⚙️ My First C++ Game · 7 Episodes · All Free
⚙️ Beginner Friendly · C++ · SFML · Ages 12+

My First
C++ Game

Learn C++ — the language behind Unreal and most AAA studios — by building 7 games with SFML. Interactive quizzes and code challenges take you from Pong to a full tower defence.

🧑 Ages 12+ ✓ Completely Free ⚙️ C++ & SFML 👨‍👧 Parent & Child ✓ No Experience Needed
🚀 Start with Episode 1 →
7
Episodes
42+
Steps
12+
Age
Free
Always
The Full Series

7 Projects to Build Step by Step

Start at Episode 1 to set up a compiler and SFML and build Pong. Each game adds new skills, ending with a two-part tower defence.

Ep 1
🏓
⭐ Start Here · Setup · Delta Time · AI
Pong in C++
Your first C++ game with SFML: two paddles, a bouncing ball, scoring and an AI. Learn the toolchain, the game loop and frame-rate-independent movement.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~2 hrs Start Building →
Ep 2
🐍
std::deque · Grid · Ticks
Snake in C++
The 1997 classic in modern C++: a std::deque body, grid movement on a timer, food, self-collision and speed-up. A data-structures lesson in disguise.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~1.5 hrs Start Building →
Ep 3
🧱
Classes · std::vector
Breakout in C++
Breakout the C++ way: a Brick class, std::vector, constructors and side-aware collision. Your first real object-oriented C++.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~2 hrs Start Building →
Ep 4
🏃
Player Class · dt Physics
C++ Platformer
Gravity, jumping, platforms and coins with a proper Player class, delta-time physics and clean separation of update and draw.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~2 hrs Start Building →
Ep 5
🌲
Enemies · sf::View Camera
Platformer Part 2
Ship a full game: an Enemy class with stomps, an sf::View scrolling camera, spikes, checkpoints and multi-level structure.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~2 hrs Start Building →
Ep 6
🏰
TD 1/2 · Vectors · Economy
Tower Defence Part 1
Begin the finale: path-following enemies, grid-snapped tower placement, a gold economy and range targeting with real vector maths.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~2 hrs Start Building →
Ep 7
⚔️
TD 2/2 · Waves · Boss
Tower Defence Part 2
Finish it: towers fire homing bullets, enemies arrive in escalating waves, kills pay bounties, towers upgrade and a boss leads the final assault.
Ages 12+ 6 Steps · ~2 hrs Start Building →
Before You Start

What You Need

A compiler and SFML are both free. Episode 1 walks through setting up the whole toolchain step by step.

⚙️
A C++ Compiler (Free)
MSYS2 (g++) on Windows, Xcode tools on Mac, or g++ on Linux. All free — we walk through installing one in Episode 1.
✓ Free
🎮
SFML (Free)
The free Simple and Fast Multimedia Library handles windows, drawing, input and sound. Installed in Episode 1.
✓ Free · sfml-dev.org
💻
A Code Editor
VS Code or any editor you like. Combined with the compiler, that is your whole C++ setup.
✓ Free
📐
Some Typing Confidence
C++ is stricter than Python or Java. We explain every line, but it suits learners comfortable reading code.
Ages 12+
🛠️ Free Browser Tools

Design Your Assets

Use these free browser tools alongside the workshops to design sprites, levels and sound for your C++ games.

🎨
Pixel Studio
Draw pixel art sprites and animations for your characters and enemies. Export as PNG to use in your game.
Open Tool →
🗺️
Level Designer
Sketch out level layouts, platforms and enemy positions before you build them in code.
Open Tool →
🔊
SFX Generator
Generate retro sound effects — jumps, shoots, pickups, game over — and export them as WAV files.
Open Tool →
🖌️
Colour Palette
Build a game-ready colour palette so your art stays consistent. Export hex values to use anywhere.
Open Tool →
See all free dev tools →

Ready to build your first C++ game?

Install a free compiler and SFML, then start Episode 1. The setup is the hardest part — after that you will have Pong running fast.

🚀 Start Episode 1 → 📊 Track My Progress

Questions & Answers

Do I need to know C++ before starting?
No, but C++ is a stricter language, so some prior coding (Scratch, Python) helps. Episode 1 sets up everything and explains each line.
Is C++ and SFML really free?
Yes. Compilers like g++, editors like VS Code, and the SFML library are all completely free and open-source.
What will I build?
Pong with delta-time physics, Snake with a deque, Breakout with real classes, a platformer, and a two-part tower defence with waves, upgrades and a boss.
What age is it suitable for?
Ages 12+ works best. C++ manages more detail than Python or Java, so it suits learners ready for a stricter, more powerful language.
Why learn C++ if it is harder?
C++ powers Unreal Engine and most console and AAA games. Learning it in pure SFML makes engines like Unreal feel much easier later.
Is it really free?
All 7 episodes, forever. No ads, no paywall, no sign-up needed.
🚀 Keep Going

Where to next?

Finished here, or just curious? These series are a natural next step, same step-by-step format, bigger games.

🏗️
My First Unreal Engine Game
AAA visuals with Blueprints.
Ages 10+ Start →
🔷
My First Unity Game
2D & 3D games with C#.
Ages 10+ Start →
☕
My First Java Game
Game-dev fundamentals in Java.
Ages 11+ Start →
Browse all workshops →