Phaser vs Sapphire Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game engines & frameworks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Phaser
Fast HTML5 game framework for browser games you host yourself
VS
Sapphire Server
Open-source server emulator for Final Fantasy XIV
| Feature | Phaser | Sapphire Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Game Engines & Frameworks | Game Engines & Frameworks |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,098 | ★ 819 |
| First released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Construct, GameMaker | official FFXIV servers |
Why pick each one
Choose Sapphire Server if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Phaser or Sapphire Server better?
Phaser is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Sapphire Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Phaser and Sapphire Server free and open-source?
Yes. Phaser is licensed under MIT and Sapphire Server under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Phaser and Sapphire Server with Docker?
Phaser: check the project docs for container support. Sapphire Server: yes.