goxel
A free and open-source 3D voxel editor for creating graphics from cubes, available on desktop and mobile platforms.
What is goxel?
Goxel is a free and open-source 3D voxel editor designed for creating graphics from cubes, known as voxels. It provides tools for building, editing, and rendering voxel-based scenes, with support for features like layers, unlimited undo, and multiple export formats. The project solves the need for an accessible, cross-platform voxel editor without proprietary restrictions.
Digital artists, game developers, and hobbyists interested in creating voxel art for games, animations, or digital media across desktop and mobile platforms.
Developers choose Goxel for its open-source licensing, cross-platform availability, and robust feature set including marching cube rendering and ray tracing, offering a free alternative to commercial voxel editors.
Overview
Goxel: Free and Open Source 3D Voxel Editor
Use Cases
Best For
- Creating voxel art for indie games and pixel-art projects
- Designing 3D models with a block-based, retro aesthetic
- Exporting voxel assets to formats like OBJ or PNG for game engines
- Experimenting with procedural generation of voxel structures
- Learning voxel editing techniques in an open-source environment
- Building cross-platform voxel applications on desktop and mobile
Not Ideal For
- Artists requiring advanced animation or skeletal rigging for voxel characters.
- Teams needing real-time collaboration or cloud-synced projects.
- Users who prefer extensive plugin ecosystems or highly customizable interfaces.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Supports Linux, BSD, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, enabling voxel art creation on virtually any device.
Offers unlimited scene size and undo buffer, allowing for large-scale projects and error-free editing sessions.
Includes marching cube rendering for smooth voxel surfaces and ray tracing for high-quality, photorealistic outputs.
Exports to multiple formats like OBJ, PNG, MagicaVoxel, and Qubicle, facilitating easy integration with game engines and 3D software.
Released under GNU GPL3, providing full access to source code and avoiding proprietary licensing fees.
Cons
Building from source requires scons and platform-specific dependencies, with Windows needing msys2, which can be intimidating for casual users.
Lacks an extensible plugin system or API for customization, limiting adaptability to specialized workflows compared to more modular tools.
Relies on a brief README without detailed tutorials or comprehensive user manuals, potentially hindering learning and advanced usage.
Open Source Alternative To
goxel is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Qubicle is a voxel editor and 3D modeling software designed for creating voxel-based graphics, models, and animations for games and digital art.
MagicaVoxel is a free lightweight 8-bit voxel art editor and interactive path tracing renderer, primarily used for creating 3D pixel art and voxel models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Found a gem we're missing?
Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.