Havok vs Bullet Physics

Developers should learn Havok when working on AAA video games, virtual reality experiences, or high-fidelity simulations that require advanced physics and animation, such as in action, racing, or open-world games where realistic object interactions and character movements are critical meets developers should learn bullet physics when building applications that require realistic physics simulations, such as game engines, simulation software, or robotics platforms. Here's our take.

Havok

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Havok when working on AAA video games, virtual reality experiences, or high-fidelity simulations that require advanced physics and animation, such as in action, racing, or open-world games where realistic object interactions and character movements are critical

Pros

• It is also valuable for projects using engines like Unity or Unreal Engine that support Havok integration, as it offers performance optimizations and specialized features like cloth simulation and vehicle physics not always available in built-in physics systems
• Related to: unity, unreal-engine

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Bullet Physics

Developers should learn Bullet Physics when building applications that require realistic physics simulations, such as game engines, simulation software, or robotics platforms

Pros

• It is particularly valuable for projects needing efficient collision detection, rigid body dynamics, or complex physical interactions in real-time environments, offering cross-platform support and integration with popular graphics APIs
• Related to: game-development, physics-simulation

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Havok is a tool while Bullet Physics is a library. We picked Havok based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Havok wins

Based on overall popularity. Havok is more widely used, but Bullet Physics excels in its own space.