Can Python be used to make games?
Yes, Python can be used to make games but it is not popular and well suited for Game Development. You can use Pygame, Panda3D, or Shark3D Game Engines to make games with Python, it is worth noting that Python is not the language of choice for developing powerful AAA games.
You will not be making AAA level games, but you will still be able to develop decent games that can attract the attention of many users. Python is better suited for Web development applications, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Automation, System Administration, etc.
Since its design by Guido van Rossum in 1991, Python has grown in popularity and usage in many software development fields, Python has grown to become the third most popular programming language behind Javascript and SQL, it is also one of the most loved programming languages.
According to a Stack Overflow survey of 2022, Python is the 6th loved programming language, it is loved by 67.34% of professional developers versus 32.66% of developers who dreaded it. Its popularity keeps increasing year over year.
Python is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language that is very easy to use and understand, it is one of the most beginner-friendly programming languages, and its syntax is readable, concise, English-like, and very easy to understand.
Python is used widely for Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Web Development, Data Science, GUI Development, Automation, System Administration, and more. Although Python helps developers to build fast, reliable, and efficient software at scale, it is not popularly used in game development.
GAMES MADE WITH PYTHON
There are not many popular games made with Python, some of the notable ones include Drawn Down Abyss, Brawler, Gleamshroom, Dreamfall, Yo Frankie, Toontown, Pumpkin Pete, Sintel the Game, Frets on Fire, etc. other programming languages such as C++, C#, or Lua are preferred for making games.
There are quite a number of game engines that you can use to make games with Python, game engines make it easy to develop and build games efficiently. some of the common ones include
- Pygame – A set of modules for writing games with the python programming language. It is easy to work with and has a ton of features that make game development easy.
- Panda3D – An open-source, multiplatform engine for making cross-platform 3D games with Python. You can also use Panda3D for Simulations, Visualization, experiments, and more.
- Shark3D – A 3D Engine for running and creating interactive virtual worlds with Python. It is used for 3D games, 3D applications, Broadcasting graphics, Films & TV Series, and more.
- UPBGE – an open-source, 3D game engine for making 3D games with Python, it was forked from the old Blender Game Engine. UPBGE is powerful and works seamlessly with Blender.
Other Games Engines using Python for scripting include Crystal Space, Delta3D, etc.
If you plan on making powerful games, using Python is not the best choice. Most modern game developers do not use Python for game development, if you seriously want to develop games efficiently, using C++, C# or Lua is the best approach. There are a lot of resources available for these languages to help you build your games quickly and efficiently.
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO PYTHON FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT?
There are many programming languages and platforms that you can use as alternatives to Python for game development. Here are some of the popular ones:
UNITY (C#)
Unity is one of the most popular platforms for developing 2D and 3D games. Unity uses the C# programming languages for game logic, there are also other features that can be implemented with drag and drop.
Unity has a marketplace called Asset store, where you can download free and paid game assets to quicken your development process. Unity is regarded as a beginner-friendly platform, it is used by big companies as well as indie developers.
Some of the popular games made with Unity include Pokemon Go, Monument Valley 2, Tempo Run, Robocraft, Angry Birds, Sonic Dash, Marvel Strike Force, Iron Man VR, Lara Croft Go, Super Mario Run, and many others.
Unity supports many platforms, once you are done developing your game, you can deploy it to different platforms such as Android, iOS, tvOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, Playstations, Xbox, Nintendo, Stadia, WebGL, Oculus VR, PSVR, ARCore, Magic Leap, etc.
Unity is also used in other industries such as Film, Automotive, Architecture, Military, Engineering, Construction, etc.
UNREAL ENGINE (C++)
Unreal Engine is one of the most advanced, powerful, and popular platforms for making 2D and 3D games, it uses the C++ programming language for programming the game logic.
Unreal Engine has also a marketplace that has a lot of resources ranging from art assets to models, sounds, environments, code snippets, and more. Some of them are free while others can be paid for.
Some of the popular games made with Unreal Engine include Fortnite, Brothers in Arms, Golden Eye: Rogue Agent, Medal of Honor, Shadow Ops, Shrek 2, Star Wars, Spider-man 2, Batman Arkham City, DC Universe Online, Mortal Kombat, Transformers, Crash Bandicoot, and many others.
Unreal supports many platforms, once you are done developing your games, you can deploy to different platforms such as Android, iOS, tvOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, Playstations, Xbox, Nintendo, Stadia, WebGL, Oculus VR, PSVR, ARCore, etc.
Unreal Engine is also used in other industries such as Film & TV, Architecture, Simulations, Automotive & Transportation, Broadcast & Live Events, Engineering, medicine, etc.
GAMEMAKER STUDIO (JAVASCRIPT, C++, GAME MAKER LANGUAGE)
GameMaker Studio is an easy-to-use game engine for making 2D games and offers limited use of 3D graphics. It has a drag-and-drop feature that makes game development easy. You can also use programming languages like Javascript, C++, and Game maker language for advanced features.
GameMaker Studio has also a marketplace that has a lot of resources ranging from animations to sounds, backgrounds, fonts, objects, paths, sprites, scripts, shaders, and more. Some of them are free while others can be paid for.
Some of the popular games made with GameMaker Studio include Undertale, Forager, Hyper Light Drifter, Samurai Gunn 2, Webbed, The Tarnishing of Juxtia, Destructivator 2, Fields of Mistria, Flynn: Son of Crimson, Katana Zero, Battleships Forever, Tower of Heaven, and many others.
GameMaker Studio supports many platforms, once you are done developing your games, you can deploy to different platforms such as Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Tizen, Playstations, Xbox, Nintendo, Amazon Fire TV, WebGL, etc.
Others include Godot (C++, C#) Stride (C#), Amazon Lumberyard (Lua), CryEngine (Lua), Phaser (Javascript), Blend4Web (Javascript), and many others.
These alternatives will help you to build games for many platforms and they have a huge community of developers. Python does not have a big game development community compared to C#, C++, Lua, or Javascript, a big community around a language is helpful in case you have challenges during development.
CONCLUSION
It can be seen that Python can be used for Game development but it is not a popular choice for building powerful games for many platforms. Python lacks the features that programming languages like C++, C#, or Lua have for Game development.
If you want to make games for many platforms and consoles efficiently, using Unity (C#) or Unreal Engine (C++) is the best approach.
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