Kenney vs Quaternius vs KayKit in 2026: which free assets win
Pick Kenney for the widest free library, Quaternius for rigged and animated characters, and KayKit for themed packs that share one look. When you need a PSX or horror style, add a dedicated pack.
By Imersa Studios · Published · Updated
Free: start with the PSX town kit Download the free edition first and test the style in your engine before you spend anything.
Key takeaways
- Kenney has the widest free library. It covers 2D, 3D, UI and audio, and every asset is CC0.
- Quaternius is the best of the three for rigged and animated characters, with large free packs and paid animation libraries.
- KayKit has a smaller range but the tightest style. Packs share one look, so mixing them is easy.
- None of the three makes a PSX or horror town. If you need that look, add a dedicated pack.
- You can combine all three with a consistent colour palette. Test a scene before you commit to a mix.
What free low poly asset libraries actually are (and what they are not)
Kenney, Quaternius and KayKit are creators who publish large sets of low poly 3D assets for free, with paid extras. Most indie developers meet at least one of them in a first project. They let you build a playable prototype without drawing a single model.
They are not a complete art department. Free libraries give you generic content: trees, houses, props, a few characters. They do not give you a distinct identity for your game. Two games built only from Kenney assets can look alike, and that matters if you want a recognisable look.
Licensing is the other thing to understand. Kenney publishes assets as CC0, a public domain dedication. Quaternius also releases most free packs as CC0, with paid sets under their own terms. KayKit has free and paid packs with a licence stated on each page. Always read the page, because terms can differ pack by pack.
Use them for what they do best: fast prototypes, game jams, placeholders you replace later and filler content. When your game needs a signature style, mix in a specialist pack or commission custom art. That is where a PSX town kit or a themed pack fits.
How we ranked these
We compared the three creators most indie developers start with, using their own store pages in October 2026.
- Licence
- We compare the licence each creator uses for free assets.
- Range
- We note what kinds of assets each covers: 2D, 3D, UI, audio, characters.
- Style consistency
- We judge how well packs from one creator match each other.
- Where a paid pack still helps
- We say where free assets stop covering a game's needs.
Kenney vs Quaternius vs KayKit in 2026
Three creators and two of our own packs make up this comparison. Competitor details come from their own store pages in October 2026, so check the links for the latest.
Kenney
Free (CC0)
1. Kenney, best for breadth
2D, 3D, UI and audio
The widest range: 2D, 3D, UI and sound effects, all CC0. The paid All-in-1 bundle ($19.95, 60,000+ files) collects them in one download.
Best suited for: Breadth.
Quaternius
Free (CC0) + paid sets
2. Quaternius, best for animated characters
Characters, animations, kits
The best of the three for rigged characters and animations. The Universal Animation Library and MegaKits are among the best sellers on itch.io.
Best suited for: Animated characters.
KayKit
by Kay Lousberg · Free + paid
3. KayKit, best for one consistent style
Dungeon, characters, nature · by Kay Lousberg
Smaller range, tighter style. Kay Lousberg won an innovation award at the 2025 Unity Awards.
Best suited for: One consistent style.
4. Small Town Buildings, best for PSX horror
Free / Standard / Pro
None of the three makes a PS1-style town. This kit fills that gap and has a free edition, so you can mix it with CC0 assets at no cost.
Best suited for: PSX horror.
5. Survival Weapons, best for PSX weapons
24 models · .blend · pixel textures
24 scavenged weapons with pixel textures for $2.99, a style the free libraries don't cover.
Best suited for: PSX weapons.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Every option below is scored on the same criteria listed in the methodology: price, what is included, licence, engine support and fit for the genre.
| Name | Best for | What you get | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenney | Breadth | 2D, 3D, UI and audio | Free (CC0) |
| 2 | Quaternius | Animated characters | Characters, animations, kits | Free (CC0) + paid sets |
| 3 | KayKitKay Lousberg | One consistent style | Dungeon, characters, nature | Free + paid |
| 4 | Small Town BuildingsReadySpawn | PSX horror | Free / Standard / Pro | Freepaid editions from $7.99 |
| 5 | Survival WeaponsReadySpawn | PSX weapons | 24 models · .blend · pixel textures | $2.99 |
Highlighted rows are sold on this site. Every other row links to its creator.
Which one fits your use case
| Your project | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Widest variety, fast prototype | Kenney | 2D, 3D, UI and audio in one place. |
| Characters with animations | Quaternius | Rigged characters and animation libraries. |
| Matching themed packs | KayKit | One style across dungeon, characters and nature. |
| PS1-style horror | Small Town Buildings and Survival Weapons | A style the three free libraries do not cover. |
What the store pages show
Figures from public store pages in October 2026.
- 60,000+
- files in Kenney's paid All-in-1 bundle.
- $19.95
- price of that bundle.
- CC0
- licence on Kenney's assets.
- Free
- edition of the Small Town Buildings kit.
Questions
CC0 puts the asset in the public domain. You can use, change and sell games with it without credit or payment. Credit is still a nice gesture.
Yes, though the styles differ. Kenney and KayKit are both clean and chunky, so they mix best. Keep one colour palette to tie them together.
Kenney, because the library is large, the licence is simple and many tutorials use it.
Quaternius has the strongest free set of rigged and animated characters among the three.
Apply one shared colour palette, add your own lighting and fog, and replace a few hero assets with custom or specialist art.
None of the three covers PS1-style assets. A dedicated PSX pack fills that gap, and you can mix it with CC0 assets.
Add a PSX town to your free assets
Free libraries cover most prototypes. They do not cover a PS1-style town. The Small Town Buildings kit does, and it has a free edition. Load it beside your CC0 assets and check the mix. If it works, you have a distinct setting at no cost. Try the free kit on itch.io.