How to Use JavaScript for Game Development

ElevatEd
Coding
March 26, 2025

Picture this: you’ve just had a blast playing your favorite online game. The graphics, the controls, the smooth gameplay—it all came together perfectly. But have you ever wondered how games like that are built? What if I told you that you could create your own games using JavaScript? Yes, JavaScript is not just for websites—it’s a powerful tool for game development too! In this blog, we’ll explore how to use JavaScript for game development and why it’s a great choice for both beginners and experienced developers.

Begin Your Child's Coding Adventure Now!

Why JavaScript for Game Development?

You may be asking, "JavaScript? Isn’t it just for websites?" Yes, traditionally JavaScript was used for interactive website elements, but its potential doesn’t stop there. With the right tools and frameworks, JavaScript can be used to create engaging, interactive games that run smoothly in web browsers.

Advantages of using JavaScript for game development:

Cross-Platform Compatibility: JavaScript-based games can be played on virtually any device—whether it’s a computer, tablet, or phone.
Ease of Learning: JavaScript is beginner-friendly and widely used, making it an accessible language for aspiring game developers.
Great Libraries and Frameworks: There are powerful libraries like Phaser.js, Three.js, and P5.js that make game development easier and faster.

If you're just getting started with game development, platforms like 98thPercentile Live Coding Classes can teach you how to use JavaScript to build real-world games while learning coding concepts in a hands-on way. Now, let’s dive into the steps of creating your first game with JavaScript!

Step 1: Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before you start coding, you need to set up a basic development environment. Here’s what you’ll need:

A Text Editor: Use a code editor like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or even Notepad++.
A Web Browser: Since JavaScript runs in browsers, any modern browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox will work fine.
A Game Framework/Library: We’ll use js in this blog as it’s one of the most popular libraries for 2D game development in JavaScript.

Once you have these set up, you’re ready to start coding!

Step 2: Learn Basic Game Concepts

Even if you’re using JavaScript, building a game involves understanding key concepts:

The Game Loop: The game loop is the heart of any game. It runs continuously to update the game state, handle inputs, and refresh the screen.
Sprites and Animation: Sprites are the characters, objects, and backgrounds in your game. You'll also need to animate them to bring your game to life.
User Input: Allow users to control the game through the keyboard, mouse, or touch input.
Collision Detection: This ensures that characters or objects in your game interact with each other in a meaningful way, like a player colliding with an obstacle.

If these concepts sound new to you, don’t worry! 98th Percentile offers live coding classes where you can learn these foundational principles while creating games and other projects.

Step 3: Create Your First Game - A Simple Space Shooter

Let’s build a basic space shooter game where you control a spaceship that can shoot bullets at incoming enemies. Here’s a breakdown of how we’d approach it:

1. Setting Up the Scene

We start by creating the game world using Phaser.js. This involves setting up a game scene and adding the player (spaceship), background, and enemies.

JavaScript Code:

// Creating the game scene

var game = new Phaser.Game({

type: Phaser.AUTO,

width: 800,

height: 600,

scene: {

preload: preload,

create: create,

update: update

}

});

function preload() {

this.load.image('ship', 'path_to_ship_image.png');

this.load.image('enemy', 'path_to_enemy_image.png');

}

function create() {

this.ship = this.physics.add.image(400, 500, 'ship');

this.ship.setCollideWorldBounds(true);

this.enemies = this.physics.add.group();

}

2. Moving the Spaceship

We want the spaceship to be controlled by the player using the arrow keys.

JavaScript Code:

function update() {

if (this.input.keyboard.isDown(Phaser.Input.Keyboard.KeyCodes.LEFT)) {

this.ship.x -= 5;

}

if (this.input.keyboard.isDown(Phaser.Input.Keyboard.KeyCodes.RIGHT)) {

this.ship.x += 5;

}

3. Firing Bullets

Now, we’ll add the ability to fire bullets when the player presses the spacebar.

JavaScript Code:

function create() {

this.spacebar = this.input.keyboard.addKey(Phaser.Input.Keyboard.KeyCodes.SPACE);

}

function update() {

if (this.spacebar.isDown) {

fireBullet();

}

function fireBullet() {

let bullet = this.physics.add.image(this.ship.x, this.ship.y - 20, 'bullet');

bullet.setVelocityY(-300); // Move the bullet up the screen

}

4. Collision and Game Over

To make things exciting, we’ll add enemies that fall from the top of the screen and check for collisions between bullets and enemies.

Step 4: Add Sound, Scoring, and Polish

Once you have the basic game working, it’s time to add sound effects, a scoring system, and extra features to make it more engaging. Use Phaser.js to load sound files for shooting and explosions, and create a simple score counter to track how many enemies the player has defeated.

Step 5: Testing and Publishing

Test your game in different browsers and on various devices to ensure it works smoothly. Once you’re satisfied with the result, you can publish your game on your website, or even create an app using technologies like Cordova or Electron.

Final Thoughts

JavaScript opens up endless possibilities for game development, especially with the help of libraries like Phaser.js. By following simple steps and understanding key concepts, you can create engaging, interactive games that run on any device.

If you’re interested in learning how to make your own games with JavaScript, 98thPercentile Live Coding Classes offer expert guidance, hands-on projects, and real-time feedback to help you become a skilled game developer. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to level up your skills, their live coding classes are a great way to master the art of game development.

So, what are you waiting for? Start coding your game today.

Book FREE Coding Trial Classes Now!

FAQs

Q1: Can I use JavaScript to create 3D games?
Ans: Yes, you can use libraries like Three.js to create 3D games and interactive environments in JavaScript.

Q2: Do I need to be an expert in JavaScript to start game development?
Ans: Not at all! JavaScript is beginner-friendly, and with the right guidance, you can create basic games quickly.

Q3: Can I publish JavaScript games on mobile devices?
Ans: Yes, you can use frameworks like Cordova or PhoneGap to convert your JavaScript games into mobile apps.

Q4: What’s the best library for 2D game development?
Ans: Phaser.js is widely considered the best library for 2D game development in JavaScript.

Q5: How can I learn JavaScript for game development?
Ans: 98th Percentile Live Coding Classes provide expert-led sessions that teach you JavaScript and game development from the ground up.