Java engine hub

Learn Java, one game at a time

A tidy, widely used language. These workshops build small games in Java, one episode at a time.

Ages 10 and up Free, no account 15 workshops

Lumo says: Start with a build canvas to try the game, then follow the episodes once Java is set up.

Start here with Java

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

Nothing to install

1 workshop

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java Pong Build Canvas

Build Java Pong in the page, with nothing to install.

Pip says: Try each game in the page first, then rebuild it for real when you are ready.

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 Java when you are ready.

Nothing to install

6 workshops

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java Breakout Build Canvas

Build Java Breakout in the page, with nothing to install.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java Platformer Build Canvas

Build Java Platformer in the page, with nothing to install.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java Space Shooter Build Canvas

Build Java Space Shooter in the page, with nothing to install.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java RPG Build Canvas

Build Java RPG in the page, with nothing to install.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java RPG Battle Canvas

Build Java RPG Battle Canvas in the page, with nothing to install.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java RPG Finale Build Canvas

Build Java RPG Finale in the page, with nothing to install.

My First Java Game

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

Needs Java installed

7 workshops

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Platformer in Java (My First Java Game, Episode 1)

Build a Java platformer step by step: the window, a player and jumping. Free beginner tutorial, ages 11+.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Breakout Game in Java (My First Java Game, Episode 2)

Build a Java Breakout game: paddle, ball and bricks with real Java code. Free beginner tutorial.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Space Shooter in Java (My First Java Game, Episode 3)

Build a Java space shooter: bullets, enemies and waves. Free step-by-step tutorial.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build Pong in Java (My First Java Game, Episode 4)

Build the classic Pong game in Java: paddles, ball and score. Free beginner tutorial.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Java RPG, Part 1: The World and Player (My First Java Game, Episode 5)

Start a Java RPG: tiles, a moving player and a game loop. Free step-by-step tutorial.

Java · Intermediate · Ages 10+

Build a Java RPG, Part 2: NPCs and Quests (My First Java Game, Episode 6)

Add NPCs, dialogue and quests to your Java RPG. Free step-by-step tutorial.

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Build a Java RPG, Part 3: Combat and Items (My First Java Game, Episode 7)

Finish your Java RPG: combat, items and saving progress. Free tutorial finale.

Studios, cheat sheets and templates

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

Nothing to install

1 workshop

Java · Beginner · Ages 10+

Java Mod Studio

A free browser playground for the Java series. Lay out a 2D game on a grid, add real Java methods, read a broken compiler log and choose the fix, then download a real Swing Java project you can run with any free JDK. No install and no account needed to start.

Everything else, plus every other engine, lives in the full workshop hub. You need Java installed for the app builds. The canvases run in the browser with nothing installed.