Improve Your Coding Skills: The Best Games for Programmers

You’ll find programming fun once you know what you’re doing and what needs to be achieved, but getting to this point can be a very tiring and tiring journey.

This is why you should take the time to play these coding games and challenges. They serve as fun breaks; you’ll learn faster and retain more information through hands-on training and experience. Are you ready to start? Let’s go. 

Robot code

Robocode is a complex programming game containing a robot tank simulation battle. Your job is to create your bot by writing AI code that controls your robot tank to successfully take down your opponents, using natural languages ​​like Java, Scala, C#, and others. To get started, check out the Robocode basics and tutorials at RoboWiki.

You will see robots who focus on attacking the battlefield, and there will also be robots who concentrate on defense. Each player understands the strengths of the opponent robot through each battle experience. Without changing the robot’s characteristics, the opponent’s forces can constantly be absorbed to improve their tank.

The Robocode installer has a development environment, a built-in bot editor, and a Java compiler. Despite its release in 2000, Robocode is still regularly updated and maintained, helped by its being open source and addictive.

Game of codes

Codename Is a game-like web application where you can solve puzzles and challenges by writing code. More than 25 programming languages ​​are supported, including Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, Lua, Go, Rust, and more. Each puzzle or challenge has a theme (for example, the turret can be programmed to drop very close airships), which ups the fun factor.

Coded combat

Code Combat Is another web app with some puzzles and game-like challenges that can only be solved by writing code. But while Codingame is more fun, Codecombat has an exciting learning corner with a “Classroom Edition” that teachers can use to help their students learn to code. Three study tracks are available: computer science, web development, and game development.

4. Codewars

Don’t Come Back Codewar A coding game is a fun way to practice coding and solve algorithmic challenges. You get points for completing puzzles, and point values ​​are determined by how well your solutions work. Codewars allows you to view answers others provide, which you can study and learn from. I think it’s one of the best ways to learn a new programming language and its expressions. 

The Adventures of Vim

Vim Adventures is A fun game-like tutorial to learn how to use Vim, a very unusual but powerful text editor many programming professionals love to use. However, it has a relatively steep learning curve which is why such educational programs exist. So while Vim isn’t a programming language per se, mastering Vim can help you become a more proficient programmer, which is why I’ve included it in this article. 

TIS-100

“It’s the programming game, the assembly language you never asked for!” This is what this game claims to offer. TIS-100 is a video game that forces you to learn and use a simulated version of low-level assembly code to solve its puzzles. This game is no joke – it’s challenging, open-ended, and has incredible replay value as long as you don’t get so frustrated and overwhelmed that you uninstall it in a fit of rage. The game features a launcher that develops fictitious assembly language code to perform specific tasks on a destroyed 1990s virtual fictional computer.

Download: TIS-100 ($6.99)

Shenzhen I/O

From the same development team that created the TIS-100 comes Shenzhen I/O, a puzzle game where you’re tasked with creating circuits and writing simplified assembly code that works on said circuits. Entering Shenzhen I/O is easier and more enjoyable between the two games, with the same satisfying vibe and complexity.

In the game, the player needs to use his existing chip to make signals according to the conditions required to make some electrical components. Since the numbers in the game are stored in decimal form, it is relatively easy to start and reduce costs and operating power consumption; this game has a very high replay value.

Download: Shenzhen I/O ($14.99)

HR machine

In Human Resource Machine, you play as an employee who completes tasks by combining different codes. This game is all about solving puzzles through visual programming. Also, it touches on concepts like logic flow and memory management but is presented in the form of paperwork in an easy-to-understand way.

It’s a great game to exercise your programmer’s brain, and it could also be a good coding game for kids.

Download: HR Machine ($14.99)

Stripes

Screeps (meaning “scanning scripts”) is an MMO strategy game where you use JavaScript to code the behaviors of game entities and build an empire for yourself. The base game includes a private server that you can play on your own and 30 days of full access to the official server. After that, you can continue playing on the official server with a limited capacity, which can be increased with a monthly subscription. 

Download: Screep ($14.99, optional subscription for $9/month)

More ways to sharpen your coding skills

Are you looking for other ways to improve your coding skills? You might benefit from listening to some Podcasts for programmers and developers.

You can also start creating your games using our free game development tools if you’re looking for a suitable way to introduce your kids to the programming world, consider Some Great Programming Lessons and Games for Kids.

However, if you’re still struggling and don’t understand the basics of programming, you should take a step back and consider whether programming is the right choice.