10 Best Programming Languages for Game Development

So you want to make video games for a living? It’s certainly not a bad dream job, and the programming languages you use to make your dreams a reality can vary. Here are our top 10 best programming languages for game development!

Note that this list is in no particular order – every language has its own strengths and weaknesses. But all of them will help you create incredible gaming experiences! Happy coding!

Table of Contents

What is game development and what do you need to get started

Game development is the process of designing, creating, testing, and publishing video games. It can be a very challenging process, but with the right tools, it can also be a lot of fun!

In order to get started in game development, you’ll need some basic programming knowledge as well as some experience in game design.

There are many different programming languages you can use for game development, but some are better suited for this type of project than others.

In general, the more popular languages such as C++ and Java are good choices, but there are also some lesser-known options that could be a good fit for your specific needs. Let’s explore the best programming languages for game development!

The basics of game programming languages

When it comes to game development, there are three main programming languages you need to know: C++, Java, and Unity.

These languages are the most popular for game development for a variety of reasons – they’re powerful, versatile, and relatively easy to learn.

C++ is a powerful language that can be used for a variety of purposes, including game development. It’s a little more difficult to learn than some of the other languages on this list, but it’s worth it because of its flexibility.

Java is another popular language for game development that is also very versatile. It’s not as powerful as C++, but it’s much easier to learn and use.

Unity is a game engine that allows you to create games using C# or JavaScript. It’s not a programming language per see, but it’s still an important tool for game developers.

How to choose the right language for your needs

So which programming language should you use for game development? The answer to that question depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you want maximum flexibility and power, then you should probably choose C++.

If you’re looking for a language that is easy to learn and versatile, then Java would be a good choice. And if you’re interested in using Unity, then you’ll need to learn either C# or JavaScript.

Game development kits for game programming

For game developers, game development kits (GDKs) are an essential tool. They provide the necessary tools and libraries for game programming, making it possible to create sophisticated games with ease.

GDKs also allow developers to share their work with others, making it possible to collaborate on game development projects.

There are a wide variety of GDKs available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. However, the most popular GDKs are Unity3D and Unreal Engine 4.

These two engines are used by many professional game developers and offer a wide range of features and capabilities.

In general, Unreal Engine 4 is more powerful and versatile than Unity3D, but it is also more complex and difficult to use. As a result, Unity3D is often the better choice for beginner and intermediate game developers.

Top 10 best programming languages to learn for game development

C++
Java
C#
HTML5
JavaScript
Python
Unreal Script
Lua
GameMaker Language (GML)
Swift

1) C++ for Game Development

C++ is a powerful programming language that enables developers to create high-quality games. C++ offers many features that make it ideal for game development, including performance, cross-platform compatibility, and a large selection of libraries.

C++ is a powerful programming language that enables developers to create rich and immersive game worlds.

C++ provides developers with the ability to create large and complex game engines, and its flexibility allows for the development of games across multiple genres. C++ is also an efficient language, which is important for developing games that run smoothly on a variety of devices.

C++ also provides developers with a wide range of tools, which can be used to create both 2D and 3D games.

In addition, C++ is relatively easy to learn, making it a good choice for developers who are new to game development. Overall, C++ is an excellent choice for game development and offers numerous benefits for developers.

Why is C++ used in game development?

C++ is a powerful programming language that is widely used in game development.
C++ provides game developers with the ability to create highly efficient and sophisticated games.
C++ also enables developers to create games that run on multiple platforms, including PCs, consoles, and mobile devices.
In addition, C++ helps to create games with stunning visuals and audio.
C++ is also used in game development because it is easy to learn and use.
As a result, C++ has become the programming language of choice for many game developers.

C++ Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

1. Unreal Engine 4

2. Unity3D

3. GameMaker Studio

4. Cocos2d-x

5. LibGDX

Popular Games Made with C++

1. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

2. XCOM 2

3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

4. Rocket League

5. Stardew Valley

6. Batman: Arkham Asylum

2) Java for Game Development

Java is a versatile programming language that is widely used in game development. Java enables developers to create high-quality games with ease and offers a wide range of features that make it ideal for game development.

In addition, Java is cross-platform compatible, which makes it possible to develop games that can be run on a variety of devices. Java also has a large community of developers, which makes it easy to find help and advice when needed.

Overall, Java is an excellent choice for game development and offers many benefits for developers.

Why is Java used in game development?

1. Java is a versatile language: Java is a versatile language that can be used for a variety of purposes. While it is most commonly used for developing web applications, it can also be used for developing desktop applications, mobile applications, and even video games.

2. Java is easy to learn: One of the reasons why Java is so popular is because it is relatively easy to learn compared to other programming languages. This makes it a great choice for beginners who are just starting out in game development.

3. Java has a large community: Another reason why Java is a good choice for game development is that it has a large community of developers who are always willing to help out newcomers. This means that if you run into any problems while developing your game, you can always ask for help from experienced developers.

4. Java is platform-independent: One of the great things about Java is that it is platform-independent, which means that your game will be able to run on any operating system that supports Java. This makes it very easy to distribute your game to a wide audience.

5. There are many tools and libraries available for Java development: There are also many different tools and libraries available for Java development, which makes it easier to develop games with complex graphics and gameplay mechanics.

Java Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Java SE
Java ME
Java EE
LWJGL
JOGL
Android
RoboVM

Popular Games Made with Java

Minecraft
Temple Run
Angry Birds
Candy Crush Saga
Clash of Clans

3) C# for Game Development

C# is a powerful programming language that is perfect for game development. C# enables developers to create high-performance games that are rich in graphics and gameplay.

C# also provides a great deal of flexibility, allowing developers to tailor their games to fit their unique vision.

C# is an easy language to learn, and its syntax is clean and straightforward. As a result, C# is a great choice for developers who want to create cutting-edge games.

Why is C# used in game development?

1. C# is a versatile language that can be used for a variety of purposes, including game development.

2. C# is easy to learn and use, making it a good choice for game developers who are just starting out.

3. C# is an object-oriented language, which means that it is well-suited for developing complex games.

4. C# has powerful graphics and audio capabilities, making it ideal for developing cutting-edge games.

5. C# is constantly being improved and updated, so game developers can always take advantage of the latest features and technologies.

C# Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Unity
Unreal Engine
XNA
MonoGame
Gideros Mobile

Popular Games Made with C#

Halo 5: Guardians
Gears of War 4
Forza Horizon 3
Fable Legends
State of Decay 2

4) HTML5 for Game Development

HTML5 is the latest HTML standard and has been designed to be more efficient and effective than previous versions. It’s also been designed with game development in mind.

HTML5 is more suited to handling multimedia content, including video and audio. It also offers better performance and compatibility with a wider range of devices.

HTML5 is designed to be high-performance and easy to use, and it includes features like 2D and 3D graphics, audio and video support, and text parsing.

HTML5 also offers excellent cross-platform compatibility, making it a great choice for developing games that will run on multiple devices.

HTML5 also includes new features that can be used for game development, such as canvas element support and webGL. Overall, HTML5 is a more robust and game-friendly option for web development.

HTML5 Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Phaser
CreateJS
Pixi.js
Babylon.js
Three.js

Popular Games Made with HTML5

Angry Birds
Candy Crush
Cut the Rope
Tetris
Farmville

5) JavaScript for Game Development

JavaScript is a versatile language that can be used for game development. It is easy to learn and has many features that make it well-suited for game development.

It can be used to create simple games or complex multiplayer games. JavaScript can be used to create Games for the Web, Mobile, and Desktop.

JavaScript can be used to create both 2D and 3D games. It has support for physics engines, making it possible to create realistic games.

JavaScript also has a wide range of libraries and frameworks that can be used to create games. In addition, JavaScript can be easily integrated with other languages, making it possible to create games that are cross-platform. As a result, JavaScript is an excellent choice for game development.

JavaScript Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Unity
Unreal Engine
XNA
MonoGame
Gideros Mobile
Phaser
CreateJS
Pixi.js
Babylon.js
Three.js

Popular Games Made with JavaScript

Angry Birds
Cut the Rope
Candy Crush Saga
Fruit Ninja
Subway Surfers
Temple Run

6) Python for Game Development

Python is an increasingly popular programming language that is known for its versatility and readability. While Python is not typically thought of as a language for game development, it can actually be a great tool for creating games.

Python’s simple syntax and dynamic typing make it easy to prototype game ideas quickly. In addition, Python has a number of powerful libraries that can be used for game development, such as PyGame and PyOpenGL.

While Python may not be the most popular language for commercial game development, it is certainly a powerful tool that any aspiring game developer should consider learning.

Python Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Pygame
Unity
Unreal Engine 4
Cocos2d
Panda3D
Godot Engine

Popular Games Made with Python

Angry Birds
Candy Crush
Clash of Clans
Crossy Road
Pokémon GO
Fallout Shelter

7) UnrealScript for Game Development

UnrealScript is a powerful scripting language that enables developers to create Unreal Engine-powered games. UnrealScript is easy to learn for experienced programmers, yet also offers advanced features for more experienced coders.

As a result, UnrealScript is the perfect choice for game development. UnrealScript enables developers to quickly create prototypes and test gameplay ideas.

In addition, UnrealScript provides a high level of flexibility, allowing developers to easily customize their games. As a result, UnrealScript is the perfect choice for game development.

Thanks to UnrealScript, developers can create games that are truly unique and offer players an unparalleled gaming experience.

UnrealScript Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Unity
Cocos2d
Panda3D
Godot Engine

Popular Games Made with UnrealScript

Gears of War
Fortnite
BioShock
Borderlands
Mass Effect

8) Lua for Game Development

Lua is a versatile language that can be used for a variety of purposes, including game development. Lua is a lightweight, interpreted language that is easy to learn and fast to execute.

Lua also has a small footprint, making it ideal for use in games where every byte counts. In addition, Lua has a rich set of features that make it well-suited for game development, such as support for object-oriented programming and dynamic typing.

Lua is also highly extensible, allowing developers to add new functions and modules as needed. As a result, Lua has become the language of choice for many game developers. Whether you’re looking to create a simple game or a AAA title, Lua is an excellent choice for game development.

Lua Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

Corona
Moai
Unity3D
Unreal Engine

Popular Games Made with Lua

1. Angry Birds

2. Candy Crush

3. Clash of Clans

4. Crossy Road

5. Fallout Shelter

6. Fruit Ninja

7. Hearthstone

8. Jurassic World Alive

9. Minion Rush

10. Pokémon GO

9) GameMaker Language (GML) for Game Development

GML is a popular programming language for game development. It is used by many popular game engines, including GameMaker: Studio and Unity.

GML is easy to learn and use, making it a great choice for those new to programming. However, its simplicity belies its power; GML is a fully featured language that can be used to create games of any size and complexity.

In addition, GML offers a wide range of features specifically designed for game development, such as built-in support for 2D and 3D graphics, sound, input, and physics.

Whether you’re just getting started in game development or you’re an experienced programmer looking for a powerful but easy-to-use language, GML is worth considering.

GML Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

GameMaker: Studio
Unity
Cocos2d
Unreal Engine 4
YoYo Games game development kit

Popular Games Made with GML

Crossy Road
Hyper Light Drifter
Plague Inc.
Gunpoint
Hotline Miami
Spelunky

10) Swift for Game Development

Swift is a powerful programming language that was designed to be fast, safe, and easy to use. Swift is perfect for game development because it is extremely quick and provides developers with a safe programming environment.

Swift also has excellent performance, making it perfect for developing high-end games. In addition, Swift is open source, meaning that there is a large community of developers who can contribute to the language and help improve it. In addition, Swift is easy to learn and has excellent documentation.

Swift is the perfect language for game development, and I highly recommend it to any developers who are looking to get started in the field. Thanks for reading!

Swift-Supported Game Engines & Frameworks

SpriteKit
SceneKit
GameplayKit
Metal
SwiftUI

Popular Games Made with Swift

Alto’s Adventure
Rules of Survival
Crossy Road
Hearthstone
Monument Valley

Tips for learning a new programming language

When learning a new programming language, it’s important to find a resource that can teach you the basics of the language. In addition, it’s helpful to find a project that you can work on to put your new skills to use.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help from others. There are many people who are happy to help out a fellow programmer. If you get stuck, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to help out.

Conclusion

So, what is the best programming language for game development? The answer to that question depends on your needs and preferences. However, some languages are better suited for game development than others.

If you’re just getting started in game development, I recommend starting with Swift or GML. Both of these languages are easy to learn and provide a safe programming environment. In addition, they both have excellent performance and support for 2D and 3D graphics.

If you’re an experienced programmer looking for a powerful but easy-to-use language, I recommend Lua. Lua is used by many popular game engines and has a rich set of features that make it well-suited for game development.

Whatever language you choose, be sure to find a good resource that can teach you the basics of the language. Additionally, it’s helpful to find a project that you can work on to put your new skills to use. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help from others when you get stuck. Happy learning.