Creating games is not exactly for the faint of heart. However, this should not stop aspiring game developers from trying to learn the process. As many in the GameDev developer community have said, the key is to apply learnings by building small projects. It is a more reasonable approach than just studying theory or immediately aiming for the complex ones. Similarly, other starting developers advise their peers to begin by making different simple games to establish a foundation.
More importantly, learning game development can be both exciting and demanding. And there are many ways to do this. With that in mind, check out this article to find practical coding challenges.
10 Coding Challenges for Beginners
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Create a Text-Based Adventure
A good starting point is a simple story-driven game in Python or JavaScript. It is best to first focus on input, branching logic, and managing game state.
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Build a 2D Platformer
Create a side-scrolling game using gaming engines like Unity, Unreal, or Godot. This will assist in learning physics, collision detection, and player movement.
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Develop a Pong Clone
Recreating the classic Pong helps practice object movement, scoring, and simple Artificial Intelligence.
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Make a Clicker or Idle Game
Design a tap-based game with upgrades and progress tracking. It will teach UI design, data handling, and progression systems.
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Do a Simple Puzzle Game
Building a tile-matching or logic puzzle helps learn the game loop, event handling, and player feedback.
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Program an AI Opponent
Try adding a computer-controlled character that makes choices and performs other tasks.
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Build a Physics-Based System
Experiment with gravity and bouncing movements to see how physics engines work.
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Create a Scoring and Leaderboard System
Design a feature that records scores, saves progress, and ranks players. Doing this develops mastery in data persistence.
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Make a Game with Procedural Generation
Generate content using procedural generation, such as levels, terrains, and environments, to explore algorithms.
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Finish and Polish a Small Game
Complete a full mini project. It will strengthen discipline and workflow.
Go the Extra Mile
If the list of coding challenges seems too challenging, then start with the very basics.
According to Built In, several games can help developers hone coding skills. Some of them are CodeCombat, CodeMonkey Jr., and Flexbox Froggy.
Also, developers can try CodinGame. It is an interactive learning platform that offers multiple games for improving coding skills.
Leveling Up as a Game Developer
Each challenge contributes new learnings and experiences. This list of coding challenges provides a solid roadmap for beginners. Every small project is one step closer to mastering game development. Don’t sweat if you’re still in the basics. Remember: learn to walk before you run.
