When comparing Nez vs Polycode, the Slant community recommends Polycode for most people. In the question“What are the best 2D game engines?” Polycode is ranked 32nd while Nez is ranked 89th. The most important reason people chose Polycode is:
Polycode uses Lua and C++ to create native applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Mobile platforms are planned for the future.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Active community
The community is very active, so if you ask for help you'll get it relatively quickly.
Pro Open source
Completely free, no need to pay for licenses.
Pro Cross-platform development thanks to the use of mono and xamarin
Nez is built on top of monoGame and can be used the make games for many platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac, Android or IOS).
Pro Can create portable native applications
Polycode uses Lua and C++ to create native applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Mobile platforms are planned for the future.
Pro Free and open source
Polycode is free and open source (released under the MIT license). The source code is freely available on GitHub.
Pro IDE for 3D editing
Recently, the editor and its integrated tools have been released in compiled form. Features coding and scene editing in one application.
Pro C++/Lua
Polycode is distributed in a C++ form as well as with IDE. And there's an additional LUA-based scripting system.
Cons
Con Just a framework
Meaning there's no visual scene designer so you'll have to write your own.
Con Abandoned
The project does not seem to be maintained anymore: there has been no new release nor commit since mid-2015.
Con No mobile support
Doesn't have support for Android or iOS.