  • Learning game development with a lightweight, scripting-first framework.
  • Building cross-platform 2D games that target both desktop and mobile devices.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Download a binary release from the GitHub releases page

  2. 2

    Configure the build on Linux or macOS (*nix)

    cmake -B build -S. --install-prefix $PWD/prefix
  3. 3

    Build and install with all CPU cores

    cmake --build build --target install -j$(nproc)

Things to know

  • The main branch is for development of the next major release and is not stable.
  • Building from source needs extra platform setup, such as megasource on Windows or Xcode dependencies on macOS and iOS.
  • The license is listed as NOASSERTION, so check the repository's license terms before use.

In collections

Game development tools & engines

Topics

#game-development#lua#2d-games#luajit#cross-platform#graphics#gamedev#love2d

FAQ

What is love?
LÖVE is a free, open-source framework for making 2D games in Lua, running on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. LÖVE is a framework for building 2D games with the Lua programming language. Developers write game code in Lua and run it through the LÖVE runtime, without having to set up a full engine or build pipeline from scratch.
Is love free to use? What license does it have?
love is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is love still maintained?
Updated within 6 months. The last commit to love was on Sep 20, 2026.
What can I use love for?
Making small to medium 2D games or game prototypes in Lua. Learning game development with a lightweight, scripting-first framework. Building cross-platform 2D games that target both desktop and mobile devices.
How do I install love?
Download a binary release from the GitHub releases page Configure the build on Linux or macOS (*nix): cmake -B build -S. --install-prefix $PWD/prefix Build and install with all CPU cores: cmake --build build --target install -j$(nproc)
Where can I get love?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/love2d/love

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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