Introduction
The gaming industry is about to witness a huge wave of success starting this year. As per Statista, between 2024 and 2027, it is expected to have an annual growth rate of 8.76% and hit revenue of US$282.30bn by 2027. This transformation will lead to an increase in the scope of jobs in the gaming sector. To meet current expectations of the evolving landscape of the gaming industry, one needs to be aware of the best options for programming languages that will have a lasting impact. Today, in this article, we will explore the best programming languages for game development in 2024. So, by the end of this article, you can choose one perfect programming language for your game development journey. Let’s check them out one by one.
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8 Best Programming Languages for Game Development in 2024
C++
Since its inception, C++ has been widely used for developing Windows games, game engines, and consoles. One of the most crucial features in game development is having the perfect blend of high-level and low-level programming. Because in game development, a slight delay or lag is enough for players to lose interest. But C++ has the best of both worlds, which allows it to communicate directly with the hardware and maintain a high level of abstraction. This feature makes C++ stand out among other programming languages like Java, Python, and C#. Some of the games built using C++ are World of Warcraft, League of Legends, AAA video games, and Minecraft. Besides, it is also used in 2D and 3D games.
C++ Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) | This library is used for cross-platform development tasks like multimedia tasks, graphics, windowing, audio, and input. |
| Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) | A robust library for both 2D and 3D games. |
| Bullet Physics | This library is perfect for games that need realistic interaction. |
| Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) | An open standard is used for 3D graphics rendering |
| Boost.Geometry | This library is beneficial for developing games that require complex geometry and spatial calculations. |
| Cocos2d-x | It is an open-source game development framework for both 2D and 3D game development |
| Irrlicht Engine | An open-source 3D game engine |
Benefits of learning C++ for Game Development
- Rich Libraries and Frameworks: The C++ ecosystem is filled with plenty of libraries and frameworks for game development. This provides developers with limitless pre-built functionalities to streamline development.
- Golden Career Opportunity: Since C++ has 30 years of fame in the gaming industry, getting expertise in C++ can open the doors to various roles in game development studios.
- Active and Large Community: There is a shortage of developers, forums, tutorials, and open-source projects in C++. This active community helps you with continuous learning and support.
- Mainstream Language: C++ is an extension of C, which is a foundational programming language. If you master the concepts of C++, then its versatility will help you learn more new programming languages with ease.
C#
In our list of the best programming languages for game development, C# holds the second spot on our list. It is closely linked with the popular game “Unity” which was developed by Microsoft. The C# programming language is a modern object-oriented programming language that is used with the.NET framework. Its support for multithreading and parallel programming allowed the creation of popular games like Pokemon Go, Stardew Valley, and Cuphead. In addition, it offers extensive libraries and tools to develop games and various applications.
C# Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| Entitas-CSharp | A lightning-fast entity component system (ECS) framework for C# and Unity engine. |
| Opentk | It is a library for math and threading that includes functions for vector, matrix, and quaternion operations. It also allows them to create and manage multiple threads in their application. |
| ET | This library comes with a built-in networking system and a built-in physics engine that allows developers to create multi-player games with realistic environments and objects. |
| UnrealCLR | It is a library to create complex games with a minimal number of lines of code. With this library, developers can create games for Windows and MacOS. |
| ForgeNetworkingRemastered | This library comes with built-in support for authoritative server and client sides. It helps developers add networking functionality, integrate real-time chat, and stream services into their game quickly. |
| Duality | It provides a wide range of built-in scene editors. |
Benefits of C#
- C# Native Language for Unity: Since C# is the native programming language for Unity, there is no scarcity of resources when troubleshooting C# within Unity.
- Ease of Learning: If you’re familiar with other programming languages, then learning C# won’t take much time and will decrease the learning curve. This makes it a good starting point for beginners who are trying to step into game development with Unity.
- Versatile Language: Using the cross-platform abilities of Unity, you can use C# to create games for desktop, mobile, and console.
- Support from the Large Developer Community: If you get stuck or need help with any queries, the developer community is always available to offer you help. Not only that but there are plenty of resources available to troubleshoot and help with issues that you encounter specifically within Unity.
JavaScript
Well, JavaScript might not be the first choice for some. But when discussing game development, we cannot ignore JavaScript. It is widely popular for creating web-based games to improve user engagement and the user experience. Also, the games built using JavaScript run in every browser. Some of the popular games in JavaScript are Gods Will Be Watching, Cross Code, and Alchemy. If you’re an absolute beginner and try your hands in game development, JavaScript will be a good start!
JavaScript Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| Matter.js | This library provides a 2D physics engine that helps developers create objects with various shapes and properties that correspond to physical behavior. |
| PhaseJS | It is a game framework for JavaScript that supports both WebGL and Canvas, helping you with 2D game development. |
| Stage.js | This is a 2D HTML5 JavaScript library for cross-platform game development with built-in support for animation and tweening. |
| Three.js | It is a 3D library for JavaScript used to create engaging and interactive 3D graphics within web browsers with virtual reality experiences. |
| Kaboom.js | It is a lightweight and flexible JavaScript game library that helps developers create 2D games in the browser. |
| PhysicsJS | This library is a graphic-focused engine that lets you use physics simulation in your game. |
Benefits of JavaScript for Game Development
- No plugin installation is needed: Modern web browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, support JavaScript. Its cross-platform compatibility feature frees developers from installing additional plugins and software. Thus, the web game you design using JavaScript can help you reach a broad audience and run seamlessly on various devices.
- WebAssembly and WebGL: This can greatly help in handling complex graphics and calculations. Also, you can create a wide range of web game genres, from simple 2D games to sophisticated 3D adventures.
- Vast and Active Developer Community: JavaScript proudly boasts its vast and active developer community, which offers you a wealth of resources, libraries, frameworks, and tutorials that you need. This will help you whenever you get stuck on something in your web game development journey.
- Great for freelancers and Small Teams: JavaScript is also great for rapid prototyping and development. This flexibility allows freelancers and small teams to iterate quickly and test game concepts. Plus, checking the results in real time and adjusting doesn’t take more time.
- Benefits for Absolute Beginners: JavaScript’s simple learning curve makes it easy for developers with less experience to create games. Even if you’re an absolute beginner, you can start creating web games with the help of resources like free courses and online coding courses like CodeAcademy and FreeCodeCamp.
Java
Our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Java. It is an excellent choice for developing games for diverse platforms, including Android mobile games. Some of the commendable features it supports are socket programming and the JavaFX library. Thus, with the support of socket programming, you can seamlessly build multiplayer games. Plus, the JavaFX library provides tools through which working with graphics and animations is super easy. Popular games developed using Java are Runescape, Mission Impossible III, and Minecraft. And jMonkeyEngine, Jake2, and LibGDK are its supported game engines.
Java Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| LibGDX | It is a framework for Java that provides all the necessary tools and libraries for creating 2D and 3D games across different platforms |
| Ardor3DA | A robust and flexible game engine that helps developers create impressive 3D games without hassle. |
| LWJGL | This library enables Java to access popular native APIs and OpenGL and other native APIs. |
| LITIENGINE | This is a pure 2D Java game engine. |
| JBox2D | It is a 2D physics engine that can be used to add realistic physics to games to any Java engine. |
| jMonkeyEngine | A complete 3-D game development engine in Java. |
| Void2D | Void2D is a super-fast, high-level 2D game engine with built-in physics features. |
| Slick2D | This library is for building a 2D game engine that provides an easy-to-use interface for developing 2D games. |
| JInput | It is a cross-platform library that provides access to input devices, including gamepads, joysticks, and keyboards. |
Benefits of using Java for Game Development
- Support of multithreading: Java supports the thread concept, which allows developers to create multiple threads in your gaming program and start them. This saves a lot of time by performing multiple operations together and allowing multiple operations to be performed simultaneously.
- Socket Programming: This connects two nodes on a network to communicate with each other. One socket accepts a particular port at an Internet Protocol (IP), and the other socket extends itself to form a connection. This socket programming is beneficial for creating multiplayer games.
- Rich Ecosystem: Java offers a wide range of libraries that developers can use to create anything from networking and games to AI and ML.
- Native Mobile Support: Java is the default language of Android development. So, it makes it a strong choice for creating mobile-based games.
- In-Demand: Java is highly sought-after for building enterprise applications. According to Oracle, there are more than 9 million Java developers worldwide. Learning Java allows you to easily and quickly find coding jobs.
Swift
If you want to develop games for iOS devices, then Swift is an excellent choice. It helps develop complex and large iOS games. It is well-known for its remarkable speed and high security. Using Swift, iOS developers can create high-performance Apple games with impressive designs. Moreover, it also offers libraries like SpriteKit and SceneKit, using which you can add high-quality 2D and 3D graphics to your games. Some of the popular games developed using Swift are Herodom and Skillzone. And the game engines it supports are ARKit, SceneKit, and SpriteKit.
Swift Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| SpriteKit | It is a library of Swift that lets developers build a 2D game with physics, sprites, animations, and much more. |
| SceneKit | It is used to develop 3D games and augmented reality games. |
Benefits of Swift for Game Development
- High-performance: Swift’s speed and efficiency are similar to sports cars. Performance is vital in gaming, and Swift has blazing-fast performance and runs smoothly without any difficulty. Swift is perfect for Apple devices and runs perfectly on its devices, such as iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
- Reach a Broader Audience: Swift is commonly used for Apple gadgets first. But now developers can create games for other platforms that can help reach a broader audience.
- Seamless Integration: With tools like SpriteKit, SceneKit, and ARKit, game development is simplified with cutting-edge features and platform-specific libraries that provide an impressive gaming experience.
Lua
Although Lua doesn’t have the same popularity as Java, C#, C++, or JavaScript, it is still a powerful scripting language for game development. Once you embrace your game development journey with Lua, you will be amazed by its quick and simple modification of game behavior without recompiling game code. Some of the well-known games built using Lua are Roblox, Broken Age, and Age of Canon. The game engines that it supports are Cocos 2D, WorldForge, and CraftStudion.
Lua Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| xmake | It is a cross-platform build utility for a C++-based library for Lua. |
| Sol2 | This is a Lua API wrapper that consists of advanced features. |
| Wolf Engine | A comprehensive set of C/C++ open-source libraries for Lua. This library is for game development, real-time rendering, and real-time streaming. |
Benefits of Lua for Game Development
- Embeddable Game Engine: Lua can easily be embedded within other programming languages. Similar to C++, Lua also has the best of high-level scripting and the performance of lower-level languages. Thus, game developers can create critical game components.
- Minimal Overhead: Lua’s lightweight design helps with memory usage, and maintaining binary size is extremely beneficial for resource-constrained environments like game consoles and mobile devices.
- Easy Syntax: Its straightforward and readable syntax makes the language perfect for both experienced and novice programmers. This also promotes rapid prototyping and iteration during game development.
- Impressive Performance: Lua’s fast performance and just-in-time (JIT) compiler can generate machine code and fast execution.
HTML5
Yet another programming language for developing web games is on our list. According to Beyond Market Insights, HTML 5 is expected to grow revenue to US$31.89 billion by 2030. This market insight indicates that a career in game development using HTML5 in the coming years is going to be lucrative. HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript are the three building blocks of web development. By leveraging the power of CSS and JavaScript with HTML5, developers can create a wide range of games, from simple ones to advanced shooter games. Some of the most popular games developed using HTML5 include Save the Day, Cut the Rope, BrowserQuest, and A Grain of Truth.
HTML5 Game Development Engine
| Game Engine | Description |
|---|---|
| Phaser | It is a versatile framework for building games in HTML5 that is best suited for creating simple and complex games. |
| Impact | This powerful game engine is known for its flexibility and ease of use. |
| Crafty | This game engine is perfect for smaller projects due to its lightweight nature. Developers can benefit from this game engine to create highly optimized games. |
| Construct 2 | It is ideal for beginners and experienced developers. It is a user-friendly tool that helps developers with no experience build impressive games in HTML5. |
Benefits of HTML 5 for Game Development
- Universal Access: Games developed by HTML5 work on any device or operating system, which means the game you create has the potential to reach a wider audience.
- Target Both Web and Mobile Platforms: HTML5 games can seamlessly operate with different devices without any modifications. Its cross-platform compatibility can leverage the features of modern mobile devices, such as touch gestures and device orientation.
- Suited for Emerging Market Trends: The HTML5 game market is increasing, with the number of avid players increasing exponentially worldwide. It makes the language suitable for emerging market trends, which opens a plethora of new opportunities.
Python
Finally, we have Python on our list of the best programming languages for game development. Though Python is not widely used for game development, it is a great starting point for beginners. Since the language has already acquired the fame of being beginner-friendly and readable, with a syntax that is akin to the English language, it is extremely advantageous for absolute beginners. So, if you’re a beginner and want to try to enter the game domain, Python is an ideal choice for you. Some of the popular games built using Python are Battlefield 2, Mount and Blade, and Toontown. And the game engines it supports are PyGame, Godot, and Ren.py.
Python Libraries for Game Development
| Library | Description |
|---|---|
| Ren’Py’s | It allows Python developers to work with complex game logic. Using this library, developers can include images and sounds to create visual novels and life simulation games. |
| Pygame | This is an open-source library that helps developers create fully featured games and multimedia applications. |
| Panda3D | This library is for real-time 3D games, visualizations, simulations, experiments, and more. Other than that, it supports third-party libraries like Bullet physics engines, Assimp model loaders, OpenAL, and FMOD sound libraries. |
| Pyglet | It is one of the robust Python libraries that can help developers build games with visually rich applications on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. |
| PyKyra | PyKyra is a fast game framework for Python that supports MPEG video, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Wav, direct image reading, and much more. |
Benefits of using Python for Game Development
- Rapid Development: Python’s simple and English-like syntax makes it an ideal choice of language for game development for beginners. A low learning curve helps them quickly prototype and iterate their game ideas.
- A big supportive community: Python has a large active community of developers that contributes to its rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks. Libraries like Pygame, Panda3D, and Godot offer a range of tools and resources that can help you in your game development project.
- Cross-platform: When developers create a game in Python, it can run on various operating systems with minimal code modifications. This cross-platform approach allows Python games to reach a broader audience.
- Harness the Strength of Other Programming Languages: Python can be easily integrated with languages like C++ and C#. Thus, developers can increase the performance-critical sections of the game.
How to pick the right language for Game Development?
Picking the right programming language is a significant step. Since every language has its own strengths and stands neck-neck with each other, you must consider your project’s specific needs and the developer team’s expertise. But to make your choice easier, here is the breakdown:
- If you’ve got less experience in programming but want to venture out into the world of game development, then you must start by creating simple games first. In this regard, the HTML5, Python, Lua, JavaScript, and C# programming languages are ideal options.
- If you’re an expert in developing games and want to try out developing 3D games, without a doubt, C++ and C# are great choices.
- For developing web-based games, you can pick JavaScript, HTML5 and Python.
- C++, C#, JavaScript, and Swift are preferred languages for developing AR and VR games.
- C++ and C# are also the best choices for developing console games and AAA games.
- Java is an official language for developing Android apps and games, but if you don’t want to use Java for Android games, you can also use C# and C++.
- Similarly, alternatives to Swift are C++ and C# for developing iOS games.
So, this was all about the best programming languages for game development in 2024. With this, you can now easily choose the best programming language for game development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In modern-day game development, assembly language is optional. But if you have familiarity with working with assembly language, then it can help you optimize performance-critical code.
C++, C#, Java, and JavaScript are mostly used in game development. C++ is favored for its performance, while C# is widely used with Unity game engines.
JavaScript is commonly used to develop games for web browsers. It works with HTML5 and WebGL and supports game engines like Phaser.
Yes, some engines support multiple programming languages: Unreal Engine, Blueprints, and Unity.
Not exactly, but if you know more than one programming language, then it will be advantageous for you. It will broaden your skill set and allow you to work with different engines. And further, diversify your game development capabilities.
