đŽ Episode 6 âĸ Big Project âĸ Tower Defence Part 1 of 2
Hold the Line! Tower Defence Part 1
The two-part finale: a path-following enemy system, grid-snapped tower placement, gold economy, and range visualisation. Tower defence is systems programming, exactly what C++ is for.
đŽ Ages 12+đŽ ~2 HoursđŽ C++ & SFMLâ Free
đŽ? Waypoint pathsđŽ Vector maths? Tower placementđŽ Gold economyđŽ Range circles? Mouse building
Build it in our C++ Studio too: lay out a level on a grid, tick the SFML features and download a real main.cpp plus a build file, right in the browser with no install. Open the C++ Mod Studio →
How to run: Save, compile and run: g++ game.cpp -o game -lsfml-graphics -lsfml-window -lsfml-system && ./game
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Heads up: SFML 3 renamed a few things. The install step gives you SFML 3 today, but the short snippets in the steps below are written in the classic SFML 2 style. The differences are small and mechanical: sf::VideoMode({800, 500})sf::VideoMode({800, 500}) (curly braces), the new event loop while (const std::optional e = window.pollEvent())while (const std::optional e = window.pollEvent()) with e->is<sf::Event::Closed>()e->is<sf::Event::Closed>(), sf::Keyboard::Key::Leftsf::Keyboard::Key::Left (add ::Key::Key), and setPosition({x, y})setPosition({x, y}) / move({dx, dy})move({dx, dy}) / setOrigin({x, y})setOrigin({x, y}) (curly braces). The ? complete finished code at the bottom of this page is full SFML 3 and compiles on a fresh install, use it as your reference.
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Need the game setup? Each episode builds a new game on the same C++/SFML skeleton: the sf::RenderWindowsf::RenderWindow, the game loop and event polling. If you're starting here or need that boilerplate, grab it in one click: Episode 1 setup ? âĸ C++ Cheatsheet ?
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How it works: write the code in each step, and the canvas on the right shows what your code does. It is a live preview that builds the game as you go. Type to see it update, or press Apply to Canvas to test it straight away.
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Lumo says: every step adds one feature to the same game. Type a little, click Apply to Canvas, and test it straight away. There is no wrong answer you can't undo.
Build Tower Defence Part 1 Step by Step
Each step adds one feature. Write the code, watch it come alive in the canvas, then make it your own.
Step 1 / 6
A path, towers and enemies
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Workshop Complete!
Waypoints, vector maths, an economy and buildable towers, the foundation is rock solid. Part 2 arms the towers: bullets, waves and victory!
