Games are still one of the most important forms of entertainment for people, so which programming language is most suitable for game development? It depends on the type of game to be developed. For example, if you want to develop a 2D platform game, languages like Lua script and JavaScript are convenient. However, if you want to develop a large-scale 3D first-person shooter game, then a language such as C++ or C# is more suitable.
game development
Game development generally has design, creation and writing steps. This process can be done in a number of ways, depending on the type of game and the development team.
Type of game:
Text-based, 2D, 3D and real-time
Single player and multiplayer Games
Focus on graphic design, storyline or game mechanics
...these are well known, so let's see how to actually develop a game!
About the game engine
A game engine is a software development environment designed to facilitate building games. It provides game developers with a framework for creating 2D and 3D games.
mainstream game engine
Development language
These are some of the more popular languages for developing games, each with its own pros and cons. You can choose flexibly according to the situation.
C++
C++ is one of the fast and efficient programming languages for game development. Most teams choose it to create high-performance large-scale games, and its debugging tools are very important for game development.
Other languages, such as Python, are readable and relatively simple, so Python is the best choice for prototyping game ideas, but it is not suitable for developing large-scale game projects.
As a compiled language, C++ runs faster than interpreted languages such as Python, and there are many programming paradigms available for C++.
Many popular game engines support C++, which means that development teams can use various libraries to create their games.
Popular game engines using C++:
Unreal Engine
Unity
CRYENGINE
Amazon Lumberyard
Disadvantages of C++:
very difficult to learn
Java
Java is a general-purpose and powerful programming language that is widely used in various industries. For game development, it has quite a lot of C++ advantages, and it can easily run across platforms.
Thanks to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), games developed in Java can run on any operating system, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, and even iOS and Android, making Java a mainstream choice for developing mobile games .
Although some game engines support Java, it runs slower than C++, which can be a disadvantage for some games.
Game engine using Java:
jMonkeyEngine
libGDX
Java 3D
Disadvantages of Java:
hard to learn
Can become quite slow on some devices
JavaScript (including HTML and CSS)
JavaScript (JS) is a general-purpose programming language that has the advantage of being relatively easy to learn. Although JavaScript is not as fast as C++ or Java, it is more suitable for developing 2D games.
Although HTML and CSS are not strictly speaking programming languages, they are very important in game development. HTML is used to create the game structure, while CSS is used to style the game.
Games developed in JavaScript can run on any web browser, which makes them easy to distribute.
Popular game engine using JavaScript:
Phaser
PixiJS
Cocos2d-x
Disadvantages of JavaScript:
not as fast as other programming languages
, limited to browsers
Note: There are many source codes of HTML5 games, which can be used for reference.
C#
C# was created by Microsoft. It has many of the same advantages as C++, and is an especially good choice for developing 2D and 3D games.
One advantage of C# over C++ is that it is easier to learn. C# is also a cross-platform language, which means games developed in C# can run on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Popular game engines using C#:
Unity
Unreal Engine
Godot
Cons of C#:
Exists only in the Microsoft ecosystem
Lua
Lua is a lightweight scripting language mostly used for game development. It's very easy to learn and use, and it's fast.
Lua can be embedded in other programming languages, and even games such as World of Warcraft and Baldur's Gate use it to expand.
While Lua isn't as widespread as other languages, it's still one of the best options for making 2D games.
Popular game engine using Lua:
Solar2D
LÖVE
Gideros
Disadvantages of Lua:
Most of them are only used in game development
Lua is recommended for beginners to develop games
Lua is a lightweight programming language that is easy to learn and use. So, if you're new to programming or a new team, then Lua will give you a great base from which to build more complex games.
Also, Lua is used in many popular games, so there are plenty of resources to get you started.
Using Python as a game development language
Python is as easy to learn as Lua, but unlike Lua, it is a general-purpose language, and if you learn Python, you will have a hand in the field of big data and artificial intelligence outside the game industry Opportunity.
For beginners who want to develop simple games, Python is a good choice.
Its mature engines are Pygame, Ren'Py and Kivy.
Best programming language for developing simple games
If you just want to develop a simple little game, like a puzzle game, then Lua and Python can be a good start.
The Best Programming Languages for Developing Large-Scale Games
If you want to develop a 3D first-person shooter or RPG open world, you need to use a more powerful programming language.
C++ is probably the best choice for developing complex games. It is the low-level language that programmers can better grasp and control the game. But at the same time, because C++ code writing is more complicated, debugging will be more difficult.
in conclusion
The game development landscape is constantly changing as new technologies and platforms evolve every day. Therefore, the programming languages used to develop games will change over time.
If your design requirements are not high, Tianning Diary recommends that you start with Lua or Python, which are easy to learn and use.
If you are ambitious and want to develop a more complex open-ended game, you need to use C++, C# or even Java.