Newton 3D Overview

What is Newton 3D?

RetroDev.Newton3D is a clean, intuitive wrapper for Unity’s 3D physics system. It provides straightforward methods for common physics operations, making your 3D physics code more readable and maintainable.

Get RetroDev.Newton3D here:

Download Newton3D →

Why Newton 3D?

Unity’s 3D physics is powerful but can be verbose. Newton 3D streamlines common operations into single-line calls, letting you focus on gameplay instead of fighting with API documentation.

The Problem It Solves

Working with Unity’s Rigidbody requires remembering complex method signatures and writing repetitive code for common operations.

Before Newton 3D:

rigidbody.AddForce(new Vector3(10f, 0f, 5f), ForceMode.Force);
rigidbody.constraints = RigidbodyConstraints.FreezePositionX | RigidbodyConstraints.FreezeRotationY;

With Newton 3D:

Newton3D.ApplyForce(rigidbody, new Vector3(10f, 0f, 5f));
Newton3D.SetConstraints(rigidbody, true, false, false, false, true, false);

Key Features

Clear API

Methods are named intuitively: Jump(), ApplyTorque(), SetVelocity(). No more searching through Unity docs.

3D-Optimized

Designed specifically for 3D physics with full support for all three axes and rotations.

Zero Overhead

Newton 3D is a lightweight wrapper—it doesn’t add any performance cost to your game.

Complete Coverage

From basic forces to advanced constraint management, Newton 3D handles all common 3D physics operations.

What Newton 3D Provides

Movement & Forces:

• Apply forces in 3D space
• Set velocity vectors directly
• Simulate jumps with realistic physics
• Apply forces at specific positions

Rotation & Torque:

• Apply torque around any axis
• Control angular velocity
• Apply torque at specific positions
• Manage rotational physics

Damping & Drag:

• Linear damping for smooth deceleration
• Angular damping for rotation control
• Simulate air resistance in 3D space

Constraints:

• Freeze/unfreeze each position axis independently
• Lock/unlock each rotation axis
• Human-friendly constraint management (no bitwise operations needed)

When to Use Newton 3D

Perfect for:

• 3D action games with physics-based movement
• Racing games with vehicle physics
• First-person or third-person character controllers
• Physics puzzles and sandbox games
• Any 3D game using Unity’s physics system

You might not need it if:

• You’re building a 2D game (use Newton 2D instead)
• You’re not using Unity’s built-in physics
• You have a custom physics solution

Design Philosophy

Newton 3D is built on these principles:

1. Human-Readable: Methods describe intent, not implementation
2. Consistent API: Similar to Newton 2D but optimized for 3D space
3. Clear Parameters: Boolean flags instead of cryptic enums
4. Unity-Native: Works seamlessly with Unity’s physics system

Getting Started

Ready to clean up your 3D physics code? Check out the Quick Start guide for practical examples.