LÖVE
Free, open-source 2D game framework for making games in Lua
HN commenters like LÖVE for its pleasant Lua workflow123, a good balance between high- and low-level abstraction4, and simpler code than Electron for prototypes and small apps56, including programming on a phone.78 The main caveat is that the latest release is aging, so many devs use the repo's HEAD instead.9
Why people recommend it
Enjoyable to use · 3
Commenters say they love the framework and find working with it a delight.
“I use this framework to build prototype applications and it's always a delight.”
“I love this framework, pun intended.”
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“I love LÖVE. For me it sits at the perfect intersection between high and low level abstraction.”
Lua fit · 3
Lua is described as feeling right and a great fit for game dev, with Fennel also usable.
“I use this framework to build prototype applications and it's always a delight.”
“I love löve I did some projects in it”
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“the minimal template for setting up Löve2D with Fennel, that I can really recommend”
Simplicity · 2
Rewriting an Electron app in LÖVE gave simpler code, and it sits at a good abstraction level.
“rewriting to LÖVE meant much simpler code”
“I love LÖVE. For me it sits at the perfect intersection between high and low level abstraction.”
Phone development · 2
People write programs and even full iPhone games directly on their phones with it.
“I program on my phone as well using LÖVE, though games aren't really my interest.”
“I made an iPhone game on my iPhone, using Lua/Love2D.”
Lightweight · 1
One user saw lower resource use after switching from Electron.
“rewriting to LÖVE meant much simpler code”
Easy packaging · 1
You can zip your files and combine them with the LÖVE binary to load them.
“I love löve I did some projects in it”
Caveats and dissent
Stale release · 1
The latest release is getting old, and many devs use HEAD for better performance and compatibility.
“I love LÖVE. For me it sits at the perfect intersection between high and low level abstraction.”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- LÖVE: 2D Game Framework for Lua 6 mentions
- Programming a GBA Game on an iPhone 2 mentions
- Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (May 2026) 2 mentions
Data: l-ve.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 10
“I program on my phone as well using LÖVE, though games aren't really my interest.”
“I made an iPhone game on my iPhone, using Lua/Love2D.”
“I chose Love2D as my engine”
“I chose Love2D as my engine”
“I use this framework to build prototype applications and it's always a delight.”
“rewriting to LÖVE meant much simpler code”
“I love this framework, pun intended.”
“the minimal template for setting up Löve2D with Fennel, that I can really recommend”
“I love löve I did some projects in it”
“I love LÖVE. For me it sits at the perfect intersection between high and low level abstraction.”