Gone are the days when learning coding meant flipping through thick tutorial books or sitting in boring classrooms listening to lectures. With the rise of technology and interactive learning, learning to code has become much more interactive and exciting than ever before. In 2024, a plethora of gaming platforms enable users to use their coding skills to advance in the game.

Not only are these games a lot of fun, but they also help users to retain knowledge better through interactive learning. In this blog, we will discuss some of the best games to learn coding that will keep you engaged and motivated.

Some of these gaming platforms are aimed at children. Nevertheless, there are some great coding platforms aimed at Adults who want to learn to code but don’t wanna reduce themselves to traditional methods.

1. Robocode

Robocode is a free, open-source Java-based programming game that allows users to code their own robot tanks and pit them against each other in a virtual arena. Your role is to write the artificial intelligence, that drives your robot to success using programming languages.

The game is an excellent way for beginners to learn coding as it teaches the basics of programming, including control statements, loops, and functions. Robocode supports several programming languages, including Java, C#, and Python.

The Robocode installer comes with a development environment built-in robot editor and Java compiler. Despite launching back in 2000, Robocode is still regularly updated and maintained helped along with the fact that it’s open source and addictive.

2. CodinGame

CodinGame is a free online platform that offers a wide range of programming challenges that range from beginner to advanced levels. The platform supports over 25 programming languages, including Java, Python, and C++.

The challenges cover a broad range of topics such as algorithms, data structures, and artificial intelligence. The platform also offers a multiplayer mode, allowing users to compete against other users and test their coding skills.

The reason this platform ranks top on almost every list of “Best Games to learn to program” is the fact that it is developed by top developers and enables players to learn new languages, tricks, and algorithms quickly. Secondly, it allows players to compete in International contests to show off their coding skills and enables top companies to see their profiles.

3. Screeps

Screeps is an MMO-Sandbox strategy game that allows users to control their own colony of creatures. Users write code to control the behavior of these creatures and compete against other users. The game is designed to teach users how to code in JavaScript and provides a fun and interactive way to learn the language. Screeps is a paid platform, but it offers a free trial for users to try out the platform before subscribing.

This is a serious programming game that assumes you already know some basic programming and you can control your units using real-life programming languages. Screeps came out back in 2017 and is still actively maintained. It’s currently sitting at an 89 positive rating on Steam with more than 1 000 reviews which makes it one of the more acclaimed games on the entire Steam platform.

Read: What are the top programming languages to learn Game Development?

4. TIS-100

TIS-100 is a puzzle game that teaches users how to program a fictional computer. The game uses assembly language, and users must complete various programming tasks such as sorting data, decrypting messages, and creating algorithms. The game is challenging and designed for users who have some experience with programming.

It’s a programming puzzle video game developed by Zachtronics Industries. TIS 100 is a video game like no other forcing you to learn and use a mock version of low-level assembly code to solve its puzzles. The game has the player develops assembly language code to perform certain tasks on a fictional virtualized 1970s computer that has been corrupted.

This game is not a joke it’s difficult and open-ended and it has incredible replay value as long as you don’t become so frustrated and confused that you uninstall in a fit of rage. TIS-100 is a paid platform, but it offers a free demo for users to try out the game before subscribing.

5. Code Monkey

CodeMonkey is a fun and interactive gaming platform that is specifically designed for children. The platform teaches kids how to code by solving puzzles that require the use of programming concepts such as loops, conditionals, and functions. The platform uses a visual programming language that makes coding easy and fun for kids. CodeMonkey is a paid platform, but it offers a free trial for users to try out the platform before subscribing.

After completing Code Monkey’s award-winning coding courses you will be able to navigate through the programming world with a sense of confidence and accomplishment. This environment also offers educational resources for students of different grades and experience levels- From code Monkey Junior to banana tails students not only learn coding basics but also how to code in real programming languages.

6. HackerKid

HackerKid is a gamified learning platform developed by GUVI that aims to teach kids programming in a fun and interactive way. The platform is designed to make learning coding easy and engaging for children, with its unique approach to learning through games and challenges.

With HackerKid, children can learn to code through interactive videos, and games such as The Turtle, Zombieland, WebKata trilogy, and Coding Pirates that make the learning experience both exciting and informative.

HackerKid offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and more. HackerKid’s unique gamified approach to learning has been proven to be effective in helping children retain information.

By making learning fun and interactive, children are more likely to stay engaged and motivated, leading to better retention of knowledge. The platform also offers a safe and supportive environment for children to learn, with its dedicated community of mentors and instructors who provide support and guidance throughout the learning process.

7. Human Resource Machine

Human resource machine is a visual programming-based puzzle video game developed by Tomorrow Corporation. The human resource machine uses the concept of a corporate office worker assigned to perform tasks that involve moving objects between an inbox and outbox, and to and from storage areas as a metaphor for assembly language concepts.

The player works through some 40 puzzles in constructing a program to complete a specific task in a sense this game is all about puzzle solving through visual programming even going as far as to touch on concepts like logical flow and memory management but presented in an easy-to-digest office-themed way. It’s a great game for exercising your programmer’s brain and may even make a good coding game for kids too. It’s available for mobile versions, and you can download it on Google Playstore.

8. GitHub Minesweepers

GitHub Minesweeper is a nostalgic revival game with a touch of a coding learning curve. It is a game that combines the classic Minesweeper game with coding challenges. Users must use their programming skills to solve the game’s challenges, such as creating an algorithm to flag all the mines on the board. The game is designed for users who have some experience with programming and is free to play on GitHub.

9. Flexbox Zombie

Flexbox Zombies is an online game that teaches users how to use the CSS Flexbox layout. The game is designed to help users learn the Flexbox layout in a fun and interactive way, making it an excellent resource for web developers who want to improve their front-end development skills. The game consists of a series of challenges that teach users how to use Flexbox properties to solve problems and build layouts.

With its engaging gameplay and easy-to-follow instructions, Flexbox Zombies is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to learn or improve their CSS Flexbox skills. The game is free to play and can be accessed online. Created by David Geddes, the game offers awesome visuals, great soundtracks, and an engaging storyline to make it a complete package.

Launched in 2017, the game acts as a training course driven by a storyline where you use Flexbox and a crossbow to hunt zombies. To learn the inner workings of Flexbox Zombie, we suggest you read this Medium article.

10. Elevator Saga

Elevator Saga is a game that teaches users how to program a set of elevators to efficiently transport passengers to their desired floors. It’s a game with minimalistic graphics stats and a code editor. In the Elevator Saga, you program a series of elevators to handle increasingly large loads of passengers through its 19 challenges. You are challenged to improve the algorithm to transport the requisite number of people in the given time and when you succeed you can move on to the next challenge.

Later on, you get to work with multiple elevators as well and then it gets really interesting. There are no prizes but the intrinsic reward is in showing that you can invent an algorithm that works. This game will give you a lot of JavaScript practice, it will also force you to get creative and experiment with optimization approaches as well. It’s a free game that users can play online.

Notable Mentions in best games to learn to code

Here are a few notable mentions.

11. Swift Playgrounds

Swift Playgrounds is a free iPad app, designed by Apple that teaches users how to code in Swift, Apple’s programming language. The app features a range of interactive coding challenges that teach basic programming concepts such as loops, conditionals, and functions. The app also features a playground feature, allowing users to experiment with coding and see the results in real time.

12. Duskers

Duskers is a game that resembles shell scripting. You play as a programmer who is stranded in space and running low on supplies. You have to dock with abandoned space vessels and then scavenge them but you can’t interact with these ships directly, instead, you control a team of drones each with their own abilities, and tell them how to explore these ships.

And yes, there are also monsters on the ships that will destroy your drones if you’re not careful. This game is controlled entirely by typing into a command line interface (CLI). As the game is real-time in nature which can lead to some intense moments of rapidly typing commands as you try to save your drones from danger.

The game is designed to teach users how to program in Python and provides a fun and interactive way to learn the language. Duskers is a paid platform, but it offers a free demo for users to try out the game before subscribing.

In Closing

And with this, we wrap up our list of best games to learn to code.

There are many fun and interactive ways to learn coding in 2024, and these gaming platforms are just a few examples. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience with programming, these platforms provide a fun and engaging way to learn and improve your coding skills.

FAQs

Are these games suitable for beginners who have no prior coding experience?

Yes, these games are designed to cater to all skill levels, including beginners with no prior coding experience. They offer step-by-step instructions and a gradual learning curve to help users learn coding concepts from scratch.

Are these games free to play?

Most of these games offer a free version, but some may have limitations or require payment to unlock certain features or levels. It’s always a good idea to check the pricing options before selecting a game to ensure that it fits your budget.

Which programming languages do these games support?

Each game supports a different set of programming languages, but most of them cover popular languages such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It’s important to check the game’s description or website to confirm which languages are supported before starting the game.