25 Best Coding Games For Kids To Boost Programming Skills

Coding games for kids enable children to learn coding concepts in an easy and fun way. In recent times, programming has grabbed the attention of several parents and children —and for good reasons. Coding is the new trend and offers ample opportunities to children to be creative and learn something new.

Coding is used to design every app, website, online store, or online learning course on the Internet. So, learning to code is an important skill. However, many children may find coding concepts a little intimidating initially.

If you want your child to learn to program, several coding games available online can help you teach the basic concepts in a lively manner. This post lists the best coding games for kids that will make coding easy and interesting. So, read on.

25 Coding Games For Kids

Whether your child is just starting out with programming or they have been programming for a while but is looking to learn newer concepts, these online coding games for kids might help them in their quest for knowledge.

1. Minecraft

Minecraft is an extremely popular game that most children love playing. Even if you or your child haven’t played the game, you must have heard about it. Minecraft is a game of survival and strategy. It gives you the option to create your own games within the game—and you can create simple or complicated ones.

Available: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android ($6.99 to $26.95, according to the version)

Age group: 10 years and above

2. RoboZZle

RoboZZle is a social puzzle game that requires you to solve puzzles by programming a robot. The robot moves in different directions and moves onto the next puzzle when the previous one is solved.

If you complete 40 puzzles, you can submit your own puzzles for other players to solve. This is a great game for teens and even adults.

Available: Web needs Silverlight on your browser but a ‘lite’ version runs on JavaScript. (Free)

Age group: 12 years and above

3. CodinGame

CodinGame is a great game to play no matter what language you love coding in. This is a cross-platform game that gives you the opportunity to hone your programming skills and learn new ones too.

The huge online community with online forums supports you and help you clear your doubts quickly. There are competitions and tasks that keep you on your toes.

Available: Web (Free)
Age group: 14 years and above

4. CodeCombat

CodeCombat offers a variety of languages including Python, JavaScript, Lua, or CoffeeScript. You get to control a fantasy character via code. There are quite a few tutorials online to help you learn. You can play this game anonymously without logging in or can log in and register to save your progress.

Available: Web (Free)
Age group: 14 years and above

5. Erase all kittens

This game features cute kitten gifs. These kittens have a task, which is to solve problems. While these two seem unconnected, this level-based Mario-style game is a huge hit among both new and veteran programmers. If your family loves coding, this is one such game that you can play. You can code in basic HTML and create URLs too.

Available: Web (Free for HTML coding and URL creation)
Age group: 8 years and above

6. Scratch

Scratch is a coding game developed by MIT for younger children. It provides a graphical environment for children to manipulate and create games and animations. Although Scratch might seem complicated in the beginning, it is quite easy to play. There are loads of free games as well.

Available: Web (Free)
Age group: 6-15 years

7. Lightbot

Lightbot is a simple coding game for children. Even younger children can play this game with a little guidance. The aim of this game is to navigate the robot by programming it and turning on the blue lights. The commands are provided on one side of the screen for quick reference.

Available: Web (Free)

Age group: 5 years and above

8. Codemoji

Codemoji approaches coding in a scientific yet fun way. It helps children learn the concepts behind the code without going through the trouble of memorizing the syntax. There are age-related courses for children of different ages where they can learn the basics of web development and coding.

Available: Web (Free for games, $10 to $30 depending on student, parent, or teacher accounts for lessons)

Age group: 5-15 years

9. Blockly

Blockly is a game by Google to help beginners find their footing. There are eight free online games that children can play using the basics of programming in text-based languages. There are various concepts such as nested loops and functions that children can use to perform tasks such as painting pictures or getting through a maze.

Available: Web (Free)

Age group: 5-10 years

10. Lego Mindstorms

Lego Mindstorm is perhaps one of the most popular games in which coding is used to navigate a real-life toy. You are required to build a robotic toy using LEGO blocks and then use an app to make it move through your home. While the earlier Mindstorms would require a PC for proper navigation, the recent ones can be controlled by an app on your phone or tablet.

Available: EV3 Programming App on Android and iOS ($360 (approx.))

Age group: 12 years and above

11. CodeMonkey

CodeMonkey is one of the most popular coding games for kids recommended by real programmers and experts. It is a family game that children have to navigate using programming and strategy. Although the yearly fee might feel a bit steep, it is worth every penny. There is a free trial after which you can decide if you wish to enroll or skip their programs.

Available: Web (Subscription $49 per year)

Age group: 8 years and above

12. Code monster

What if your coding instructor were a cute scary monster who guided you through the process of coding? The code monster sits on top of your screen and gives you instructions about various concepts.

This is great for children to experiment with different aspects of programming. Children who have had a bit of experience in coding can easily play this game.

Available: Web (Free)

Age group: 7 years and above

13. Machineers

Machineers is an educational puzzle adventure. You have to solve puzzles while using and simultaneously learning about the programming logic. The interface of this game is attractive and colorful. Children may love playing around with different codes to solve the puzzles more efficiently.

Available: Windows, Mac, Linux ($2.99)

Age group: 10 years and above

14. Cargo-bot

Cargo-bot was developed in 2012 for iPad and it can also be played using the iOS coding app named Codea. It has a distinctive background score and is one of the most downloaded coding games on the AppStore. You have to move crates using robots, and you can manipulate these robots by programming them to move as you want them to.

Available: iOS and Web (Free)

Age group: 6 years and above

15. Kano creative apps

Kano creative apps bring together a variety of interfaces including animation, music, and coding to help new and experienced programmers learn new concepts. Most games on these apps are free. Some are pixel-based and the rest are text-based, making them appealing for children.

Available: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux ($10 a month for a premium subscription)

Age group: 7 years and above

16. Daisy the dinosaur

For children who love dinosaurs, this is the perfect coding game. It teaches young children the basics of coding using loops and sequences. Daisy the dinosaur is a pre-Hopscotch coding game with a drag-and-drop interface. When children finish one level, they can move on to advanced Hopscotch games.

Available: iPad (Free)

Age group: 6-8 years

17. Hopscotch

Hopscotch is an iPad game that children can play once they master Daisy the Dinosaur. This game offers numerous tutorials that take children through the steps of coding in a colorful and fun manner.

Children can design their own Mario game and learn new concepts. There is a variety of art forms, music, and gaming to help children learn through play.

Available: iPad (Free with $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year for Hopscotch Pro)

Age group: 7-12 years

18. Kodable

Kodable is one of the best coding games for kids. It helps children learn programming easily by overlapping concepts with games. The cool game helps develop creativity and critical thinking in younger children. They can learn coding in languages such as JavaScript and Swift.

Available: Web (Free)

Age group: 5-8 years

19. SpaceChem

If your child is a chemistry nerd or a space enthusiast, this game might interest them. SpaceChem was launched in 2011 and was met with good reviews. In this game, the player has to create circuits for atoms and molecules to flow. It combines a bit of chemistry and space research with programming.

Available: Windows, OS X, Linux (Free)

Age group: 8 years and above

20. CodeSpark academy

CodeSpark offers a coding platform for young children. Even if your child doesn’t know how to read, they can start coding. This game has been developed using MIT’s scientific papers and contains a variety of games and puzzles. Children learn new coding techniques and then progress to creating their own games.

Available: Android, iOS (Free trial, $9.99 a month)

Age group: 4 years and above

21. Tynker

Tynker is a popular coding platform that is used by several students and schools. There are various puzzles that the children can solve including games such as Candy Quest and Hot Wheels. If your child is interested in Minecraft, they may like Tynker too.

Available: Web ($9 a month)

Age group: 5-18 years

22. CodaKid

CodaKid is an online coding school that teaches children to code using games such as Minecraft and Roblox. It is an award-winning game that strives to teach different programming concepts and their applications in real life. As your child progresses in school, they will learn to make video games on a professional level and design apps and websites too.

Available: Web ($25 a month or $299 a year)

Age group: 7 years and above

23. Code Karts

Code Karts is a coding game that introduces various coding concepts to children using more than 70 different racetrack puzzles. The players have to navigate their cars through the racetrack using codes.

With each level, the tracks keep getting a lot more challenging.

Available: Web, Android, iOS (Free)

Age group: 6 years and above

24. Roblox

Just like Minecraft, Roblox is a hugely popular game. It is possible that your child is already a part of the large community of players, playing this game. Roblox offers the players a chance to create their own games in the Roblox Studio using a coding language called Lua. The players can play with other Roblox players or create their own games and host them for others.

Available: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox (Free with in-app purchases)

Age group: 8 years and above

25. Hour of code

Hour of code is a coding game by Code.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing and teaching children computer science and programming all over the world. There are more than 500 games and activities that children with no time to take a full course can participate in. These games are designed by experts and professionals.

Available: Web (Free)

Age group: 6 years and above

These are a few of the best coding games for kids among the thousands of resources you can find online. Children will be able to learn new languages and concepts by playing these coding games. For children who do not have enough time to spare to enroll in a new course, these games are a blessing. Most of them are free or cost very little, and your child can become a pro at coding.

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