Top 10 Coding Languages for Games in 2024
The global market of the gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, evolving at an incredible pace and constantly welcoming new players.
Today, the gaming industry uses a vast number of coding languages to create amazing experiences.
However, not all coding languages are equal when it comes to game development. While there is no single best coding language for games, some are certainly more popular than others.
Here are the top 10 coding languages for games in 2024:
JavaScript
JavaScript is a foundational language that adds interactivity to game elements. JavaScript programming requires no tools beyond a text editor like Notepad, making it one of the simplest languages.
For game creation, JavaScript is typically combined with HTML5, as the latter does not provide interactivity. Along with fast development speed and simplicity, JavaScript lacks debugging and authentication tools.
Well-known examples of games built with JavaScript + HTML5 include PixelDefense, PocketIsland, and 2048.
Java
Another mainstay among popular game coding languages is Java. This technology has been around since the 1990s and continues to hold its position in the development market.
Java is a feature-rich, object-oriented language originally designed to run on the Java Virtual Machine. It has since been ported to many different platforms and can be used to create games with both simple and more complex gameplay.
Thanks to its versatility and rich collection of open-source resources, Java is a quick option for indie and mobile games. With a low barrier to entry and cross-platform reusable code, it is also relatively easy to use.
However, Java's performance is significantly lower than that of competitors. Additionally, the cost of a commercial license, the blocking garbage collector, and verbosity make this coding language less attractive.
Nevertheless, several masterpieces have been created with it, including Minecraft, FIFA 11, Project Zomboid, and others.
While Java enjoys mixed popularity among game developers, its Java-based counterparts—HTML5, CSS, and SQL—have proven more successful. This powerful trio uses Java as a foundation and owes some of their functionality to it.
HTML5
HTML5 is a leading option for game programmers, enabling the creation of cross-platform and cross-browser applications and games. Its development speed places it at the top of lists of the best languages for game development. HTML5 also introduces modern capabilities such as 2D and 3D graphics, high-quality audio interfaces, and offline asset storage. HTML5-based games adapt well to various resolutions, screen sizes, aspect ratios, and orientations.
When combined with JavaScript, it allows for the creation of complex web games with top-tier interactivity and graphics. Notable games built on HTML5 include Cookie Clicker, Angry Birds, Kingdom Rush, and World Cup Penalty 2018.
However, it does not support in-app purchases and lacks direct access to shared memory.
CSS3
CSS traditionally falls into the same category as the equally popular HTML. Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, is a stylesheet language used to describe the presentation and formatting of a document written in a markup language.
It is most commonly used to style web pages written in HTML. Therefore, CSS is used in conjunction with HTML to create online games. It can also integrate with CSS and JavaScript, enabling the creation of cross-platform mobile games. Whack-a-rat is a game created solely with CSS and available online.
SQL
SQL also ranks among the top five game programming languages according to Statista. Like CSS3 and HTML, it belongs to the category of web languages. While the other two handle appearance and functionality, SQL manages the backend database. SQL is an excellent tool for any game client-server interactions, where the client is the game itself and the server is the game server.
Python
Python is a high-level programming language known for its readability and simplicity. It can be used for developing desktop, web, and database applications. Due to the growing demand for Python programmers, it is one of the most sought-after languages in the modern tech industry, including gaming.
Its PyGame library is intuitive and easy to use, allowing for rapid prototyping. Additionally, its clean and clear syntax can be learned much faster than C++ and C#. Python is also the most common and simplest language for VR game development. However, it is not highly performant and requires significant testing.
Python is used in games such as Battlefield 2, The Sims 4, Frets on Fire, and World of Tanks.
C++
This is likely one of the first languages that comes to mind when discussing the best programming language for games. Its fame stems from its closeness to the C language on which it was originally based and its enhancements toward object orientation.
Thus, C++ is a statically typed, free-form, cross-platform, object-oriented programming language that has been ISO standardized since 1985.
C++ has become one of the most popular programming languages, especially for operating systems, because it can create both low-level and high-level applications. Its general-purpose nature allows programmers to build any type of application.
C++ enables game creation for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and other platforms. To do so, you need a game engine, of which C++ has an abundance. Therefore, this language is used in the development of a wide range of 2D and 3D games.
C++ is a scripting language used, for example, in Godot and Unreal Engine. Although the Unity game engine has C# built-in, it also relies on C++. Moreover, C++ is used for game development in many game APIs.
Libraries for game development in C++ assist programmers with various tasks. For example, SFML is an easy-to-use C++ library that comes with a graphics pipeline and a ready-to-use sound engine. OpenGL targets the 3D branch and can be used in conjunction with SFML.
Game development in C++ offers many advantages over other technologies. C++ game development provides high performance, which is crucial for gameplay. Thanks to the combination of C++ object-oriented programming and low-level language capabilities, you can optimize the game for specific platforms and manage memory control to tailor applications for speed.
With C++, you can easily create a cross-platform game. This means the game will run smoothly on all supported devices. Although many engines provide this capability by default, it is not always ideal, as the game may run faster on some devices and slower on others.
Additionally, C++ can bypass major performance bottlenecks like memory allocation. It can structure and place things in memory exactly where they need to be. Furthermore, it is a versatile programming language with an acceptable development speed.
But nothing in this world is perfect. This coding language also has its drawbacks. For those learning C++ for game development, one of the biggest disadvantages is its steep learning curve, making it inaccessible to beginners.
Moreover, C++ requires manual memory allocation, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Finally, C++ does not support built-in code threads. This slows down the coding process and makes it even more complex.
But despite all its shortcomings, the largest console and PC games are built on C++. C++ engines boast features from animation to artificial intelligence, enabling graphics rendering, collision detection, and much more.
In the list of top examples are the famous Assassin's Creed series, shooters Counter-Strike, Half-Life 2, Portal, The Witcher, and others.
C#
Among the best languages for game development is C#—a general-purpose, type-safe, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft as part of the .NET initiative. Today, C# is one of the most popular programming languages used to create all kinds of applications on both web platforms and desktops.
Game development in C# has gained immense popularity thanks to its compatibility with the Unity engine. While Unity supports JavaScript and Boo, C# is the leading option. Thus, C# for game development is used to create many top video games, including Pokemon Go and Crysis.
This technology also boasts high compatibility with game development tools and a gentle learning curve. However, it is rarely used as a standalone option for creating gaming experiences, as developers would have to program everything from scratch, which many consider impractical. For complex and large-scale projects, it is better to turn to a professional development team.
Kotlin
Android development often requires the Java programming language. Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine. It is officially supported for Android development through Google's Android Studio. Kotlin is considered a reliable choice for mobile game development on Android when combined with a framework.
Swift
The Swift programming language was introduced by Apple in 2014 and has since become one of the approved languages for iOS. It is fast, reliable, secure, and has an intuitive syntax that makes it easy to learn while retaining all the power inherent in compiled languages like C or Objective-C.
How to Start Game Development
Now that we've covered the best programming languages for game development, let's look at what you need to do to enter this industry and master one of these languages.
Learn Computer Programming
First and foremost, you need to master one of the programming languages for game development. As we've said, there is no silver bullet, but languages like C++, C#, Python, and Java have diverse ecosystems and are frequent choices for this endeavor.
Choose a Popular Game Engine
After picking a coding language, you should think about how to choose the best game engine. Opt for a well-known engine like Unity, as it is fairly easy to learn and offers a range of features useful for beginners.
Create a Basic Game
Once you have a more complete understanding of game development, it's time to try it out. Tetris is one of the most popular options to practice and simultaneously learn important programming fundamentals. You can also try something else, like runner games or 2D platformers, but keep in mind...