6 Best Programming Languages for Game Development in 2023
Do you love playing games? If yes, have you ever wondered how these games are created? The masterminds behind game development are developers. They make use of programming languages to write lengthy source code (sets of instructions directing computers to perform as intended) and create intuitive and amazing video games.
According to Statista, the video game development market value is expected to grow to 268.81 billion by 2025.
As there have been a lot of advancements in the game development industry, it is expected to grow more and more in the future. Hence, many developers or aspiring individuals wish to have careers in video game development.
If you are interested in video game development, you may have one question in your mind: Which is the best programming language to learn for game development?
To help you out with this question, I have come up with a list of a few best programming languages for game development.
Let us explore the list!
6 Best Programming Languages for Game Development
Here are some of the widespread and popular programming languages game developers use for creating awesome games. Many times, developers work with more than one programming language as per the need. In addition, the choice of a programming language depends on several factors, such as game type — a computer game, mobile game, or console, and the extent of interactivity.
1. C++
As C++ is a general-purpose programming language, it has its application in game development. Primarily, C++ is used for developing game engines. Game engines are platforms for game developers and designers to facilitate the creation of games by eliminating the need to develop everything from scratch. They come with built-in tools that aid in the development of 2D as well as 3D video games.
So, if you are planning to create a game engine, you must have a good grasp of C++. When you design your own game engine, you can have complete control over your games.
A few examples of game engines developed using C++ are Unreal Engine, Gadot, Cryengine, and Lumberyard.
The primary reason to use C++ for creating games or game engines is the language’s close proximity to computer hardware. Video games primarily rely on hardware for control functions. Also, it helps to release your games on multiple operating systems.
Moreover, C++ allows game developers to optimize exceptional parts of their game, which is close to impossible with other languages. So, I have mentioned C++ at the top of the list.
2. C#
C# or C-Sharp is a more flexible programming language than C++ and serves as an alternative to C++. This video game scripting language is a default language of a popular and leading game engine called Unity 3D.
In 2021, Unity was the most preferred game engine. It powers a variety of games, including Pokemon Go, Super Mario Run, and Temple Run. In addition, this game engine is popular for virtual reality games (VR).
When it comes to web development, C# serves as a back-end language. It is a language to interact with the server rather than end users. In terms of video games, when any player takes action in the gameplay, the language conveys the same to the server.
Primarily, game developers use C# to create Xbox and Microsoft One games using MonoGame. In addition, the C# scripting language powers many PlayStation console games.
3. JavaScript
We all know that JavaScript is the language of the internet. As a result, it is primarily used for the development of online games in the matter of game development. Along with JavaScript, game developers leverage HTML and CSS to create online games for different platforms.
These days, HTML5, the core web technology, is used to run online games. JavaScript-powered HTML5 games run on web browsers and Android and iOS mobile devices. Also, online games are easy to host and maintain. This is all due to the built-in stability of JavaScript.
Besides, it becomes possible to create animations and interactive elements using JavaScript. You can also find many pre-built elements to use in your games.
A few game examples powered by JavaScript are American Girl, Angry Birds, and Aquaria.
4. Java
Java is a general-purpose and versatile programming language that powers some of the best-in-class Android and iOS games, such as Mission Impossible III and Minecraft. This language is popular for developing mobile applications and games. It is popular due to its ease of use and is ideal for novice game developers.
Compared to other languages, Java code is faster to write, run, and debug. So, it becomes easy for beginners to learn Java. Games developed using Java run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It is a virtual machine that runs Java programs.
Moreover, the multithreading feature of Java makes it an ideal language for game development. This is because separate threads come in handy for executing different tasks in game development, such as gameplay logic and graphics rendering.
Furthermore, Java provides socket programming, making it easy for game developers to create multiplayer games.
5. Lua
You may not have lute novice . It is also a general-purpose language analogous to JavaScript. Though it is not very well known, it is often used to create video games.
Besides video games, Lua also powers many game engines, such as Gideros Mobile and Corona SDK. A few popular games developed using Lua are Angry Birds, Age of Conan, Baldur’s Gate, Civilization V, and The Elder Scrolls Online.
The Lua language has an extremely minimal footprint. It runs on virtual machines and is extremely fast.
6. Python
Python is the language that emphasizes code readability with its easy-to-read and writes syntax. No worry about delimiters, like semicolons and curly braces. Only whitespace indentation works. Also, the syntax uses English keywords, making it easy to remember for beginners.
Though Python is not popularly used in game development, it serves as a kick-starting language for beginners. Currently, Python is a popular language among data scientists and researchers.
Another advantage is that Python offers a game development library called PyGame. It is a free library specially developed for creating games using Python. It is very easy to use, comes with installers for Windows and macOS, and has mix-and-match core modules.
Conclusion
These are all popular programming languages for game development. All of them are general-purpose programming languages. Learn any programming languages from scratch through online resources or courses. Many e-learning platforms offer game development Bootcamp and courses where you can learn the nuts and bolts of game development from scratch.
Do let me know in the comments which is your favorite language for game development.
Goodbye!
