How should I start learning to code games?

If you want to build games while learning, pick one engine and stick with it for a while. Godot with GDScript is a straightforward starting point, especially if you already know a little Python. Make tiny projects first, like Pong, a simple platformer, or a short exploration game. You’ll learn more by finishing a small game than by comparing engines for weeks.

For the programming fundamentals, use whichever language makes it easiest to keep practicing. If you already know some Python, build a few small programs with it, then move into a game engine when you’re ready. The core skills, such as breaking a problem into steps, working with data, and finding bugs, carry over. You don’t need to master several languages before making anything.

I’d start with 2D, not because 3D is off limits, but because it removes extra systems while you learn. In 2D you can focus on movement, collisions, input, and game rules. 3D adds things like camera control, lighting, and spatial math. Once you’ve made a small 2D game, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you want to tackle next.

Don’t treat graphics as something programming has to replace. Game code connects assets and rules: it can move a character, trigger an animation, play a sound, or react to a collision. You can use simple placeholder art at first. Learn enough about importing and organizing assets to make a playable prototype, then improve the visuals as needed.

Start using version control early, even for tiny experiments. It gives you a history of changes and a way back if a new idea breaks something. Keep projects small and files reasonably organized, and practice debugging as you go: read the error, check what values your code is using, and test one change at a time. Testing and debugging are part of programming, not a separate subject you have to finish first.