My 10-year-old is excited about creating a video game but has no programming experience yet. I understand that they'll need to learn the fundamentals first and that making a complete game could take years. There are so many options—Scratch, Python, game engines, and game-specific tools—that I'm not sure which path is most suitable for a beginner their age. What would be a good starting point, and how should they progress toward making simple games?
4 Answers
Scratch is probably the best place to begin. It’s designed for children, uses visual blocks instead of complicated syntax, and teaches core ideas like variables, loops, conditions, and events. It also lets them make small interactive projects quickly, which can keep the learning process fun.
A gradual path could be Scratch first, then Python once they’re comfortable with the basics. With Python and Pygame, they can start with tiny projects such as a guessing game, display graphics, animate objects, add keyboard controls, and eventually build a simple 2D game. The important thing is to experiment and keep the projects small; even a basic game may take several months of practice.
That sounds like a manageable progression. They’re interested in Minecraft and Roblox too, so we may also look at beginner-friendly ways to modify or create things in those environments.
Unity can be useful later because there are many beginner tutorials and it supports small 2D projects as well as larger games. However, jumping straight into a professional engine—or into C++ and complex tools—may create unnecessary frustration for a 10-year-old with no programming background. Begin with an accessible environment, then move to an engine when they have a specific project in mind.
It helps to set expectations about scope. A complete video game involves programming, artwork, sound, design, story, and level progression, so a simple 2D project is a much better first goal than a large 3D game. Start with programming exercises and tiny games such as Hangman, Pong, or a basic platformer, then build up from there. Books, structured online courses, and local classes can all work if they’re aimed at children or complete beginners.
I agree. Scratch focuses on programming concepts without making a beginner struggle with punctuation and syntax first.