diff --git a/examples/stress_tests/bevymark.rs b/examples/stress_tests/bevymark.rs
index d9cbe76a89315..4e2670ecabd9d 100644
--- a/examples/stress_tests/bevymark.rs
+++ b/examples/stress_tests/bevymark.rs
@@ -2,18 +2,24 @@
 //!
 //! Usage: spawn more entities by clicking on the screen.
 
+use std::str::FromStr;
+
+use argh::FromArgs;
 use bevy::{
     diagnostic::{DiagnosticsStore, FrameTimeDiagnosticsPlugin, LogDiagnosticsPlugin},
     prelude::*,
+    render::render_resource::{Extent3d, TextureDimension, TextureFormat},
+    sprite::{MaterialMesh2dBundle, Mesh2dHandle},
     window::{PresentMode, WindowResolution},
 };
-use rand::{rngs::StdRng, thread_rng, Rng, SeedableRng};
+use rand::{rngs::StdRng, seq::SliceRandom, Rng, SeedableRng};
 
 const BIRDS_PER_SECOND: u32 = 10000;
 const GRAVITY: f32 = -9.8 * 100.0;
 const MAX_VELOCITY: f32 = 750.;
 const BIRD_SCALE: f32 = 0.15;
-const HALF_BIRD_SIZE: f32 = 256. * BIRD_SCALE * 0.5;
+const BIRD_TEXTURE_SIZE: usize = 256;
+const HALF_BIRD_SIZE: f32 = BIRD_TEXTURE_SIZE as f32 * BIRD_SCALE * 0.5;
 
 #[derive(Resource)]
 struct BevyCounter {
@@ -26,7 +32,62 @@ struct Bird {
     velocity: Vec3,
 }
 
+#[derive(FromArgs, Resource)]
+/// `bevymark` sprite / 2D mesh stress test
+struct Args {
+    /// whether to use sprite or mesh2d
+    #[argh(option, default = "Mode::Sprite")]
+    mode: Mode,
+
+    /// whether to step animations by a fixed amount such that each frame is the same across runs.
+    /// If spawning waves, all are spawned up-front to immediately start rendering at the heaviest
+    /// load.
+    #[argh(switch)]
+    benchmark: bool,
+
+    /// how many birds to spawn per wave.
+    #[argh(option, default = "0")]
+    per_wave: usize,
+
+    /// the number of waves to spawn.
+    #[argh(option, default = "0")]
+    waves: usize,
+
+    /// whether to vary the material data in each instance.
+    #[argh(switch)]
+    vary_per_instance: bool,
+
+    /// the number of different textures from which to randomly select the material color. 0 means no textures.
+    #[argh(option, default = "1")]
+    material_texture_count: usize,
+}
+
+#[derive(Default, Clone)]
+enum Mode {
+    #[default]
+    Sprite,
+    Mesh2d,
+}
+
+impl FromStr for Mode {
+    type Err = String;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        match s {
+            "sprite" => Ok(Self::Sprite),
+            "mesh2d" => Ok(Self::Mesh2d),
+            _ => Err(format!(
+                "Unknown mode: '{s}', valid modes: 'sprite', 'mesh2d'"
+            )),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+const FIXED_TIMESTEP: f32 = 0.2;
+
 fn main() {
+    let args: Args = argh::from_env();
+
     App::new()
         .add_plugins((
             DefaultPlugins.set(WindowPlugin {
@@ -41,6 +102,7 @@ fn main() {
             FrameTimeDiagnosticsPlugin,
             LogDiagnosticsPlugin::default(),
         ))
+        .insert_resource(args)
         .insert_resource(BevyCounter {
             count: 0,
             color: Color::WHITE,
@@ -56,50 +118,93 @@ fn main() {
                 counter_system,
             ),
         )
-        .insert_resource(FixedTime::new_from_secs(0.2))
+        .insert_resource(FixedTime::new_from_secs(FIXED_TIMESTEP))
         .run();
 }
 
 #[derive(Resource)]
 struct BirdScheduled {
-    wave: usize,
+    waves: usize,
     per_wave: usize,
 }
 
 fn scheduled_spawner(
     mut commands: Commands,
+    args: Res<Args>,
     windows: Query<&Window>,
     mut scheduled: ResMut<BirdScheduled>,
     mut counter: ResMut<BevyCounter>,
-    bird_texture: Res<BirdTexture>,
+    bird_resources: ResMut<BirdResources>,
 ) {
     let window = windows.single();
 
-    if scheduled.wave > 0 {
+    if scheduled.waves > 0 {
+        let bird_resources = bird_resources.into_inner();
         spawn_birds(
             &mut commands,
+            args.into_inner(),
             &window.resolution,
             &mut counter,
             scheduled.per_wave,
-            bird_texture.clone_weak(),
+            bird_resources,
+            None,
+            scheduled.waves - 1,
         );
 
-        let mut rng = thread_rng();
-        counter.color = Color::rgb_linear(rng.gen(), rng.gen(), rng.gen());
-        scheduled.wave -= 1;
+        scheduled.waves -= 1;
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Resource, Deref)]
-struct BirdTexture(Handle<Image>);
+#[derive(Resource)]
+struct BirdResources {
+    textures: Vec<Handle<Image>>,
+    materials: Vec<Handle<ColorMaterial>>,
+    quad: Mesh2dHandle,
+    color_rng: StdRng,
+    material_rng: StdRng,
+    velocity_rng: StdRng,
+}
 
 #[derive(Component)]
 struct StatsText;
 
-fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn setup(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    args: Res<Args>,
+    asset_server: Res<AssetServer>,
+    mut meshes: ResMut<Assets<Mesh>>,
+    material_assets: ResMut<Assets<ColorMaterial>>,
+    images: ResMut<Assets<Image>>,
+    windows: Query<&Window>,
+    counter: ResMut<BevyCounter>,
+) {
     warn!(include_str!("warning_string.txt"));
 
-    let texture = asset_server.load("branding/icon.png");
+    let args = args.into_inner();
+    let images = images.into_inner();
+
+    let mut textures = Vec::with_capacity(args.material_texture_count.max(1));
+    if matches!(args.mode, Mode::Sprite) || args.material_texture_count > 0 {
+        textures.push(asset_server.load("branding/icon.png"));
+    }
+    init_textures(&mut textures, args, images);
+
+    let material_assets = material_assets.into_inner();
+    let materials = init_materials(args, &textures, material_assets);
+
+    let mut bird_resources = BirdResources {
+        textures,
+        materials,
+        quad: meshes
+            .add(Mesh::from(shape::Quad::new(Vec2::splat(
+                BIRD_TEXTURE_SIZE as f32,
+            ))))
+            .into(),
+        color_rng: StdRng::seed_from_u64(42),
+        material_rng: StdRng::seed_from_u64(42),
+        velocity_rng: StdRng::seed_from_u64(42),
+    };
 
     let text_section = move |color, value: &str| {
         TextSection::new(
@@ -113,51 +218,77 @@ fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
     };
 
     commands.spawn(Camera2dBundle::default());
-    commands.spawn((
-        TextBundle::from_sections([
-            text_section(Color::GREEN, "Bird Count"),
-            text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
-            text_section(Color::GREEN, "\nFPS (raw): "),
-            text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
-            text_section(Color::GREEN, "\nFPS (SMA): "),
-            text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
-            text_section(Color::GREEN, "\nFPS (EMA): "),
-            text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
-        ])
-        .with_style(Style {
-            position_type: PositionType::Absolute,
-            top: Val::Px(5.0),
-            left: Val::Px(5.0),
+    commands
+        .spawn(NodeBundle {
+            style: Style {
+                position_type: PositionType::Absolute,
+                padding: UiRect::all(Val::Px(5.0)),
+                ..default()
+            },
+            z_index: ZIndex::Global(i32::MAX),
+            background_color: Color::BLACK.with_a(0.75).into(),
             ..default()
-        }),
-        StatsText,
-    ));
-
-    commands.insert_resource(BirdTexture(texture));
-    commands.insert_resource(BirdScheduled {
-        per_wave: std::env::args()
-            .nth(1)
-            .and_then(|arg| arg.parse::<usize>().ok())
-            .unwrap_or_default(),
-        wave: std::env::args()
-            .nth(2)
-            .and_then(|arg| arg.parse::<usize>().ok())
-            .unwrap_or(1),
-    });
+        })
+        .with_children(|c| {
+            c.spawn((
+                TextBundle::from_sections([
+                    text_section(Color::GREEN, "Bird Count: "),
+                    text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
+                    text_section(Color::GREEN, "\nFPS (raw): "),
+                    text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
+                    text_section(Color::GREEN, "\nFPS (SMA): "),
+                    text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
+                    text_section(Color::GREEN, "\nFPS (EMA): "),
+                    text_section(Color::CYAN, ""),
+                ]),
+                StatsText,
+            ));
+        });
+
+    let mut scheduled = BirdScheduled {
+        per_wave: args.per_wave,
+        waves: args.waves,
+    };
+
+    if args.benchmark {
+        let counter = counter.into_inner();
+        for wave in (0..scheduled.waves).rev() {
+            spawn_birds(
+                &mut commands,
+                args,
+                &windows.single().resolution,
+                counter,
+                scheduled.per_wave,
+                &mut bird_resources,
+                Some(wave),
+                wave,
+            );
+        }
+        scheduled.waves = 0;
+    }
+    commands.insert_resource(bird_resources);
+    commands.insert_resource(scheduled);
 }
 
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn mouse_handler(
     mut commands: Commands,
+    args: Res<Args>,
     time: Res<Time>,
     mouse_button_input: Res<Input<MouseButton>>,
     windows: Query<&Window>,
-    bird_texture: Res<BirdTexture>,
+    bird_resources: ResMut<BirdResources>,
     mut counter: ResMut<BevyCounter>,
+    mut rng: Local<Option<StdRng>>,
+    mut wave: Local<usize>,
 ) {
+    if rng.is_none() {
+        *rng = Some(StdRng::seed_from_u64(42));
+    }
+    let rng = rng.as_mut().unwrap();
     let window = windows.single();
 
     if mouse_button_input.just_released(MouseButton::Left) {
-        let mut rng = thread_rng();
         counter.color = Color::rgb_linear(rng.gen(), rng.gen(), rng.gen());
     }
 
@@ -165,83 +296,192 @@ fn mouse_handler(
         let spawn_count = (BIRDS_PER_SECOND as f64 * time.delta_seconds_f64()) as usize;
         spawn_birds(
             &mut commands,
+            args.into_inner(),
             &window.resolution,
             &mut counter,
             spawn_count,
-            bird_texture.clone_weak(),
+            bird_resources.into_inner(),
+            None,
+            *wave,
         );
+        *wave += 1;
+    }
+}
+
+fn bird_velocity_transform(
+    half_extents: Vec2,
+    mut translation: Vec3,
+    velocity_rng: &mut StdRng,
+    waves: Option<usize>,
+    dt: f32,
+) -> (Transform, Vec3) {
+    let mut velocity = Vec3::new(MAX_VELOCITY * (velocity_rng.gen::<f32>() - 0.5), 0., 0.);
+
+    if let Some(waves) = waves {
+        // Step the movement and handle collisions as if the wave had been spawned at fixed time intervals
+        // and with dt-spaced frames of simulation
+        for _ in 0..(waves * (FIXED_TIMESTEP / dt).round() as usize) {
+            step_movement(&mut translation, &mut velocity, dt);
+            handle_collision(half_extents, &translation, &mut velocity);
+        }
     }
+    (
+        Transform::from_translation(translation).with_scale(Vec3::splat(BIRD_SCALE)),
+        velocity,
+    )
 }
 
+const FIXED_DELTA_TIME: f32 = 1.0 / 60.0;
+
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn spawn_birds(
     commands: &mut Commands,
+    args: &Args,
     primary_window_resolution: &WindowResolution,
     counter: &mut BevyCounter,
     spawn_count: usize,
-    texture: Handle<Image>,
+    bird_resources: &mut BirdResources,
+    waves_to_simulate: Option<usize>,
+    wave: usize,
 ) {
     let bird_x = (primary_window_resolution.width() / -2.) + HALF_BIRD_SIZE;
     let bird_y = (primary_window_resolution.height() / 2.) - HALF_BIRD_SIZE;
 
-    let mut rng = StdRng::from_entropy();
+    let half_extents = 0.5
+        * Vec2::new(
+            primary_window_resolution.width(),
+            primary_window_resolution.height(),
+        );
 
     let color = counter.color;
     let current_count = counter.count;
 
-    commands.spawn_batch((0..spawn_count).map(move |count| {
-        let velocity_x = rng.gen::<f32>() * MAX_VELOCITY - (MAX_VELOCITY * 0.5);
-        let bird_z = (current_count + count) as f32 * 0.00001;
-        (
-            SpriteBundle {
-                texture: texture.clone(),
-                transform: Transform {
-                    translation: Vec3::new(bird_x, bird_y, bird_z),
-                    scale: Vec3::splat(BIRD_SCALE),
-                    ..default()
-                },
-                sprite: Sprite { color, ..default() },
-                ..default()
-            },
-            Bird {
-                velocity: Vec3::new(velocity_x, 0., 0.),
-            },
-        )
-    }));
+    match args.mode {
+        Mode::Sprite => {
+            let batch = (0..spawn_count)
+                .map(|count| {
+                    let bird_z = (current_count + count) as f32 * 0.00001;
+                    let (transform, velocity) = bird_velocity_transform(
+                        half_extents,
+                        Vec3::new(bird_x, bird_y, bird_z),
+                        &mut bird_resources.velocity_rng,
+                        waves_to_simulate,
+                        FIXED_DELTA_TIME,
+                    );
+
+                    let color = if args.vary_per_instance {
+                        Color::rgb_linear(
+                            bird_resources.color_rng.gen(),
+                            bird_resources.color_rng.gen(),
+                            bird_resources.color_rng.gen(),
+                        )
+                    } else {
+                        color
+                    };
+                    (
+                        SpriteBundle {
+                            texture: bird_resources
+                                .textures
+                                .choose(&mut bird_resources.material_rng)
+                                .unwrap()
+                                .clone(),
+                            transform,
+                            sprite: Sprite { color, ..default() },
+                            ..default()
+                        },
+                        Bird { velocity },
+                    )
+                })
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            commands.spawn_batch(batch);
+        }
+        Mode::Mesh2d => {
+            let batch = (0..spawn_count)
+                .map(|count| {
+                    let bird_z = (current_count + count) as f32 * 0.00001;
+                    let (transform, velocity) = bird_velocity_transform(
+                        half_extents,
+                        Vec3::new(bird_x, bird_y, bird_z),
+                        &mut bird_resources.velocity_rng,
+                        waves_to_simulate,
+                        FIXED_DELTA_TIME,
+                    );
+
+                    let material =
+                        if args.vary_per_instance || args.material_texture_count > args.waves {
+                            bird_resources
+                                .materials
+                                .choose(&mut bird_resources.material_rng)
+                                .unwrap()
+                                .clone()
+                        } else {
+                            bird_resources.materials[wave % bird_resources.materials.len()].clone()
+                        };
+                    (
+                        MaterialMesh2dBundle {
+                            mesh: bird_resources.quad.clone(),
+                            material,
+                            transform,
+                            ..default()
+                        },
+                        Bird { velocity },
+                    )
+                })
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            commands.spawn_batch(batch);
+        }
+    }
 
     counter.count += spawn_count;
+    counter.color = Color::rgb_linear(
+        bird_resources.color_rng.gen(),
+        bird_resources.color_rng.gen(),
+        bird_resources.color_rng.gen(),
+    );
+}
+
+fn step_movement(translation: &mut Vec3, velocity: &mut Vec3, dt: f32) {
+    translation.x += velocity.x * dt;
+    translation.y += velocity.y * dt;
+    velocity.y += GRAVITY * dt;
 }
 
-fn movement_system(time: Res<Time>, mut bird_query: Query<(&mut Bird, &mut Transform)>) {
+fn movement_system(
+    args: Res<Args>,
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    mut bird_query: Query<(&mut Bird, &mut Transform)>,
+) {
+    let dt = if args.benchmark {
+        FIXED_DELTA_TIME
+    } else {
+        time.delta_seconds()
+    };
     for (mut bird, mut transform) in &mut bird_query {
-        transform.translation.x += bird.velocity.x * time.delta_seconds();
-        transform.translation.y += bird.velocity.y * time.delta_seconds();
-        bird.velocity.y += GRAVITY * time.delta_seconds();
+        step_movement(&mut transform.translation, &mut bird.velocity, dt);
     }
 }
 
+fn handle_collision(half_extents: Vec2, translation: &Vec3, velocity: &mut Vec3) {
+    if (velocity.x > 0. && translation.x + HALF_BIRD_SIZE > half_extents.x)
+        || (velocity.x <= 0. && translation.x - HALF_BIRD_SIZE < -(half_extents.x))
+    {
+        velocity.x = -velocity.x;
+    }
+    let velocity_y = velocity.y;
+    if velocity_y < 0. && translation.y - HALF_BIRD_SIZE < -half_extents.y {
+        velocity.y = -velocity_y;
+    }
+    if translation.y + HALF_BIRD_SIZE > half_extents.y && velocity_y > 0.0 {
+        velocity.y = 0.0;
+    }
+}
 fn collision_system(windows: Query<&Window>, mut bird_query: Query<(&mut Bird, &Transform)>) {
     let window = windows.single();
 
-    let half_width = window.width() * 0.5;
-    let half_height = window.height() * 0.5;
+    let half_extents = 0.5 * Vec2::new(window.width(), window.height());
 
     for (mut bird, transform) in &mut bird_query {
-        let x_vel = bird.velocity.x;
-        let y_vel = bird.velocity.y;
-        let x_pos = transform.translation.x;
-        let y_pos = transform.translation.y;
-
-        if (x_vel > 0. && x_pos + HALF_BIRD_SIZE > half_width)
-            || (x_vel <= 0. && x_pos - HALF_BIRD_SIZE < -(half_width))
-        {
-            bird.velocity.x = -x_vel;
-        }
-        if y_vel < 0. && y_pos - HALF_BIRD_SIZE < -half_height {
-            bird.velocity.y = -y_vel;
-        }
-        if y_pos + HALF_BIRD_SIZE > half_height && y_vel > 0.0 {
-            bird.velocity.y = 0.0;
-        }
+        handle_collision(half_extents, &transform.translation, &mut bird.velocity);
     }
 }
 
@@ -268,3 +508,53 @@ fn counter_system(
         }
     };
 }
+
+fn init_textures(textures: &mut Vec<Handle<Image>>, args: &Args, images: &mut Assets<Image>) {
+    let mut color_rng = StdRng::seed_from_u64(42);
+    while textures.len() < args.material_texture_count {
+        let pixel = [color_rng.gen(), color_rng.gen(), color_rng.gen(), 255];
+        textures.push(images.add(Image::new_fill(
+            Extent3d {
+                width: BIRD_TEXTURE_SIZE as u32,
+                height: BIRD_TEXTURE_SIZE as u32,
+                depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+            },
+            TextureDimension::D2,
+            &pixel,
+            TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb,
+        )));
+    }
+}
+
+fn init_materials(
+    args: &Args,
+    textures: &[Handle<Image>],
+    assets: &mut Assets<ColorMaterial>,
+) -> Vec<Handle<ColorMaterial>> {
+    let capacity = if args.vary_per_instance {
+        args.per_wave * args.waves
+    } else {
+        args.material_texture_count.max(args.waves)
+    }
+    .max(1);
+
+    let mut materials = Vec::with_capacity(capacity);
+    materials.push(assets.add(ColorMaterial {
+        color: Color::WHITE,
+        texture: textures.get(0).cloned(),
+    }));
+
+    let mut color_rng = StdRng::seed_from_u64(42);
+    let mut texture_rng = StdRng::seed_from_u64(42);
+    materials.extend(
+        std::iter::repeat_with(|| {
+            assets.add(ColorMaterial {
+                color: Color::rgb_u8(color_rng.gen(), color_rng.gen(), color_rng.gen()),
+                texture: textures.choose(&mut texture_rng).cloned(),
+            })
+        })
+        .take(capacity - materials.len()),
+    );
+
+    materials
+}
diff --git a/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs b/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs
index 29efbfda2c2f8..218757e471c79 100644
--- a/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs
+++ b/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ struct Args {
 
     /// whether to vary the material data in each instance.
     #[argh(switch)]
-    vary_material_data: bool,
+    vary_per_instance: bool,
 
     /// the number of different textures from which to randomly select the material base color. 0 means no textures.
     #[argh(option, default = "0")]
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ fn init_materials(
     textures: &[Handle<Image>],
     assets: &mut Assets<StandardMaterial>,
 ) -> Vec<Handle<StandardMaterial>> {
-    let capacity = if args.vary_material_data {
+    let capacity = if args.vary_per_instance {
         match args.layout {
             Layout::Cube => (WIDTH - WIDTH / 10) * (HEIGHT - HEIGHT / 10),
             Layout::Sphere => WIDTH * HEIGHT * 4,