I'm learning Python and want to move on to making games, but game development feels a bit overwhelming and I'm worried it will take too long before I can build something on my own. Should I keep using Python and try a library like Pygame, or learn another language such as C#, C++, or C? I'm also interested in possibly making bots, so I'm unsure which direction makes the most sense.
4 Answers
You don’t necessarily need another language yet. Try Pygame with small projects such as Pong, Snake, or Tetris. Finishing a few simple games will teach you a lot and give you a clearer idea of what you actually need to learn next. Python can also work well for bots and many other projects.
Game development is challenging regardless of the language, so switching languages probably won’t make the first game appear faster. Start with a tiny Python project now, even if it’s just a basic 2D game. Once you run into limitations or decide you want a particular engine, you’ll have a much better basis for choosing between C#, C++, or something else.
There isn’t a fixed language progression where Python is followed by one specific language. If you want to use a game engine, choose the engine first: Unity generally means learning C#, while Unreal commonly uses C++. C# is usually the more approachable choice for getting started with a full game engine, while C++ is more difficult but useful for lower-level and high-performance development.
If your goal is to understand how computers and programming work at a lower level, C is a solid next step. It teaches memory, pointers, and how programs interact with the system without the extra complexity of a large engine or language. You can always move to C++ or another game-focused language later when you have a specific reason.
My main goals are making games and possibly creating bots, so I’ll start with a small Python game and decide on another language once I have a clearer direction.