This thread is devoted to software that can be used to make complex games using visual coding. Therefore engines when you use standard code and which don't have visual coding by default, like Unity, or where using visual scripting can't get you very far, like Game Maker, are out of this list2D tools:1. Game Develop
http://compilgames.netPlatforms: Windows, Linux. On both you can export to HTML5, but I've been told that crosscompiling isn't possible at this point, so if you want to export to Windows native, you need windows box and if you want to export to Linux, you need Linux box to do so. Fortunately unless you are using windows-only extensions, porting will be just clicking Export button on either. It is also worth noting that windows-compiled GD games seems to run fine on Wine.
It is very easy to use game making tool. Can export to HTML5 and native (Linux/Windows, you must have Linux box if you want to compile for Linux and vice versa). It has hardware acceleration using OpenGL, advanced dynamic lighting, Box2D physics and more.
It can be extended using extensions written in C++, but most of the times there won't be any need for that.
License: Freeware
2. RPG Maker
http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/Platforms: Windows, but aside of VX Ace, newest makers (unless Wine team fixed it by now) both editors and games made with it can be ran using Wine (one exception: RM2000/2003 games which uses Play Movie event command will crash under Wine. There's no known workaround apart of editing game to remove that command at this point).
Classic program. Very easy to use. As name suggests it is made for making RPGs or rather JRPGs. It can be extended using Ruby scripts, but on events alone you can also do pretty solid game.
License: Shareware (price dependant on version you want to buy)
3. Clickteam Fusion 2.5 (formerly Multimedia Fusion 2)
http://clickteam.com/Platforms: Windows, has various exporters although I don't know if it does export to Linux/Mac.
Another classic software. It roots are in old, 16-bit game authoring tool called Klik&Play, therefore uses same classic interface that many got accustomed with over the years.
It isn't however stuck in the past and offers advanced technologies such as hardware acceleration (unsure if OpenGL or DX), export to many platforms such as Flash/Java (J2ME)/Android/iOS and more. CTF2.5 brings build-in physics engine and more!
License: Commercial (€299)
4. Construct 2
http://scirra.com/Platforms: As far as I know, editor is only for Windows (Wine status of it is unknown for me so if someone tried to run it under wine, tell me about results), after buying full version can export to Lin/Mac/Win
Software geared mainly towards HTML5 games. It combines great stability and intuitivity of Construct Classic with new technologies such as export to HTML5 games.
License: Free if you care only about HTML5, paid if you care about making actual games and not minigames (Ł79, personal, Ł299 commercial).
5. Stencyl
http://stencyl.comPlatforms: It is Java-based so probably any platform with available JRE.
Software, written in Java, geared towards making simple flash games with collaborative aspect. It great use of web has given possibility to make StencylForge, a central hub for game resources. It also uses MIT Scratch's coding blocks technology.
License: Scamware. Seriously. I can understand flat prices for additional export targets, etc., I get that software cost money to develop. So I'm okay with that. But subscriptions? FOR WHAT? Stencyl Forge? If that so, I can go without it just fine, thank you very much.
6. GameSalad
http://gamesalad.com/Platforms: Mac/Windows.
Similar to Stencyl, although older. Initially OSX software, now it's available for Windows.
License: Scamware, although even worse than in case of Stencyl.
3D Game making tools:1. CraftStudio
http://www.craftstud.ioPlatforms: Lin/Mac/Windows. Can export to either or to HTML5 (Web runtime isn't as feature complete like others, for example physics isn't implemented in it yet though).
Great software geared to making games similar in look to N64 titles. Really easy to use and user-friendly.
License: Shareware (€20 for beta, may be higher in final version).
Other game making tools:1. Twine
http://www.twinery.orgPlatforms: Mac/Windows. It is unclear if there's Linux version of Twine IDE available for Linux or if you are stuck with twee (Twine's compiler). In either case, from what I heard, Windows Twine runs fine under Wine (try saying that fast!).
Note: Version provided on above site is outdated and buggy, please use this one instead. While it labels itself "alpha" is in fact less buggy and more stable than 1.3.5 and fixes various bugs in exported stories. Irrelevant since version 1.4 has been released.
Twine is Interactive Fiction (IF) story maker. Stories made with it are very fun to play and software itself is very intuitive. To format your story, you are using standard WikiCode, like on wikipedia (sans more advanced stuff like equations, obviously).
License: Free (open source)