For many, the world of computer coding can seem quite daunting. However, code is just like any other language, with its own grammar, syntax, and all the hallmarks of a regular written language. With coding, though, the world can bend to those who can speak it. There are plenty of languages to choose from: C++, C#, JavaScript, Python, etc. That is where the magical world of coding games comes in.
Coding itself is one big, difficult logic puzzle. The pieces are all given, and it is up to the player to solve the puzzle in any way they see fit. Because of that, there are many ways that coding can be presented to the player to keep it interesting while also teaching gamers, to some extent, how to code.
10 Duskers
It's hard to believe that a game that requires the player to write out commands to drones can instill such a visceral sense of fear. However, that is precisely what Duskers does. The player has no direct control over anything; instead, they will code commands into a series of drones as they explore a derelict spaceship room by room.
The coding aspect is minimal and easy to learn for newcomers. Visibility is limited and there is no telling what lies in the next room. The player must be methodical with their planning and quick with their commands if they want their drones to survive another day.
9 while True: learn()
Most programmers will say that some of the first things they learned about in school involved how to sort data. That very process is at the heart of this game. Through the use of visual programming (code by using visual modules), the player will create a system that will sort through different forms of data, starting by sorting red, green, and blue into their correct outputs.
From there, the player will dive into how machine learning works. In terms of the story, all of this is in the hopes of creating a cat to human speech system. There is quite possibly no better motivation than that.
8 Shenzhen I/O
One aspect that many do not think about when it comes to coding is how it all works in the physical sense. It is easy enough to say that coding is just writing stuff on a computer, but in reality, much of what can be done digitally is actually done physically through the use of computer circuits. That's what this game is all about.
The player must create the most efficient system they can for a given task, entirely through the use of computer chip logic and waveforms. Players will be expected to read the manual and work within the confines of the actual assembly coding language. As with most of Zachtronics' games, this is a game fit for true logic puzzle junkies, maybe even two.
7 Else Heart.Break()
As a combination of a coming-of-age story and the Matrix, this game stands out by placing an equal focus on story and character, but also the emergent gameplay that coding often allows. The player will take on the world as an up-and-coming door-to-door soda salesman.
After quickly learning that the world is much harsher when faced alone, the player will come into the possession of a special tool that allows them to rewrite the code of reality itself. Change the color of a random streetlight, create a loop that cycles infinitely until it stumbles on the correct code to unlock a door, or just hack a computer. The world is quite literally at the player's fingertips.
6 Quadrilateral Cowboy
A true cyberpunk game, Quadrilateral Cowboy has the player inhabit a world of intrigue as a heister with a penchant for hacking. Through the use of their hacking deck, the player will solve puzzles through a mixture of interfacing with their surroundings and parkouring around.
Getting in for the heist is easy, but all too often, the player will also need to plan their escape route in a similar vein to Teardown. Gamers will have a fleet of tools at their disposal to help them plan their heist, and execute it with the utmost efficiency.
5 Screeps
MMOs and RTSs are some of the biggest genres in all of gaming. Throw a heaping tablespoon of coding into the mix, and the result is Screeps. The player will begin by picking their preferred plot of land on a large map shared by NPCs and other players. From there, it's all about gathering resources and building infrastructure.
Players do this by coding their own AI in JavaScript. Creating solid, efficient code quickly is key to overcoming any oncoming dangers and persevering over the other players. This is about as close to real coding as it gets; tutorials are a must if the player wants to wrap their head around the game.
4 Exapunks
Another programming gem from Zachtronics, Exapunks will have the player writing commands for a little robot in a grid-like arena, solving puzzles. This game adds a physicality to the process of data management that makes it easier to grasp for people who are partial to seeing their work in action.
Do not be fooled, though, as this game does not hold the player's hand. Those who want to succeed, not just in completing their task but doing it in the most efficient way possible, will need to read the manual.
3 Gladiabots
For players who believs programming is too dull, Gladiabots offers machine guns and explosions to pull them back in. In this game, the player will need to create the script for their own AI. Players can add their custom scripts to individual robots on their team.
With this script, the player's robots will compete in a game against an enemy's robot team. Scripting is once again done with visual programming, but a more simplified version. Assess the situation and program accordingly. It truly is one of the better puzzle games of 2019.
2 Untrusted
A little-unknown puzzle game, Untrusted is about as pure of a programming experience one can get while still having fun. In this browser game, the player has to literally edit the JavaScript code that is running the game.
The player will be shown a chunk of code, and most of the code will be uneditable. In the space of code that gamers can edit, it is entirely up to the player how to solve the puzzle. As most programmers know, Copy/Paste is the player's friend in this game.
1 7 Billion Humans
From Tomorrow Corporation, the creators of one of the best puzzle games ever, World Of Goo, 7 Billion Humans has the player controlling a fleet of humans as they execute the player's commands. The trick to this game is that every human is executing the same code, so the code must be viable for everyone.
Players must account for walls, holes in the floor, and even their humans throwing themselves into a shredder. This is a great choice for players to get into this style of logic puzzle. It has the best difficulty curve for those who want a difficult but fair challenge as the game progresses.