13 Scratch Game Ideas Kids Can Learn
- Ana Moniz
- Est. reading time 10 mins
Kids have boundless imaginations. The way they see and visualise the world is different from an adult’s point of view. And with that, you can help a child put his imagination into his own game through coding. Scratch is the perfect platform for that.
Scratch is a user-friendly, visual block-based programming language tool that young learners can explore when they want to learn computer programming basics. This tool helps children create a multiplayer game, a quiz game, an epic adventure game, and more puzzle games in a fun and interactive way. It eliminates the complexities that syntax brings in coding. Instead, children use drag-and-drop blocks to create the whole game.
Scratch coding fosters creativity and teamwork in children. It hones their problem-solving skills and exposes them to endless possibilities that cater to their interests in creating a Scratch game.
You’re in the right place if your child needs ideas for Scratch projects. Read more to get game ideas that your child can create.
In this article, we’ll teach you:
- Scratch game ideas that kids can create
- Tips on enhancing your child’s learning and developing games with Scratch
- Scratch courses that kids can learn along the way
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Various Scratch Game Ideas for Kids
Children can create various games easily on the Scratch platform. Here are some ideas for Scratch games that could work for your children:
1. Platformer Game: Design levels of varying difficulty
A platformer game revolves around players who guide a character in accomplishing goals through running and jumping onto platforms. Stairs, floors, ledges, and other elevated surfaces are part of the obstacles that players must overcome. Platformer games operate with a simple rule—complete a level, then gather your coins and weaponry to play the next difficulty level.
2. Puzzle Game: Create sequences of actions for level progression
Puzzle games lean more on completing levels. These games use patterns, images, colours, and actions that you need to piece together. Examples of puzzle games that your child can make due to their simplicity are word games, hidden objects, and trivia quizzes.
3. Farm Simulator: Manage a farm with animals and crops
From the words itself, a farm simulator is a game that allows you to plant crops, buy equipment, manage lands, raise livestock, and more. These kinds of games may or may not need a story to run. The core of a farm simulator game is solving problems that may arise in your virtual farm.
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4. Cooking Game: Follow recipes to make different dishes
Cooking games take place in a virtual kitchen where players can cook different recipes. Just like a farm simulator, there may or may not be a story in creating a cooking game. Let your child choose what kind of cooking game they want to make. It can be about baking, desserts, restaurants, and many more.
How you win the game depends on your strategies. You just have to put in the right amount of ingredients to win every level of the game.
5. Educational Game: Solve problems in various subjects like math and science
Creating educational games gives room for children to make a game that puts knowledge to the test. These games allow players to solve problems and answer questions to proceed to the next level. Math questions are trickier to solve with a time limit. Science and history questions can come in an itemised format with multiple choices for each question.
You can design the educational game however you like. It can be in the form of a word search, crossword puzzle, or any other format that’s easy to use and play.
6. Virtual Pet Game: Care for a pet with various activities
Virtual pet games are popular among different age groups. Remember Tamagotchi? Children can create that kind of game using Scratch with their own original ideas. The virtual pet can be nurtured from birth until it grows up with many activities. They can also go through many challenges that players should overcome to keep the virtual pet alive.
7. Space Invader Game: Destroy enemies in a classic arcade-style combat
Here comes another classic game! You can never go wrong with creating a game set in space. Let your child explore and flesh out stories for every level and the entire game with amazing world-building. Making the design of the player’s ship and the alien troops puts your child’s creativity into the spotlight. The main goal of space invader games is to beat all enemies to proceed to the next level.
One of the meticulous parts of designing a space invader game is the look of the aliens and enemies. There has to be a unique touch on how they look to differentiate your game from other space-themed games.
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8. City Simulator: Build and manage a city
City simulator games let players build their own city from scratch. The player is the main planner and supervisor of the city. They look at the city from above and oversee the management strategy.
The city develops depending on how the player allocates resources, job opportunities, and the people’s salaries within the game. If you handle the virtual city’s finances well, you’ll build a flashy one. If you make a mishap in your strategies, your city will end up in ruins.
9. Music Game: Play instruments and compose tunes
Music binds people together beyond language and culture. Music games allow you as a player to compose tunes based on your liking and play instruments with ease. These same fundamentals could inspire your child to create a similar music game. The range of genres can be anywhere from pop, rock, Latin, disco, and more.
10. World Cup Football Game: Compete in a soccer tournament
This game takes players to a simulated football field where they are the stars of the soccer match. The World Cup Football Game can be played by multiple players at the same time. In this game, you’ll take control of the defenders and steal the ball from your opponents, just like in a real soccer game.
You also get to control your own team for the whole game. If you’re into soccer and online games, creating a World Cup football game is the best thing you can do!
11. Maze Game: Navigate through mazes while dodging obstacles
Maze games typically start from the entrance and lead players to interconnected paths until the finish line. These games exercise your problem-solving and tactical skills. You’ll avoid obstacles along the way as you reach for the goal.
Maze games are a solo or team endeavour. Your maze can take on different shapes at each level for a unique challenge. Although it’s a lot of work, you’ll find it fulfilling when the game works just as you intended.
12. Dodging Snake Game: Collect coins and avoid traps
The concept of this game is for players to move around, dodge obstacles, and gain points throughout the whole game. The player loses their life and points when they bump into an obstacle. Dodging Snake can be played with just one person or more, depending on the game’s design.
13. Pong Game: Keep the ball in play with a paddle
The main rule of this game is to hit the ball from the top of the screen as it falls down below. The game ends when the ball goes past the platform. You only need a ball and a paddle to play this online game.
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Learning and Developing with Scratch
There are several different tutorials for Scratch game ideas on YouTube and the Software Academy platform “Skills Lab” if you want to create your own game. You can learn a thing or two just by watching these videos from Scratch users from the comfort of your home.
Using Scratch in programming basics comes with these advantages:
- Accessible to students of all ages and skills. Scratch is a free platform developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for people who want to learn visual coding. There’s a step-by-step guide that you should learn if you’re getting started with Scratch. The Scratch Cat will also welcome you whenever you open the app.
- Promotes teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills among students. Scratch, like any other visual coding platform, is available to use by two or more people at the same time. An essential part of coding is sharing your ideas with different people and working your way through them.
- It’s easy to use. Scratch doesn’t need syntax knowledge and typing skills to work. It leans more on the visual aspect of coding, like code blocks, that children can easily use. You’ll find your way around the app regardless of your Scratch version.
Children who learn coding at such a young age can take on more complex coding projects, like creating their own games, in the future. Their coding skills are boosted one step at a time. They can learn game design basics when they build games with Scratch.
Why Learn Coding for Kids at Software Academy
Here at Software Academy, we’re all about helping children learn coding without the complicated methods. Enjoy these perks when you decide to study coding with us:
- Summer camps. Our yearly summer camps offer game design, coding, and 3D animations for kids and teens. Choose your own time from 9:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. to book your online lessons. Classes run from Mondays to Fridays.
- One-on-one private tuition. With this class style, we’re giving you the freedom to choose lessons based on your needs. Pick your time and day, knowing you have the flexibility to change if needed. Whatever your choices are, we’ll make it work for you!
- Group lessons from experienced tutors. Software Academy has the best tutors who are experts in the field of coding. They have a vast knowledge of graphic design, game design, and 3D animations on top of their coding skills. Rest assured that you’ll learn a lot in your lessons with us.
- Video resources for self-learning. Learn from our videos at your own pace via our self-guided platform, Skills lab. Watch them when you have time and learn coding bit by bit.
- Quick certifications. Join two camps on the same subject and undergo an assessment before getting a Level 1 certification. It’s that quick and easy! This certification will pave the way for other certificates you’ll receive as you begin your coding journey with us.
We always make sure to tailor our coding lessons for children to understand. We want to help your child nurture their passion for coding and make it their future career.
Build Scratch Games for Kids Today
Creating your own Scratch game requires hard work, patience, and determination. Even if you’re a beginner, you can try creating coding games you have always envisioned. It will always be about codes, but you don’t need to sweat it out when you master Scratch.
Learning coding through game development will be beneficial for you. You’ll learn how to weave interactive stories together with an excellent game design to entertain people. You’ll get to build the best Scratch games you can think of.
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About the author
Ana Moniz
Ana lectures for computer games design at higher education. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Games Design and a Master’s degree in Digital Media Design from the University of Edinburgh
