I'm a teenager who recently became interested in coding, but I'm not sure where to start because there are so many programming languages. I'd especially like to make mods for games or eventually create video games. Which language would be the most useful to learn first? I've also been considering modding The Sims, if that affects the recommendation.
4 Answers
For modding, the best language depends on the specific game. Minecraft mods commonly use Java, while other games may use Lua, C#, or something else. If you’re interested in The Sims, look up the tools and modding system for the particular Sims game you want to modify before choosing a language.
Lua is also worth considering because it’s embedded in a lot of games and applications, especially for scripting and modding. C++, Java, and C# are useful in game development too, but starting with a smaller project in any accessible language is more important than picking the theoretically best one.
For making games, a good beginner-friendly route is to choose an engine and learn the language it uses. Unity uses C#, Unreal commonly uses C++, and Godot uses GDScript, which has a Python-like style. Any of these can be a solid starting point, so choose an engine whose games and workflow appeal to you.
Don’t worry too much about finding the one perfect language. Programming fundamentals—variables, loops, functions, objects, and problem-solving—carry over between languages. Once you understand those ideas, learning another language is much easier. The most useful choice is usually the one connected to a project you’re excited to build.
Thanks! I was thinking about modding The Sims, so I’ll check what that game uses.