Best Programming Languages for Game Development

Which Programming Language Is Best for Game Development?

Game developers use several programming languages, sometimes multiple simultaneously. Choosing the right language depends on the project, the language features you need, and your programming experience.

1. C++

C++ is at the core of most console and Microsoft Windows games. It is an object-oriented programming language (OOP), meaning it organizes code into self-contained, reusable objects. These objects are designed for reuse and portability, so you can write complex games without building everything from scratch.

C++ is a powerful low-level language built for machine readability. Compared to languages like Python, it is harder for beginners to learn, but C++ is worth it for game developers who want to fully unleash their creative potential.

How Do Game Developers Use C++?

C++ is the most popular language for creating game engines—development environments where programmers build and host their interactive worlds. Game engines provide technology for every aspect of a game, from graphics, physics, and sound to the behavior of AI-driven game bots.

Developing your own engine is the best way to achieve full creative freedom and control over the game. If you choose this path, you must know C++: it is the industry standard, and you will benefit from its versatility and high performance.

Designers also sometimes use C++ to program within existing engines. Building an engine from scratch requires a huge investment of time and resources, but you can get nearly the same flexibility from a commercial engine if you can program it yourself. Many of the most popular modern engines use C++, including:

Unreal Engine
Lumberyard
Godot
Source
CryEngine.

C++ allows you to get more out of these engines and develop more customized and high-performance games.

Why Is C++ Used in Games?

C++ is a popular programming language for video games because it is fast, powerful, and flexible:

It is a very fast language. Gamers expect high performance and minimal or zero lag from a quality game. Unfortunately, video games are subject to high server loads, which can cause delays if code converts too slowly. C++ converts code quickly, even when multiple tasks are running simultaneously.
It operates close to the hardware. Video games rely on hardware for control functions. C++ works close to the hardware, so engines perform better and are less prone to stuttering.
It is cross-platform. C++ allows you to release projects on multiple operating systems and gaming platforms.
It has high-performance tools. C++ has a rich set of open-source libraries that save you from some of the coding work. C++ has libraries for various aspects of game development, from graphic design to debugging.
It is compatible with other game programming languages. C++ gives you the flexibility to use languages like C# or JavaScript to enhance specific aspects of the game, such as graphics or sound.

2. C#

C# ("C-sharp") is a simpler and more accessible language than C++. It is a high-level language designed for human readability. Its syntax promotes code reuse, making it efficient, and compilers reduce runtime errors by warning the programmer in advance.

What Does C# Do in Video Game Development?

C# leads as a scripting language for video games. Scripting languages define game mechanics and tell the computer what to do during gameplay. If you want the player to see specific graphics or a message when their character picks up an item, scripts make that happen.

Where Is C# Used in Game Development?

C# is the default language for Unity 3D, a popular game engine. In 2021, 61% of developers chose Unity, making it the top engine of the year. Many popular mobile games are built on this engine, including Pokémon Go and Temple Run 2. Unity is also a popular game engine for VR games—90% of all Samsung Gear games and 53% of Oculus Rift VR games use Unity. If you want to create games in Unity or for VR, C# should be in your toolkit.

C# is also a backend language; in the context of web development, developers use C# to communicate with the server rather than the user. When a player performs an action in a multiplayer game, C# tells the server how to interpret that action.

Many developers have used C# to create Xbox and other Microsoft games based on the XNA Framework. Although Microsoft has discontinued XNA, C# is still compatible with its successor, MonoGame. It is also a scripting language used for many PlayStation console games.

3. JavaScript

The leading language of web development, JavaScript is used in computer programming mainly to add interactivity to web pages. If you use a dropdown menu or click a mouse to play a video, JavaScript typically powers that action.

How Is JavaScript Used in Game Development?

JavaScript is often used to program games for deployment in web browsers. Today, online games typically run using the core web technology HTML5, which combines JavaScript code with HTML and CSS markup languages.

HTML5 games built with JavaScript run in web browsers and on mobile platforms like iOS and Android. These games can be hosted directly on a website, making them easier to share than console games. They are also easy to maintain, thanks to the inherent stability of the JavaScript language.

Which Game Engines Use JavaScript?

JavaScript game developers have access to specific and JavaScript-compatible engines, such as:

Three.Js
Famo.Us
Goo Engine
Allegro
Impact.Js

Since JavaScript is such a popular web development language, it has a diverse set of tools and frameworks, including the cross-platform graphics library WebGL and the HTML5 game framework Phaser.

4. Java

Java is a versatile language often used by small game development companies. Some of the best iOS and Android games are written in Java, including Minecraft and Mission Impossible III. Additionally, Java is cross-platform, so it runs on nearly any system, including Microsoft and Linux.

Why Learn Java for Game Development?

Java is used for creating mobile games and applications. Java is a beginner-friendly language that is popular in mobile apps and games. If you are new to coding, you can get started with Java and begin writing, executing, and debugging code faster than with many other languages.

A Java game will likely run on a virtual machine—a software computing system that operates separately from physical computers. Virtual machines help create games and other software faster and cheaper, easier to distribute, and simpler to scale as they grow.

What Are the Capabilities of Java in Game Development?

Just because Java is beginner-friendly does not mean it is limited in capabilities.

The programming language supports multithreading—the ability to execute two or more sets of instructions simultaneously. Game developers often prefer to have separate threads for different types of tasks, such as graphics rendering and gameplay logic.

Java also offers socket programming, which enables two-way communication with servers. This makes it easier for developers to create multiplayer games without additional tools.

5. Lua

Lua may not be among the most popular programming languages overall, but it is ideal for game development. Popular games like Angry Birds and Age of Conan are written in Lua, and engines like CryEngine, Gideros Mobile, and Corona SDK run on it.

It is a very lightweight language, so its small memory footprint does not cause lag. It also runs on virtual machines, making it fast and efficient.

Lua is a highly embeddable language, so you can easily integrate it into many other applications. This is very important for game development, which often uses multiple languages to achieve the desired effect.

Love2D, a free game framework, is an excellent learning tool for beginner game developers—and it uses Lua!

6. Python

Python, a beginner-friendly language, was created to be readable by humans. Its syntax is arguably the most English-like among programming languages, making it a common teaching language in software development.

Python is not as widely used in the game development world, but it is a good starting point for beginner developers. If you start learning Python, you can quickly pick up the PyGame game development library.

PyGame is a free Python library created specifically for game development. It is easy to learn and has extensive capabilities:

Accessible and clear tutorials
Simple installation programs for Windows and macOS
Flexible customization of core modules
Simple code designed specifically for creating game scripts.

Learning Python also makes it easier to use GDScript, the programming language for the popular Godot game engine. The creators of GDScript made it similar to Python in readability and beginner-friendly syntax, but it also includes game-specific features. If you already know Python, you will feel right at home scripting in Godot.