Is it possible to create to a video game without programming skills? Surely the most curious readers and fans of the exciting world of video games have asked themselves this question and been left without an answer. That is why we are going to give you the essential and most affordable tools to create a video game without knowing how to code.
Because yes, the answer is yes: it is possible to create a video game without any programming experience. Of course, you can’t expect to make a triple-AAA title, a blockbuster with complex mechanics and a very large map. The video games that can be created without knowing how to code will be simple and will give us the tools to accomplish this task. And, best of all, free of charge or with free trials for a fee.
For more complex video game development, you must have experience or knowledge of programming languages. The most widely used today is C++, the basis for many of today’s video games. In any case, you should have a good command of English, as the applications we show you are usually in English.
How Can I Make a Video Game without Knowing How to Code?
These tools will give us access to the world of video games without knowing how to code. These are utilities that offer free options: it is a very practical way to check if making video games is our true passion, without having to spend money. Who knows, maybe this could be the start of a career that will bear fruit.
GameMaker Studio
One of the most popular tools for creating video games without programming skills is GameMaker Studio. The first time you use this tool you may feel a little overwhelmed, so it is advisable to take advantage of the tutorials that will teach you how to use it step by step. In short, this programme uses what are called ‘rooms’, two-dimensional spaces (better to start here than in 3D) in which we will place different objects and add functionalities.
On the “Learn GameMaker” page, we have a variety of step-by-step tutorials that allow us to learn at our own pace. In fact, one of the tutorials will teach us how to create our first basic game.
Popular games such as “Katana Zero”, “Chicory: A Colorful Tale” or the RPG classic “Undertale” were developed with this tool. GameMaker has four subscription options, including a free subscription.
RPG Maker
Role-playing games tend to be very popular among video game fans. If that is our case, and we want to make our own, RPG Maker is a very good way to get started in the industry. It offers a free one-month trial, and the company itself claims that even a child could use the tool.
RPG Maker offers a very complete map editor, a character generator and a complete section to bring your game to life (character skills, equipment, enemies, battle statistics, choose battle mode…). We will also be able to test our game quickly without having to wait for the game to be compiled.
Stencyl
Stencyl is one of the best applications for creating Flash video games without any knowledge of code. It offers a simple interface consisting of “drag and drop” modules to create your 2D video game. This tool is specifically designed for side-scrolling games and is free. Stencyl even offers its own platform to publish the game when it is finished.
The basic subscription to Stencyl is free, but there are two additional options that allow you to publish your game on different platforms, including Android and iOS. If you’re familiar with Photoshop, you’re halfway there, as Stencyl has a very similar interface to the photo editor, with options such as the selection tool, zoom, grid adjustment, etc.
GDelevop 5
GDelevop is an open source, cross-platform tool for getting started with video game development. Without knowing anything about coding or programming, GDevelop gives us access to everything we need to make a fully functional game. In addition, the programme’s own website has sections for learning how to use it, from beginners’ tutorials to more advanced ones.
The best thing about GDevelop is that it is completely free (although it offers paid subscriptions with additional features) and that the creation of video games is developed through a very intuitive system called “events”.
Adventure Game Studio
If you’re a fan of graphic novels (like the “Monkey Island” series), Adventure Game Studio is your tool. It provides you with all the tools you need to create a free video game in the adventure genre. Thanks to its Windows-based editor, you can quickly create a game from scratch. We will also have access to a wide range of resources such as templates, fonts, backgrounds and characters…
On the same page of the programme, we can try out the games developed with it and find a large community with which we can resolve many of the doubts. However, we must bear in mind that this one, like the previous ones, uses English as the main language.
The video games industry currently generates around USD 180 billion. It is a leisure sector that is constantly expanding and requires professionals who are able to adapt to the constant demands of the market. For thousands of young people, video game development can be their first step into the world of work, and these platforms can undoubtedly help them take their first steps.
