How to Build Games in Python: Complete Tutorial for Beginners

Did you know that many programming languages can be used to create a game? This variety can sometimes make it tricky for beginners to decide which one to start with. However, if you want to develop a simple game, Python is a great choice due to its easy debugging, readable syntax, and code reusability, making it ideal for beginners. 

In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through each step of creating a game in Python. We’ll also take a moment to explore some of the exciting features, benefits, and the most popular games made with Python.

Is Python For Game Development Reliable?

Before diving into how to develop games with Python, it’s helpful to consider whether Python is a good choice for game development. The answer can be different depending on your needs. 

For those just starting in game development, Python can be an excellent first programming language. With its simple, easy-to-read syntax, reusable code, straightforward debugging tools, and a wide variety of helpful libraries, it’s often a favorite among new developers. 

In fact, even large game development companies use Python for game prototyping, including your favorite games. Later, these AAA titles are remade in more scalable languages like C++ or C#. Moreover, some prominent games also use Python for specific elements of the game, like scoring or inner logic.

Python is an object-oriented programming language that comes with powerful high-level data structures. It supports dynamic typing along with flexible dynamic programming binding, making it a popular choice for many developers.

How to Develop a Game in Python? Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a Python game is an exciting journey. It involves simple steps like brainstorming ideas, selecting your development team, pre-production, production, testing, pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. In this guide, we’ll happily guide you through making your very first 2D game in Python using Pygame, an open-source cross-platform library used for developing games.

Step 1: Install Python and Pygame

First and foremost, visit Python.org to download and install Python (be sure to check “ADD PATH” during the installation process). After that, you’ll want to install Pygame. Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command – ‘pip install pygame’. 

Step 2: Open a Game Window

Create a new file game.py and add this code: 

import pygameimport sys import pygame import sys pygame.init() Set screen size WIDTH, HEIGHT = 800, 600 screen = pygame.display.set_mode((WIDTH, HEIGHT)) pygame.display.set_caption(“My First Game”) Main game loop running = True while running: screen.fill((30, 30, 30)) # Gray background for event in pygame.event.get(): if event.type == pygame.QUIT: running = False pygame.display.update() pygame.quit() sys.exit()

Try running this command, and a window with a soft gray background will appear. That’s your game world beginning to come alive.

Step 3: Add a Player Character

Next, let’s add a small green square that the player can control with the arrow keys. 

player_x = 400 player_y = 300 player_speed = 5 while running: screen.fill((30, 30, 30)) keys = pygame.key.get_pressed() if keys[pygame.K_LEFT]: player_x -= player_speed if keys[pygame.K_RIGHT]: player_x += player_speed if keys[pygame.K_UP]: player_y -= player_speed if keys[pygame.K_DOWN]: player_y += player_speed # Draw player pygame.draw.rect(screen, (0, 255, 0), (player_x, player_y, 50, 50)) for event in pygame.event.get(): if event.type == pygame.QUIT: running = False pygame.display.update()

Great job! You’re now able to move the square using your keyboard. Keep up the good work! 

Step 4: Add an Obstacle or Enemy

Let’s include a bright red square or a character that can serve as the enemy. This way, the game will look more lively and engaging! 

enemy = pygame.Rect(200, 150, 50, 50) Inside the game loop pygame.draw.rect(screen, (255, 0, 0), enemy) player_rect = pygame.Rect(player_x, player_y, 50, 50) if player_rect.colliderect(enemy): print(“Boom! You hit the enemy!”) running = False

If the player hits the red square, the game ends. 

Step 5: Add Scoring

Now, you can also add a scoring system to count how long you survive. 

import time start_time = time.time() Inside the loop, before display.update() score = int(time.time() – start_time) font = pygame.font.SysFont(None, 36) score_text = font.render(f”Score: {score}”, True, (255, 255, 255)) screen.blit(score_text, (10, 10))

This will add a timer to the screen, making it easier for you to keep track of time.

Step 6: Game Over and Restart Option

You can also add a replay and game-over option. 

if player_rect.colliderect(enemy): print(“Game Over”) pygame.time.delay(2000) # Pause for 2 seconds player_x, player_y = 400, 300 # Reset position start_time = time.time() # Reset score

Additional Tips to Refine the Game

• Replace the square with images using pygame.image.load()
• Add sound effects with pygame.mixer.Sound()
• Set up multiple levels
• Add more enemies to increase the game’s competitiveness.
• Expand it into a complete game with a start screen, pause button, and high scores.

Python Game Development Frameworks

Frameworks play a vital role in game development with Python. They provide the essential elements such as graphics, sound, and rendering, making the process smoother and more efficient. These open-source platforms are fantastic tools that help bring the core features of your games to life.

Here are some of the most popular frameworks that developers often turn to when creating games with Python: 

FastAPI

Fast API is a Python framework that helps build robust APIs. It provides high performance, speed, and efficiency, making development a breeze. 

CherryPy

CherryPy is a user-friendly, object-oriented framework designed to help developers build web applications with ease. It includes a built-in multi-threaded web server and can be effortlessly deployed behind popular servers like Apache, making your game development process smoother and more enjoyable. 

Django

Django is a full-stack framework that includes features like ORM, admin interface, authentication, and more. It is primarily used to build clean and effective designs. 

These were the main frameworks that are in trend. If you want to know more about frameworks in detail, visit our blog: Top 11 Python Frameworks For Game Development

What are the Best Game Engines for Python?

Game engines are indispensable for the development of games using Python, providing the essential framework for designing and deploying games. Fortunately, Python is compatible with a types of game engines, each offering distinct advantages. The following are some of the premier options available for game development. 

PyGame: Best for 2D Games

PyGame is a top choice for creating 2D games in Python. It provides everything you need to build a simple 2D game, including a powerful low-level graphics library. 

Although it’s not suitable for graphically demanding 3D games, it’s a popular and beloved choice for creating simple and enjoyable 2D games. 

Panda 3D: Best for 3D Games

If you’re interested in making a 3D game with Python, Panda 3D is a fantastic option to consider. Although its core is built with C++, it offers various APIs that can be easily accessed through a Python interface, making it straightforward for developers to craft their 3D games. Interestingly, Panda 3D was even used to develop Disney’s ToonTown.

What are the Latest Features of Python for Game Development?

Python 3.13 introduces a wide range of features and improvements aimed at enhancing performance, developer experience, and concurrency support. Let’s explore some of its key features below. These updates eliminate the hassle in Python game development. 

Features	Description	Benefits
Experimental JIT Compiler	Introduces a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler to enhance execution speed.	Faster execution for many Python programs.
Improved REPL	Upgraded Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL) with multi-line editing, syntax highlighting, and color support.	Enhances the interactive coding experience, making it more user-friendly.
Incremental Garbage Collector	Implements a garbage collector that works incrementally, reducing long pause times during memory management.	Seamless performance, especially for applications with heavy memory usage.
Experimental-free Threaded Build	Offers an optional build that removes the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), enabling true multi-threaded concurrency.	Allows better performance for multi-threaded applications.
Optimized Exception Handling	This makes error management fast and convenient.	Better performance in code that heavily relies on exceptions.
Enhanced Build System	Updates to Python’s build system, streamlining compilation and compatibility across platforms.	Easier compilation and deployment on various systems.
Standard Library Updates	Along with new modules and various updates, the libraries have many functions added, including logging and datetime.	Expanded functionality out of the box.
Improved Performance	General optimizations include inlined comprehensions and better specialization of frequently used code patterns.	Improved runtime performance for many everyday tasks.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Python Game Development

Undoubtedly, every coin has two sides; similarly, developing a Python game can have benefits and advantages. 

Aspect	Advantages	Disadvantages
Easy Accessibility	Ideal for beginners, simple, easy to read, and clean syntax.	High levels can hide low-level details, leading to inefficient information.
Versatility	Supports multiple paradigms (e.g., OOP, procedural, functional) and diverse use cases.	Here, some tasks require more effort and optimization, as it is not specialized for specific fields.
Large Ecosystem	Provides extensive libraries and frameworks.	The involvement of third-party packages can lead to fragmentation and dependency issues.
Community Support	A vast, active community provides resources, tutorials, and open-source contributions.	The large community can also mean irregular practices and outdated
Portability	Cross-platform compatibility with minimal changes	Requires the Python interpreter to run, which might be unavailable in specific environments.
Dynamic Typing	Allows flexibility by not requiring explicit type declarations.	It can lead to runtime errors and make debugging large applications more challenging.
Rapid Development	Encourages quick prototyping and development.	It may not be the best choice for projects requiring high computational speed.
Interpreted Nature	Enables line-by-line execution, making debugging easier.	Time-consuming implementation compared to compiled languages like C or C++

What are the Most Popular Games Developed Using Python?

Millions of games are developed in Python by game developers, but only a few games truly shake the entire gaming industry. These games have attracted a large, diverse player base and continue to be played to this day. 

1. Eve Online (Early Development)

Python is crucial to the development of this game. As a MMORPG, it’s part of the largest and most intricate genre. The game’s server-side logic relies on Python for tasks such as database management and gameplay mechanics.  

2. Civilization IV (Modding and Game Scripting)

Looking for a game that’s all about strategy and suspense? This one’s for you. It’s one of the most popular strategy-based games, and it uses Python as the scripting language for game events, actions, and AI. Plus, its mods support Python for creating custom scenarios, mods, and AI behavior. 

3. Frets on Fire

Music enthusiasts might gravitate towards this game, which is an open-source music rhythm game similar to Guitar Hero. The game is built with a Python library tailored for creating 2D games. As you play, you’ll also learn about music. 

4. Battle for Wesnoth

Python is used in parts of the game engine for its logic and scripting. Battle for Wesnoth features campaigns, various units, and strategic elements heavily influenced by the community and modders.  

5. Traitors Gate 2

Adventure fans will love this point-and-click game, developed by Daydream Software AB and published by DreamCatcher Interactive. It’s a sequel to the 1999 game Traitors’ Gate.

Interesting Facts About Python

• Python was named after Monty Python’s Flying Circus. 
• In 2015, Python was more famous than French.
• It is similar to the traditional English language.
• In Star Wars, effects were created with the help of Python. 
• Python users are between 18 and 27 years old.
• 4 out of 5 developers prefer the Python language for development. 
• In 2019, Python was in 2nd place in searches for programming languages.
• Python is one of the official languages used by Google.
• There are more than 90000+ Python jobs available right now.
• Python has been used as a hobby for game developers.

Final Words

While Python might not be the first name you think of for game development, it has quietly earned a reputation as a versatile and powerful tool for creating engaging games. It’s especially great for beginners and indie developers. With helpful libraries like Pygame and game engines like Panda3D, you can easily turn your mobile game ideas into reality without mastering complicated syntax. 

Whether you are looking to prototype a game, build a lightweight 2D platformer, or simply learn how games work behind the scenes, Python is a great place to start. With the release of Python 3.13, performance has leapt forward, making game creation smoother than ever.

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