C++ engine hub

Learn C++, one game at a time

A fast language used in real games and engines. These workshops build small games with SFML, a simple C++ games library.

Ages 10 and up Free, no account 18 workshops

Lumo says: C++ looks fussy at first. Start with a build canvas, then move to the episodes once you have a compiler set up.

Start here with C++

One short build to get going. Then pick a game below.

Nothing to install

1 workshop

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10-14

C++ Pong Build Canvas

Build C++ Pong in the page, with nothing to install.

Pip says: Try each game in the page first. It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to set up to have a go.

Build a game right in the page

Build each game step by step inside this page and watch it run, with nothing to install. Open it in C++ when you are ready.

Nothing to install

6 workshops

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

C++ Breakout Build Canvas

Build C++ Breakout in the page, with nothing to install.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

C++ Platformer Build Canvas

Build C++ Platformer in the page, with nothing to install.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

C++ Snake Build Canvas

Build C++ Snake in the page, with nothing to install.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

C++ Tower Defence Part 1 Build Canvas

Build C++ Tower Defence Part 1 in the page, with nothing to install.

C++ · Intermediate · Ages 10+

C++ Platformer Part 2 Build Canvas

Build C++ Platformer Part 2 in the page, with nothing to install.

C++ · Intermediate · Ages 10+

C++ Tower Defence Part 2 Build Canvas

Build C++ Tower Defence Part 2 in the page, with nothing to install.

My First C++ Game

The full guided series, one episode at a time, in the free C++ app.

Needs a C++ compiler and SFML installed

7 workshops

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10-14

Build a Pong Game in C++ with SFML (My First C++ Game, Episode 1)

Build Pong in C++ with SFML: the window, the ball, the paddles and scoring. Free beginner tutorial, ages 12+.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Snake Game in C++ with SFML (My First C++ Game, Episode 2)

Build Snake in C++ with SFML, std::deque and grid logic. Free step-by-step tutorial.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Breakout Game in C++ (My First C++ Game, Episode 3)

Build Breakout in C++ with classes, std::vector and SFML. Free step-by-step tutorial.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Platformer in C++ with SFML (My First C++ Game, Episode 4)

Build a C++ platformer with a Player class, delta-time physics and platform collision. Free beginner tutorial.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Add Enemies and Levels to Your C++ Platformer (My First C++ Game, Episode 5)

Add enemies, an sf::View camera, checkpoints and levels to your C++ platformer. Free tutorial.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Tower Defence Game in C++, Part 1 (My First C++ Game, Episode 6)

Build a C++ tower defence: waypoint paths, tower placement and a gold economy in SFML. Free tutorial.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Finish Your C++ Tower Defence: Waves and Bosses (My First C++ Game, Episode 7)

Finish your C++ tower defence: bullets, waves, upgrades and a boss. Free tutorial finale.

More C++ workshops

More guided builds and one-off projects. Titles, levels and ages all come from the workshop data.

Needs a C++ compiler and SFML installed

1 workshop

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Tower Defence Game in C++: Free 20-Step Tutorial

Build a tower defence game in C++ step by step: grid, towers, enemies, upgrades and boss waves. Free browser build-along, ages 11+.

C++ World Workshop

Build a whole world piece by piece, from setup to sharing, in the free C++ app.

Needs a C++ compiler and SFML installed

1 workshop

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10-14

C++ World Workshop

A free C++ and SFML series for beginners: Pong, Snake, Breakout, Platformer and Tower Defence, step by step. Design your level in the browser, then build it with C++. Ages 12+.

Studios, cheat sheets and templates

Browser studios, quick-reference sheets and starter files for when you want to go further.

Nothing to install

2 workshops

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

Free C++ & SFML Cheat Sheet

Free printable C++ & SFML cheat sheet variables, window setup, drawing shapes, event handling, collision and the most-used code snippets. No sign-up needed.

C++ · Beginner · Ages 10+

C++ Mod Studio

A free browser playground for the C++ World Workshop. Lay out a game level on a grid, tick real SFML features, read a broken compiler error and choose the fix, then download a real C++ project (main.cpp + CMakeLists) you can build. No install and no account needed to start.

Everything else, plus every other engine, lives in the full workshop hub. You need a free C++ compiler and SFML for the app builds. The canvases run in the browser with nothing installed.