Games are developed through a code written in various programming languages. Programmers write code that tells the computer the math and logic behind a game. Programmers are usually part of a creative team that includes game designers and artists. The artists design core game features, oversee game testing and conduct design reviews. Game programming involves artificial intelligence, computer graphics, simulation, and sound programming. It also involves technical skills about gaming system design, level design, scripting, and coding.
Most computer and video games are written in C or C. Since every language has its pros and cons and every game involves customized design, operating system interface, speed, etc, there is no language ‘set in stone’ as the best language to learn for programming video games.
But currently, The best programming languages for games are:
- C++
- Java
- HTML5
- CSS3
- JavaScript
- SQL
C++
It should not come as surprising seeing C++ as the best programming language for games in almost every guide you read.Since C++ is a high-level language that will teach you the basics of object-oriented programming, it’s a good idea to learn it. It’s also the language used to build most big console and Windows games. C++ is complemented by C in these games, and assembly languages for creating low-level engine modules.
C++ is by no means an easy language to learn. But it can be rewarding, not only because C++ games are easy to distribute across various platforms, but also because you can quickly learn C# and other object-oriented languages if you already know C++.
Both C++ and C# are widely used in popular game engines today, like Unreal, Sony’s free PhyreEngine and the indie-favorite Unity Engine, and we all know game engines can take a lot of the grind out of game development.
It is an object-oriented language, meaning it uses internal structures to better organize code into reusable blocks (classes and objects).You also need to remember that some game engines only takes C++
Games made with C++
1. Counter-Strike
2. Doom III Engine
3. King Quest
4. Starcraft
5. World of Warcraft
6. Warcraft III
7. Football Pro
8. Master of Orion III
9. Maplestory
10. Invictus
C#
One of the best video game programming languages, a thorough knowledge of C# is elemental to every game programmer out there. It’s often the first preference to many developers to learn C# over other game programming languages due to the high-level of convenience it offers. The Microsoft-borne language supports the infamous Unity3D, one of the best game engines currently used in industry. C# gives developers the ability to build games of any type, for any architecture without any extra hassles. The language is also far easier to learn than C++.
If you were to compare C# with C++, you’d realize that C++ gives you a lot of control over parameters, memory management, etc. This kind of control adds another dimension to the performance and user experience of your game.
Java
Java takes a prominent role in the industry and is one of the best programming languages for games.Java supports multithreading and sockets. Multithreading uses less memory and makes the most of available CPU, without blocking the user out when heavy processes are running in the background. Sockets help in building multiplayer games. Java offers a broader range of systems to play for. Java codes typically run on the Java Virtual Machine(JVM) and translate into generic bytecodes, that can be executed on any system.
Java was used to make games like Angry Birds Chrome for mobile devices.Java is one of those few game programming languages that gives developers the ability to develop games for any given system. It’s also one of the primary language used for developing Android games.
Games made with Java
1. Tom Clancy’s Politika
2. Runescape
3. Powder Game
4. Star Wars Galaxies
5. Roboforge
Web Languages
If you see yourself making games for browsers, you’ll need to know a couple of different codes to be able to offer a complete user experience. You could always specialize in one single language, but you’ll probably need to know:
- HTML5
- CSS3
- SQL
- JavaScript
Making games for browsers is very different from making games for consoles. You’ll also need to SVG or WebGL if you need 3D graphics, or complex graphics, and a content management system.
HTML5 is a powerful language and can be used in place of JavaScript in some cases.
JavaScript is used to make things happen on a page, such as to make things move across the page.
SQL is used for back-end database work so that the player can access their account and do other things on the server.
JavaScript
It’s one of the most-used languages of the web and integrates pretty easily with any web applications. As we continue to progress more and more towards a web-based industry, online games are becoming much familiar every day.
JavaScript is definitely the best video game programming language for games when it comes to building interactive online games. The ability to integrate JavaScript codes easily with conventional web technologies like HTML and CSS are also contributing rapidly to an increasing number of cross-platform mobile games.
HTML5
HTML5 has become one of the most common game programming languages for the web. A vast majority of mobile games that you play today utilizes this markup language. You can easily create a highly sophisticated web-based game blending HTML5 with JavaScript for interactivity and WebGL for graphical components
HTML5 games are also increasing exponentially every day as developers don’t require complex theoretical knowledge of advanced data structure and algorithms. As things going pretty smoothly for HTML5, we can easily anticipate it to become one of the best programming languages for games shortly.
What About Games on Servers?
Some games need a server component. MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2 use Java, PHP, or C# to develop the backend. They make running games on servers faster, though there is a cost to performance, as opposed to using C or C++.
You can always experiment with other languages like Python, Ruby, or JavaScript on the server side.
Python
One of the most straightforward yet most versatile programming languages you can get your hands on today is Python. However, do not misinterpret its seemingly easy syntax and semantics inappropriate as a game programming language. Python offers full-fledged OOP(Object Oriented Programming) techniques to developers, just like C++ and Java.
Python is gaining its share of glory as one of the best video game programming languages for games, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt you to learn it right now.
You could choose a language you’re familiar, or comfortable with and stick with that. You must also think about the platform you want to make the game for. For instance, if online gaming is what interests you, C++ won’t help.
Do check out the hundreds of gaming engines that make game development easier. You’re bound to find something that fits in with your interests.
