Which 2D web game framework should you pick in 2026? One developer, JSLegendDev, decided to find out by building the same Sonic-themed infinite runner in the three most downloaded frameworks on npm: Phaser, Kaplay, and Excalibur. The verdict is clear, but the nuances are worth knowing.
Why Phaser wins on performance and stability
If stability and performance are your priority, Phaser is the strongest choice of the three. It handled the test game consistently well, and its Safari performance stands out in particular. Since every browser and web view on iOS is forced to use WebKit under the hood, a framework that performs poorly on Safari will struggle on iOS too. Phaser handles this better than the alternatives.
Phaser also supports headless mode, letting you run it server-side for multiplayer games. Neither Kaplay nor Excalibur offer this.
Phaser's AI advantage
One finding worth highlighting: Phaser has a significant AI advantage. Because of its popularity and the volume of documentation and community content available, AI tools like ChatGPT give more accurate answers for Phaser-related questions. With Kaplay and Excalibur, hallucinations are more common. For developers leaning on AI assistance, this makes Phaser the more practical choice day to day.
Where Kaplay and Excalibur fit
Kaplay is the easiest of the three to learn, making it a solid pick for beginners, game jams, or quick prototypes. Its component-based approach allows for fast iteration. That said, performance limitations will eventually surface on larger projects.
Excalibur felt closest to Phaser in terms of approach, with a slightly more concise API in places. Its browser-extension-based debug mode is genuinely impressive. But it required more manual work in some areas, and it isn't different enough from Phaser to justify switching if you're already using Phaser.
The full video includes live demos and source code for all three versions of the game on GitHub. Worth watching if you're making a framework decision.
Watch the full comparison
See all three frameworks in action and judge for yourself.