Introduction
The video game development industry is constantly evolving, and since the early days of games like Pong, it has come a long way thanks to ground-breaking technological breakthroughs, advanced programming language, and the game developers whose creativity and skills go into conceptualising the games and then making them.
If you’re interested in the game development industry and want to know more about the best programming language to use, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the world’s best programming languages for video game development.
What is game development?
In short, game development is the comprehensive process of creating a video game from start to finish, which could involve anywhere from one individual working alone to create a relatively simple Indie game up to huge teams of people consisting of thousands or more individuals who collaboratively work to produce high-end triple-A games ↗️.
Some of the main roles include writers, artists, programmers, sound designers, and level designers, to name a few. Some companies use existing game engines to craft their games, such as Unreal Engine or Unity, whereas others develop their games using their own unique in-house game engines and software.
I want to get into game development, so which programming language should I use?
Perhaps you have recently read the latest game release news 32Red ↗️ often shares on its website and have wondered how the games they frequently add to their extensive library are made. First of all, you need to consider learning one or more reliable programming languages.
For someone who is getting into game development for the first time, the various programming languages can seem a bit of a minefield, so choosing the right one is essential to optimise your experience when developing games.
Without further ado, the best programming languages to consider learning for game development are the following:
- C++
- Python
- C#
- Java
- JavaScript
- Lua
- Swift
All of these trusted programming languages are general-purpose programming languages. They can be learned via paid courses or through various trusted online resources.
Some of the qualities that make these programming languages ideal for game development are performance, ease of use, Interoperability, memory management, and community and support.
What are game engines?
The game engines are the things that make game development convenient and have several functionalities, including animation, scripting, rendering 2D/3D graphics, collision detection, networking, and streaming.
Let’s take a quick look at a few examples of games created using various game engines and programming languages. They include the following:
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Games: Fortnite, Gears of War.
Game Engine: Unreal Engine.
Programming language: C#.
Features: Active game development community, support for VR and AR + advanced networking support for multiplayer.
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Games: Half-Life: Alyx, Dota Underlords.
Game Engine: Source 2.
Programming language: C++.
Features: advanced physics simulation, cross-platform, dynamic lighting.
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Games: Hunt: Showdown, Far Cry.
Game Engine: CryEngine.
Programming language: C++.
Features: multi-platform, WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get), water and buoyancy simulation.
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Games: Cuphead, Pokémon GO.
Game Engine: Unity.
Programming language: C#.
Features: Powerful 2D/3D graphics, cross-platform, considerable community of players.
Conclusion
If you’re unsure which programming language might be more suitable for you, remember the following. JavaScript or Python ↗️ would be the best programming language choice for web-based games. For all beginners, using C#, Java, JavaScript, Lua, or Python is highly recommended.
For simple games, use C#, JavaScript, Lua, or Python. For 3D games, triple-A games, or console games, use C# or C++. For Android games, use Java, C#, or C++. For Android games, use C#, C++, or Swift. For PC games, use Python, Java, C#, or C++; for VR/AR games, use Swift, JavaScript, C#, or C++.