Best of Game Development — March 2025
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Planet Python·1y
Python Game Code: The Ultimate Pygame Guide
This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial for creating a Python game called Neon Racer using Pygame. It covers setting up the game window, implementing player movement, adding a scrolling road background, generating obstacles, including pickups for extra points, and handling collision detection and scoring. Each module is integrated into a complete game with detailed code examples to ensure smooth and engaging gameplay.
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Codrops·1y
Creating Stylized Water Effects with React Three Fiber
Learn how to create a stylized water effect using React Three Fiber, focusing on writing shaders, optimizing 3D assets, and maintaining good performance. This tutorial covers the step-by-step process, including creating 3D terrain, setting up the environment, handling materials, and adding dynamic water animation. Additionally, the tutorial touches on incorporating sound for an immersive experience.
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Collections·1yCreating a Simple MMO Game with Unity and SpacetimeDB
Learn how to build a simple MMO game using Unity, C#, and SpacetimeDB with this step-by-step tutorial. It covers setting up a Unity project, developing server-client architecture, implementing real-time multiplayer mechanics, and introducing competitive game features. Designed for beginners with some experience in Unity or C#.
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Lobsters·1ySpacetimeDB
SpacetimeDB combines a relational database and server into one, allowing clients to connect directly to the database and execute logic within it. This eliminates the need for traditional web or game servers, reducing the use of Docker, Kubernetes, VMs, microservices, and extensive ops infrastructure. SpacetimeDB has facilitated the development of the massively multiplayer game BitCraft, handled by a small team, by implementing all backend logic, real-time player positions, and persistent state as a SpacetimeDB module.
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ThePrimeTime·1yDay 1 - VIBE CODING A GAME IN 7 DAYS
In a modern setting where the necessity of software developers is often questioned, the post emphasizes that the increasing accessibility of software creates demand for more engineers. It reflects on the joy of programming and shares the author's experience of coding a game live in seven days, interspersing it with humor and personal anecdotes. The post also discusses the nature of game development, the importance of good coding practices, and managing project changes effectively.
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Mental Outlaw·1y
The YouTube Game Engine
Some innovative users have transformed YouTube's caption feature into a functional game engine. By creatively manipulating captions and integrating them into video elements, they have developed interactive games. These games use the capability to move captions around, creating dynamic gameplay scenarios, although it's clear that YouTube's original intent for captions was far from gaming. This creative repurposing shows the potential for new ways to use existing technology.
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Hacker News·1y
Multiplayer Spaceship Bridge Simulator
EmptyEpsilon is an open-source multiplayer spaceship bridge simulator game inspired by Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator. It involves players taking on various officer roles on a spaceship, collaboratively working together for the best experience. The game is highly modifiable and free, with scenarios that can be customized using Lua scripts. Players can discuss, report issues, and follow updates in the game's forums, GitHub repository, and Discord community.
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Gamefromscratch·1y
Godot Gets Jiggle Physics
Godot 4.4 introduces many new features, including jiggle physics, which can be easily implemented using the Spring Bone Simulator 3D. The update also includes improvements in embedded game windows, shader functionalities, and additional animation modifiers. This release is considered by some as the best version of Godot yet due to the numerous quality-of-life enhancements.
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SitePoint·1y
Making a Browser Based Game With Vanilla JS and CSS – SitePoint
Learn how to build a flag guessing game using pure JavaScript and CSS. This guide walks through setting up the basic structure, creating a simple prototype, organizing the code with modules, and adding a scoring system. Additionally, it covers enhancing the game with CSS animations and final touches like a title screen and player ratings based on score.
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Code Monkey·1y
This GAME made $28 MILLION! Why?
Supermarket Simulator, despite some thinking it appears basic or janky, made over $28 million, becoming one of the most successful indie games. Developed by a solo developer, its success is attributed to satisfying, tactile interactions, and a clear game loop that players enjoy. The game prioritizes the core gameplay that players repeatedly engage with, leading to its wide appeal and positive reception.
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The Cherno·1y
An 11-Year-Old Made a "Game Engine" // Code Review
An 11-year-old named Anthony submitted his game engine project, 'Real Engine,' for a code review by Chenno. Despite being so young, Anthony managed to include a README, license, and instructions for his project. Chenno engages with the code, providing constructive feedback and corrections, particularly focusing on issues with precompiled headers and shader management. The post also highlights the importance of separating external dependencies into static libraries. Additionally, Chenno introduces the use of AI in code reviews through Code Rabbit, which can help in identifying potential bugs and improving code structure.
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WebGPU Scanning Effect with Depth Maps
An exploration of a scanning effect using depth maps, custom shaders, and WebGPU rendering with Three.js and react-three-fiber. The demo showcases three variations of the effect by combining depth information with post-processing to create dynamic visual depth. Techniques include image distortion through UV coordinate displacement, procedural dot grid masking, and continuous scan animation using GSAP.
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Game Developer·1y
How Riot Games is preparing for the next generation of players
Riot Games is focusing on social design to prepare for the next generation of players. Their new fighting game, 2XKO, targets a younger audience and incorporates features like social lobbies for enhanced online interactions. Riot is also addressing changing player demographics and the dynamics of online gaming communities while continuing to leverage its strong esports presence and multimedia strategies to sustain interest in their titles like League of Legends.
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Noesis Studio - The Ultimate Tool for Game UI Creation
Noesis Studio has launched in free beta, offering comprehensive tools for game UI creation. It supports both Unity and Unreal Engine, has a lightweight C++ runtime, and uses XAML files for UI layering. Features include real-time updates, hot reload, data binding through view models, and extensive animation support. The studio allows seamless integration of vector and pixel art, and provides a modular, collaborative environment for developers and artists.
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I made the MOST PROFITABLE Game as a Test!
The shop simulator genre is highly popular and financially successful on Steam, with many titles earning millions and receiving positive reviews. These games are relatively straightforward to develop, making them accessible to indie developers. By focusing on player interactions and adding unique themes, developers can create appealing and profitable games. The author shares a prototype they created to test their game development toolkit, which includes various tools to simplify the development process.
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Fabien Sanglard·1y
Why fastDOOM is fast
In the winter of 2024, the author restored an IBM PS/1 486-DX2 66Mhz computer and benchmarked its performance running DOOM, achieving 21.5 fps. They discovered the fastDOOM port, which increased the frame rate to 30.1 fps without sacrificing functionality. The post details the origins of fastDOOM from PCDOOM v2, explains the improvements made by Victor 'Viti95' Nieto through various commits, and explores the technical intricacies of video modes used by DOOM. It also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of mode 13h and mode Y in rendering and how these were optimized further in fastDOOM.
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Awesome Elixir·1y
SWARMMO
SWARMMO, a new browser-based MMO, is currently in pre-alpha and live on US-West and EU-Central servers, with plans to add an Asia-Pacific server soon. The game is self-funded, with support requested via Kickstarter and Patreon. Custom character creation and naming are upcoming features. Stability improvements and feedback are being actively sought through Discord. Major updates and the roadmap are available on Kickstarter and the in-game client.
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Coding with Sphere·1y
How I Built a Platformer using Golang
The post documents the journey of building a platformer game using Golang. It covers the author's learning experience and decisions made while developing the game. The game includes features like pixel art, custom UI elements, and a settings menu. The post also delves into the game's code structure, including the main function, rendering, scene management, and player movement. The author shares insights on handling technical debt and optimization in a personal project.
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smparsons/retroboy: A Game Boy emulator written in Rust.
Retro Boy is a cycle-accurate Game Boy emulator written in Rust that can be played on the web using WebAssembly. It features accurate CPU, audio, and graphics emulation, supports various cartridge types and cheats, and utilizes local storage for game progress. The React/TypeScript-based web frontend offers customizable controls and a responsive design. The project includes an extensive test suite and thorough documentation on setup and usage.
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ikemen-engine/Ikemen-GO: An open-source fighting game engine that supports MUGEN resources.
Ikemen GO is an open-source fighting game engine written in Go, compatible with M.U.G.E.N resources and expanding on its features. It offers builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with instructions for custom development and resource creation. The engine can be compiled using Docker and debugging is supported via GoLand or Visual Studio Code. The source code is licensed under the MIT License.
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Achieving 'creative sobriety' in game design
Fawzi Mesmar, at GDC 2025, emphasized the importance of 'creative sobriety' in game design, urging developers to use their personal experiences to create unique and original concepts. He highlighted the difference between replicating popular game mechanics and infusing personal insights to create engaging, original content, exemplified by games like Fields of Mistria. Mesmar advised creators to reflect on their experiences and intentions to develop meaningful and valuable ideas.
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Clear Code·1y
Master Godot Layouts by recreating Zelda UIs
Learn how to master UI layouts in Godot by recreating Zelda-style menus. The tutorial covers essential topics such as integrating layouts in 2D games, handling controller input, and working with themes and animations. By the end, you will be able to create custom user interfaces in various styles, enhancing your game development skills.
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FIVE(?!?!) Huge 3D Asset Bundles - For Godot, Unity and Unreal Engine!
Five extensive 3D asset bundles suitable for Unreal Engine, Unity, and Godot are available on Gumroad, featuring various environments and props. Discounts can reduce prices significantly, and guides for exporting assets between engines are provided. Bundle contents include a mix of environments, props, sound effects, and tutorials.
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Godot + Toon Boom = 2D Game Dev Powerhouse?
Godot, known for its robust UI tools, is being utilized to create diverse non-gaming software, including applications like Material Maker, Pixelorama, and RPG in a Box. Toon Boom, famous for its animation software Harmony, is launching Jump, a comprehensive 2D game development solution that integrates with the Godot game engine. The initiative could reshape 2D game and art creation by combining Toon Boom's animation skills with Godot's powerful engine.
