5 Educational Games for Developers

Learning to program is not just studying textbooks, forums and articles. It is also a game – or rather, games, and specialized ones at that. We are talking about gamification in the learning process, when the material is prepared in a game form. It turns out that there are many such projects. We show the most interesting ones in this selection!

Retro Gadgets

The simulator is designed for coders with experience in assembling electronic devices, that is, for those who are able to solder a device and develop software for it. The tasks in the game, despite its “lamp-like” nature, are quite complex. You need to solder, however, in the virtual world, plus assemble various systems from individual modules and write code on Lua.

The game has a large community, and if you want, you can share your developments with community members. Interestingly, the project's authors have added copy protection. Community members will be able to check whether the device assembled in virtual reality works, but they will not be able to copy the circuit or code.

Joy of Programming

Well, here is pure joy of programming. At least, in the form in which the authors of the project imagine it. There is also an opportunity to work with 3D graphics, if there is such a desire. The tasks in the game are quite complex. The main vector here is automation and control of robots, navigation, logistics and machine learning. For example, to solve various tasks in the game, you need to write Python code. By the way, these tasks are also quite difficult – so if you are a beginner, it is better to try something else.

CPU-Chef

The game is designed for beginners in the world of electronics, as its only purpose is to help learn the structure of a PC or laptop. The developers help users understand what modules, including the processor, hub, etc., are intended for what purpose.

CPU-Chef perfectly demonstrates the nuances of chip heating and its impact on the computer's operation. Everything is shown very clearly. It is suitable even for those who imagine a PC or laptop as a “black box” with incomprehensible processes inside.

SQL Murder Mystery

The name itself makes it clear that the game is intended for developers studying SQL. The plot is interesting: you need to solve crimes in the world of databases. During the investigation, gamers learn to create databases, forms, and also to write SQL queries correctly in order to identify the real criminal. Here you need to be very careful: if the query is made with errors, the detective will have a hard time.

Check.IO

A great game for learning Python and TypeScript. It looks good, inside the interface there are islands with tasks and puzzles. The game has different difficulty levels: it will suit both beginners and experienced coders. There are hints at the very beginning, but gradually there are fewer of them.

After completing any level, the game gives the optimal solution, i.e. the code that allows you to solve the task. The player needs to compare the machine version with his own, which makes it possible to understand the level of mastery of the specified PL. A positive aspect of the game is the community. Inside, you can request an assessment of your code by other participants and check the correctness of the solution proposed by community members.

Screeps

And this is a game that is perfect for learning JavaScript and useful frameworks, including Node.js. The idea is to create colonies that need to be resourced and expanded. Correctly written code allows you to successfully develop a colony, trade with others, and achieve military victories. The better and cleaner the code is, the faster you can establish a self-sufficient colony.

Experienced developers can help the project authors improve the game engine.

Swift Playgrounds

This is a game for iOS developers who are learning Swift.

The game is an application for smartphones and laptops from Apple, which gives the opportunity to learn how to create software for the Cupertino company's mobile OS. The developers also promise to help make toys for the AppStore.

Everything is organized well. The game has a clear interactive interface. The code written by the gamer is visualized, so it is immediately clear how good or, on the contrary, bad the code created by the player is.

The game does not throw the user into the pool headlong, but immerses him in the process gradually. At first, small and simple programs are studied, then it becomes more difficult. As a result, the course participants can create their own projects, share them with friends and submit their application to the App Store.

Knights of the Flexbox Table

Here is a game for those who plan to learn CSS. It starts with the basics and gradually becomes more complex. It is proposed to solve various problems using the CSS frameworks Flexbox and Tailwind. An excellent game for those who need to quickly master CSS.

CodeCombat

A game that allows you to learn Python and JavaScript. Moreover, if the first PL is open by default and free, you will have to pay for access to the second. The cost is $3.99 per month or $39.6 per year. The game helps you learn Python, JavaScript, and HTML. The set of languages ​​is not that big, but the game allows beginners to get basic knowledge, and developers who already have experience writing code – advanced knowledge.

If you have your own favorite educational games that we haven't mentioned, please share them in the comments.