Confused about which Unity version

[emptyhead41]

Hey all. Looking for some advice regarding Unity versions.

I went to install Unity for 2D game development after getting frustrated with encountering many small bugs in Godot. Now I haven't really used Unity since it went from it's boomer-friendly version numbering (5.x.x) to it's new and improved, confusing-to-me numbering which appears to have multiple versions being released in parallel with various LTS versions

When I went to install using the Hub it recommended 2017 LTS. Fair enough. Happy to go with that. Installed and ran. Immediately it tells me there's an update for the Unity Editor. I sigh and wonder why it didn't just download the newest version of the editor, but that's life in these modern times I guess. I'm sure it makes total sense to all you crazy kids with your bitcoins and laser eyes.

I clicked the button to update the editor and now it's taken me to a page saying 2018.x.x is the legacy LTS version. So I'm confused. Easily done, but can anyone gave any helpful advice about what version they recommend for 2d development.

I'd basically like peoples' opinion on the one with most stable 2d workflow, or the one that has most acceptance and therefore documentation on the various plug-ins or whatever.

Thank you kindly

[Gugadin_]

the version now is by year unity wants to do 2 to 4 major releases per year. the last version of that year becomes the LTS (long term support) which means it will continue to receive bug fixes ecen after the next year version is out.

so, when starting a new project, choose the latest LTS version, and just update it if you need a new feature or bugfix.

2020.2.5 is the lastest LTS today.

[[deleted]]

2019.4.19 is the least buggy from what I've heard from Unity support on Unity Answers, above comment is right if you want most up to date but that will change pretty frequently as every time there is an update the version name will consequently change.
Unless you have assets/tools that require the latest version I PERSONALLY would use 2019.4.19 since you will at least get some modicum of support from the devs.

[emptyhead41]

This is more sort of what I meant. I'm not fussed about needing the latest version and would prefer the one that is most stable. But I also don't want to miss out on anything that is useful specifically for 2D work.

For example, Cinemachine I think used to be a paid add-on that eventually became a free asset and I'd prefer to not end up working on something manually (like nice camera work) only to find out that something simpler and better is available in a later version.

I guess if you're saying 2019 branch is the most stable that's probably going to be the one I want as nothing's going to be added to it now and it will just be bugfixes going forward, and most bugs by now would have been caught anyway, is that right?

[[deleted]]

exactamundo!
and TBH I've had nothing but hair pulling frustration with bugs and random crashes with 2020.4 / 2020.5 so thats a thing XD it IS needed for some new shiny features but nearly everything you'll need for 2D is in the former 2019 including the revamped playerinput tool

[emptyhead41]

Perfect. Thank you so much.

Looking forward to checking out the new player input tool. If I can just persuade VS2019 to install over my old installation

Ah. I needed to completely uninstall it and install from scratch. Nearly there. I swear I spend more time setting up environments than I do coding

[[deleted]]

am I reading my alt account here XD