7 Best Programming Languages for Game Development

Choosing the right programming language is crucial for game development, as it directly impacts the performance, flexibility, and overall success of your project. But with so many languages out there, which one should you choose?

I’ve put together a list of the best programming languages for game development in 2024.

Whether you’re building 2D indie games or AAA titles, these languages offer the tools and performance you need to bring your vision to life.

Let’s dive in and find the one that’s right for your next game project.

Best Programming Languages for Game Development

C++

C++ has long been a staple in the gaming industry, renowned for its performance and versatility. Whether you're working on high-performance AAA games or developing complex simulations, C++ gives you the control needed to bring your vision to life.

Pros:

• Unreal Engine support: C++ is the backbone of Unreal Engine, one of the most powerful game engines available today.
• Large community and open-source resources: With a massive online community, finding help, tools, or open-source code is never an issue.
• Cross-platform capability: C++ is supported across multiple platforms, from Windows and MacOS to PlayStation and Xbox.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve: Its complexity makes C++ challenging for beginners to pick up, especially compared to more beginner-friendly languages.

Why C++ Excels in Game Development

C++ shines in game development thanks to its performance. As a statically typed and compiled language, it offers fast execution and efficient memory management, which are critical for developing demanding games.

One of its biggest strengths is control. C++ gives developers the ability to manage graphics processing and hardware interaction, making it the go-to for high-performance games that need to push the limits of what’s possible.

In addition, C++’s object-oriented nature allows you to structure your code into reusable modules, making it easier to manage and maintain even the largest game projects. This modularity is key when building complex games with intricate systems.

With decades of use in the gaming industry, C++ benefits from an extensive set of libraries, frameworks, and tools specifically designed to support game development, making your development process smoother.

Key Features for Game Development:

C++ remains a top choice for serious game developers who need full control over their game's performance and mechanics. Whether you're developing a game for consoles or mobile, C++ offers the tools and power to make it happen.

C#

C# has become a top choice for game development, especially with its tight integration with the Unity engine. Whether you’re building 2D mobile games or immersive 3D worlds, C# offers the simplicity and power needed to get the job done.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Visual Studio: C# works effortlessly with Visual Studio, making development smooth and efficient.
• Fast and efficient: Its statically-typed nature enhances performance, making C# ideal for game development.
• Unity engine support: As the main language for Unity, C# is the go-to for game developers working with this incredibly popular game engine.

Cons:

• Heavily dependent on Unity: While C# is versatile, its strength in game development is largely tied to Unity, limiting its use with other engines.

Why C# Stands Out in Game Development

C# excels in game development primarily due to its close connection with Unity, a leading game engine used by developers worldwide. Unity’s vast community and resources make it easier than ever to build and publish games for multiple platforms, and C# is at the heart of this engine.

Plus, with Unity 6 due to be released any day now, the possibilities of what you can create with C# are likely to level up in a serious way.

Known for its simplicity and readability, C# allows developers to focus more on creating high-quality games without getting bogged down by complex syntax or technical hurdles. Its statically-typed nature provides strong type safety, reducing the likelihood of run-time errors, which is essential for the stability of your game.

Beyond simplicity, C# is optimized for multithreading and parallel programming, allowing you to make the most of hardware resources. This is crucial in game development, where performance and resource management are key to delivering smooth gameplay experiences.

Key Features for Game Development:

C# is perfect for game developers who want to harness the power of Unity while keeping their codebase clean and efficient. Whether you’re developing for mobile, desktop, or the web, C# provides the tools and performance needed to create engaging games.

JavaScript

If you’ve taken a JavaScript course, chances are that you were thinking about learning web development rather than game development, but its versatility and ease of use have made it a strong contender, especially for web-based games. With the right libraries and frameworks, you can quickly create fun, interactive games that run in any browser.

Pros:

• Easy to learn and use: JavaScript’s simplicity makes it an excellent starting point for game development.
• Abundant libraries and frameworks: With tools like Phaser and MelonJS, building games becomes a breeze.
• Perfect for browser-based games: Its native environment is the web, making it ideal for games that can be played anywhere with an internet connection.

Cons:

• Limited to web-based games: While JavaScript excels in the browser, it’s less common in more complex, console or desktop games.
• Interpreted nature affects performance: JavaScript’s interpreted execution can make it slower compared to compiled languages like C++ or C#.

Why JavaScript Shines in Game Development

JavaScript’s strength lies in its flexibility and non-blocking, asynchronous nature, making it perfect for responsive games that handle multiple requests simultaneously. This ensures that your games remain snappy and smooth even when managing real-time events or user interactions.

Its cross-platform compatibility is another huge advantage. Write your game once, and it can run on any browser without the need for special compilers or platforms. This opens up a broad audience for distribution, from mobile to desktop users.

Additionally, JavaScript’s dynamically-typed nature makes writing quick, intuitive code easier. However, developers must stay cautious of potential typing errors, particularly when building more complex game logic.

With libraries and frameworks like Phaser, PandaEngine, and MelonJS, JavaScript offers powerful game development environments that simplify the process of creating browser games with engaging visuals and gameplay.

Key Features for Game Development:

JavaScript is perfect for game developers looking to create web-based games that run seamlessly across platforms. Its ease of use and wide support make it a powerful tool for delivering engaging, browser-based experiences.

Swift

Swift, Apple’s high-performance language, is ideal for creating games across iOS, macOS, and other Apple platforms. Its speed, ease of use, and modern features make it a strong choice for developers focused on the Apple ecosystem.

Pros:

• Perfect for macOS and iOS games: Swift is built for Apple platforms, making it the go-to language for developing iPhone, iPad, and Mac games.
• Easy to learn and use: Its clean syntax and modern features make Swift approachable for both beginners and experienced developers.
• Active community support: A large and active online community means there’s plenty of help and resources available.

Cons:

• Mostly limited to Apple platforms: While Swift excels on Apple devices, its use is more restricted outside this ecosystem.
• Limited game engine support: Compared to languages like C++ or C#, there are fewer game engines that natively support Swift.

Why Swift Works for Game Development

Swift is known for its speed and performance. Compiled into machine code, Swift delivers the power needed for demanding tasks like gaming. This makes it a strong choice for developers creating high-performance games for iOS and macOS devices.

Another key feature is Swift’s strong type system and automatic reference counting (ARC), which helps manage memory usage efficiently. These features ensure that your game code is safe, secure, and easy to maintain, particularly when developing complex games.

For developers, Swift also provides powerful libraries like SpriteKit for 2D games and SceneKit for 3D games, making it easier to integrate high-quality graphics into your projects. Additionally, ARKit opens up the potential for augmented reality gaming on Apple devices.

Key Features for Game Development:

Swift is the best option for developers focused on the Apple ecosystem. With its performance, strong community support, and powerful tools like SpriteKit and ARKit, it’s a great choice for building games on iOS and macOS.

Java

Java is one of the most widely-known programming languages, and while it may not be the first to come to mind for game development, it has a lot to offer. From Android games to cross-platform projects, Java provides flexibility and power for developers looking to build games that run anywhere.

Pros:

• Popular for Android game development: Java is the primary language for Android, making it a top choice for mobile game developers.
• Cross-platform capability: Thanks to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Java code can run on any device with the JVM installed.

Cons:

• Limited access to low-level hardware: Java abstracts away much of the hardware interaction, which can limit performance in hardware-intensive games.
• Larger file sizes: Games developed in Java can have larger file sizes compared to those built with lower-level languages like C++.

Why Java Excels in Game Development

One of Java’s biggest strengths is its portability. As the classic "write once, run anywhere" language, Java code can be executed on any platform that supports the JVM. Take any Java course, and this is one of the main features you’ll be taught about.

This makes it an excellent choice for developers aiming to create games for multiple platforms, especially Android.

Java’s object-oriented programming (OOP) structure is also ideal for building large-scale applications, such as games with complex systems. Its OOP nature helps keep your code modular, clean, and maintainable.

Another advantage Java brings to the table is socket programming, enabling two-way communication with servers. This feature is especially useful for developers building multiplayer games.

Java’s JavaFX library offers a set of tools for creating rich graphics and animations, giving developers the ability to craft visually appealing games. And with a vast developer community, finding resources and troubleshooting help is never far away.

Key Features for Game Development:

Java is a solid choice for developers focused on Android or looking to build cross-platform games. With its portability, robust libraries, and strong community, Java has earned its place in the game development world.

Lua

Lua may not have the same widespread recognition as other languages, but its speed, efficiency, and simplicity make it a powerful tool for game development. Whether you’re scripting game logic or building mods, Lua is a versatile language that punches above its weight.

Pros:

• Fast and efficient: Lua is lightweight, allowing for fast execution, which is perfect for game logic scripting.
• Foundational language for Roblox: Lua powers Roblox, enabling users to create and customize their own games within the platform.
• Easy to learn and use: Lua’s simple syntax makes it highly approachable, especially for beginners.

Cons:

• Smaller community: Lua has less community support compared to larger languages like C++ or Java, which can limit available resources.

Why Lua Stands Out in Game Development

Lua shines as a lightweight scripting language that is both fast and flexible. It’s an ideal choice for developers looking to quickly modify game behavior or create custom game logic without needing to recompile their code. This makes Lua perfect for games with modding capabilities, allowing users to extend and personalize gameplay experiences.

One of Lua’s biggest claims to fame is Roblox, the wildly popular platform where users can create their own games. Lua not only powers Roblox itself but also enables players to create in-game content and customize the platform to their liking.

Additionally, Lua is easy to learn, with a simple syntax that makes it accessible to beginners. This makes it a great language for both professional developers and hobbyists looking to dive into game development.

Key Features for Game Development:

Lua’s speed, simplicity, and use in major platforms like Roblox make it a powerful option for scripting and modding. Whether you’re creating your own game from scratch or building on an existing platform, Lua offers the flexibility you need.

Python

Python may be famous for data science, but it’s also a strong contender for game development, especially when you need to create prototypes quickly. Its simplicity, flexibility, and large community support make it a go-to language for developers looking to iterate rapidly on game ideas.

Pros:

• Easy to learn: Python’s simple syntax makes it one of the most beginner-friendly programming languages.
• Great for rapid prototyping: Its high-level, interpreted nature allows for quick iteration during the game development process.
• Large community and library support: With Python’s active community and rich standard library, developers have access to plenty of resources and tools.

Cons:

• Limited hardware control: Python lacks direct control over hardware, which can be a disadvantage for performance-critical game development.
• No memory management: Python doesn’t offer the fine control over memory usage that lower-level languages like C++ do.

Why Python Is a Good Fit for Game Development

Take any Python course and you’ll be told about how great it is for data tasks, but trust me, it’s also adept at game development.

This is thanks to its ease of use and speed of prototyping. Its simple and readable syntax makes it easy for developers to quickly build out game ideas without getting bogged down in complex code. This is especially useful for developers who want to focus on refining game mechanics and design early in the process.

While Python isn’t known for high-performance games, it is frequently used in game engines as a scripting language, allowing developers to define game logic without the complexity of lower-level programming. Game engines like Godot and Ren'py use Python to streamline the creation of game mechanics.

Python’s large standard library provides built-in support for graphics, networking, and sound, making it easy to get started without needing to import many third-party tools. With libraries like PyGame and frameworks like Ren'py, Python offers a well-rounded toolkit for game development across various platforms.

Key Features for Game Development:

Python is an excellent choice for developers focused on rapid prototyping and building games with simple, clear code. While it may not provide the same level of control as lower-level languages, its flexibility and ease of use make it a favorite for indie developers and smaller game projects.

What Is the Best Language for Game Development?

Still unsure which programming language is right for your game? I know it can be overwhelming with so many options, but to simplify things, I’ve organized the best languages based on different game development use cases.

Check out the list below to find the perfect language for your project:

• Simple Games: Python, Lua, JavaScript, C#
• Beginners: Python, Lua, JavaScript, Java, C#
• 3D Games: C++, C#
• AR/VR Games: C++, C#, JavaScript, Swift
• PC Games: C++, C#, Java, Python
• Console Games: C++, C#
• AAA Games: C++, C#
• Android Games: Java, C++, C#
• iOS Games: Swift, C++, C#
• Web Games: JavaScript, Python

What Is Game Development?

Video game development is the process of transforming game ideas into actual games for users to play. If you want to make games, you want people to play them!

And one thing’s for sure: the games industry is certainly booming, with revenue expectations of more than $365bn in 2024.

Plus, from experience, it’s a great feeling to create any piece of software and see others use it and enjoy it!

That said, let’s look at the typical stages of game development:

1. Conceptualization: The concept, video game design, and storyline are conceived via brainstorming. We found Will Wright’s game design Masterclass excels in this area.
2. Pre-Production: Defining a project plan with a timeline & resource allocation. This covers factors like target audience, gameplay mechanics, and art style.
3. Production: Game developers use tools and technologies like game engines, programming languages, and graphic design software to bring the game to life.
4. Testing: Once the game is built, it goes through testing to identify and fix any bugs or glitches. Fun times!
5. Release: After testing, the game is released to platforms like PC, Xbox, PS5, mobile devices, etc.
6. Maintenance: Game developers provide ongoing support and maintenance, fixing any issues that arise while also adding updates or new content.

Gaming Platforms

Gaming platforms are the systems where game programmers deploy their games and where users play the games.

We might not think of them as platforms because they’re so familiar to us as gamers, but common examples are:

• Consoles: Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc. These have dedicated hardware designed for gaming and often include wireless controllers.
• PC: A computer system that runs Windows and occasionally MacOS or Linux. Users have more control over hardware, including GPUs, monitors, mouse and keyboard, etc.
• Mobiles: Platforms like iOS and Android offer games that are optimized for touchscreen devices like tablets and smartphones.
• Web-based platforms: Play directly in a web browser without additional software installation. Common web-based gaming platforms include Armor Games, Miniclip, and CrazyGames. 
• Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR): These use special hardware designed to create an immersive gaming experience, usually via special headsets and hand-tracking controllers. Check out the Meta Quest 2 for an example of an all-in-one VR headset.

Game Engines

Game engines are development environments or frameworks that make game development more efficient. But why should you use a game engine?

If you've taken any game design course, you'll quickly realize that creating a game involves many moving parts. Game engines come to the rescue by providing a suite of tools and reusable components that significantly speed up development.

Simply put, game engines let you use pre-built functionalities—like rendering graphics, physics simulations, and more—so you can focus on creating unique features and gameplay elements rather than coding everything from scratch.

Most game engines include features such as rendering, animation, scripting, memory management, and networking. And while the Unity vs. Unreal debate dominates the conversation, there are plenty of other engines to consider based on your needs.

Why Use a Game Engine?

• Pre-built functionality: Save time by leveraging reusable tools instead of building everything from scratch.
• Graphics and physics: Engines come with built-in rendering tools and physics engines, helping you create immersive worlds.
• Cross-platform support: Many engines support multiple platforms, allowing you to publish your game to PC, consoles, and mobile devices.

Some of the core functionalities offered by game engines include:

• Rendering 2D/3D graphics
• Animation support
• Scripting capabilities
• Memory management
• Networking and multiplayer support
• Collision detection
• Streaming assets in real-time

I’ve highlighted some of the most popular game engines below, along with their key features, supported languages, and notable games developed with them:

What Makes a Language Good for Game Development?

Not all programming languages are created equal when it comes to game development. Each language has its strengths, and selecting the right one depends on the specific needs of your project. Just like how you might turn to R for data science or Python for AI, certain qualities make a language well-suited for developing video games.

Here are some of the key features to look for in a good game development language:

• Performance: Games often involve complex simulations, real-time rendering, and physics calculations, all of which require fast, efficient performance to ensure smooth gameplay.

• Memory Management: Game environments are memory-intensive, so a language that provides fine control over memory management is crucial for ensuring high performance, especially in large, detailed games.

• Interoperability: A strong game development language needs to work well with external libraries, engines, and tools. Interoperability ensures that developers can integrate various technologies into their games seamlessly.

• Portability: Games are typically developed for multiple platforms, from consoles to mobile to PCs. A good language should support cross-platform development to streamline the process of porting games to different devices.

• Ease of Use: Accessibility is key for allowing more developers to build games. Languages with simple syntax and clear structures help developers focus on game mechanics rather than fighting the language itself.

• Community and Support: A strong developer community ensures access to resources, libraries, and tools, speeding up development and making it easier to troubleshoot issues. This can make a huge difference, especially when debugging or optimizing performance.

Wrapping Up

Picking the right programming language is key to creating a successful game. Each language offers unique advantages, whether it's performance, flexibility, or ease of use.

I’ve highlighted some of the best programming languages for game development in 2024, so take your time exploring them. Choose the one that fits your project and skill set, and you’ll be well on your way to bringing your game to life.

With the right language, you can create games that are not only fun to play but also a pleasure to develop.

Have you decided to become a game developer, and are you itching to start? Check out 

Unity's Ultimate Guide to Game Development on Udemy

Frequently Asked Questions

1. C# Or C++, Which Is Better for Game Programming?

C# and C++ are both popular languages for game development, as they’re fast, efficient, and supported by the two largest game engines, with C# being used on Unity and C++ with Unreal Engine.

For advanced programmers, C++ is a good option, as it is a lower-level language with fewer layers of abstraction, offering control over hardware and graphical processes. If you’re a beginner, C# may be the better option, as learning is easier.

2. What Is the Best Language for Game Development?

There is no one-size-fits-all all answer to this question. The best language for game programming will depend on your needs and preferences.

If you want to create AAA games, you’ll need to use C++ or C#, but if you want to create Android games, perhaps Java is the best choice. If you’re unsure which to use, look closely at our section on the best languages for different use cases.

3. What Are the Easiest Languages for Game Development?

The easiest languages to learn for game development are probably those with a syntax similar to English, as it makes them more readable and beginner-friendly. Python and JavaScript are both great choices in this regard. If you do have some coding experience, you should also consider Lua, Java, and C#.

References

1. Statista. Video Games - Worldwide [Internet]. Statista; [date unknown; cited 2024 Jan 15]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/digital-media/video-games/worldwide

2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022, 15-1252 Software Developers [Internet]. [updated 2021 Mar 31; cited 2024 Jan 15]. Available from: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes151252.htm