Create A Simple Scratch Game: Beginner's Guide

Nov 13, 2025 by Alex Braham 47 views

Hey there, future game developers! Ever dreamed of creating your own video games but felt overwhelmed by complex coding languages? Well, guess what? Scratch is here to make your dreams a reality! It's a fantastic, beginner-friendly programming language developed by MIT, perfect for diving into the world of game design. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of creating a simple yet engaging Scratch game, step by step. We'll break down the basics, cover essential concepts, and by the end, you'll have a playable game you can proudly call your own. Get ready to unleash your creativity and have a blast in the process!

What is Scratch and Why Should You Use It?

So, what exactly is Scratch? Imagine a world where coding is like snapping together LEGO bricks. That's essentially what Scratch offers. Instead of typing lines of code, you drag and drop colorful blocks that represent different programming commands. This visual approach makes it super easy to understand the logic behind programming, even if you've never coded before. It's like learning a new language through pictures and puzzles! Scratch is not just for kids, though it's incredibly popular in schools. It's a great tool for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of programming in a fun and interactive way. It's a gateway to understanding more complex coding languages later on.

One of the best things about Scratch is its vibrant community. You can share your games, get inspired by others, and even remix existing projects to learn from different coding styles. Plus, it's completely free! You can access Scratch online through your web browser or download the offline editor. This accessibility makes it a perfect starting point for anyone curious about game development. Scratch encourages experimentation, allowing you to try things out without fear of breaking anything. You can quickly see the results of your changes, making the learning process engaging and rewarding. The user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality significantly reduce the learning curve, making it accessible to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're a student, a hobbyist, or just someone looking for a creative outlet, Scratch offers a fantastic way to develop your coding skills and unleash your inner game designer. Let's start and build your first game!

Getting Started: Setting Up Your Scratch Environment

Alright, let's get down to business! To get started, you'll need to create a Scratch account if you don't already have one. Head over to the Scratch website (scratch.mit.edu) and click on “Join Scratch.” Follow the instructions to create your account; it's a breeze! Once you're logged in, you can either create your project directly online or download the Scratch offline editor. The online editor is perfect for beginners, as it's readily accessible and requires no setup. The offline editor, however, allows you to work on your projects without an internet connection, which is convenient if you have limited access to the web. The editor interface is straightforward and intuitive. On the left side, you'll find the blocks palette, which contains all the coding blocks you'll need to create your game. In the middle, you have the scripts area, where you'll drag and drop the blocks to create your game's logic. This area is where you’ll bring your game to life.

On the right side, you'll see the stage, which is where your game will be displayed. This is where your sprites (characters) will move, interact, and perform actions. Below the stage, you'll find the sprite and backdrop sections. The sprite section is where you can select, create, and customize the characters in your game. The backdrop section is where you can choose or create the background for your game. Don't worry if it sounds a bit overwhelming at first; we'll walk you through each step. Familiarizing yourself with the interface will make the process of game creation much smoother. Experiment with different blocks, and don't hesitate to play around with the editor. The more you experiment, the more comfortable you'll become with Scratch. This initial exploration will lay the foundation for your game development journey. Remember, the goal here is to learn and have fun! So, let's dive in!

Designing Your First Simple Scratch Game

Let's get down to the fun part: designing your game! For our beginner project, we'll create a simple “Catch the Apple” game. The concept is straightforward: a sprite (we'll use a cute apple) will fall from the top of the screen, and the player controls a basket at the bottom to catch the apples. The more apples the player catches, the higher the score. It is simple but it will teach us the essential programming concepts. This game is perfect for understanding basic movement, control, and scorekeeping.

First, let's choose our sprites. In the sprite section, click on the “Choose a Sprite” button (the cat icon). Search for the “Apple” sprite and add it to your project. Now, let’s add a basket for the player. Since there isn't a pre-made basket sprite, we'll use a simple shape. Click on the “Paint a Sprite” icon (the paintbrush). In the paint editor, choose the rectangle tool and draw a basket shape. Feel free to add details and colors to make it visually appealing. Then, we need a backdrop. Click on the “Choose a Backdrop” button (the landscape icon) and choose a backdrop that suits your game. A simple sky or a grassy field would work well for the game. Once you have all of these, it's time to write the game's logic! Remember, the goal of the game is to catch the apples with the basket before they hit the ground. With a clear idea in mind, you are ready to start coding your first game. We'll begin creating the logic for our game with the apple.

Coding the Apple: Movement and Falling

Now, let's start programming the apple! Select the apple sprite in the sprite section. We want the apple to fall from the top of the screen and then reset when it reaches the bottom. This requires understanding motion and control blocks. Here's a step-by-step guide to get the apple moving: This is where the magic happens.

Start: We want the apple to start at the top of the screen. Go to the “Events” category and drag the “when flag clicked” block into the scripts area. This block is the starting point for your game. All your code will begin when you click the green flag.
Positioning: To make the apple appear at the top, go to the “Motion” category and drag the “go to x: y:” block and place it under the “when flag clicked” block. Set the “y” value to a high number (e.g., 180, which represents the top of the screen) and the “x” value to a random number, so the apple appears at a random spot on the top each time the game starts. Use the “pick random 1 to 200” block from the “Operators” category to make the apple appear at a random horizontal position. The block will look like go to x: pick random -200 to 200 y: 180 (adjust the x values if needed to fit your screen).
Falling: To make the apple fall, go to the “Control” category and drag the “forever” block under the previous blocks. Inside the “forever” block, we'll make the apple change its position. Drag the “change y by -10” block from the “Motion” category inside the “forever” loop. This will make the apple fall downwards. You can adjust the “-10” value to change the speed of the apple.
Reset: Now, we need the apple to reset to the top when it reaches the bottom. Inside the “forever” loop, add an “if…then” block from the “Control” category. Inside the “if” condition, we'll check if the apple touches the bottom. Drag the “<” operator block from the “Operators” category into the “if” condition. Then, drag the “y position” block from the “Motion” category and place it inside the operator block on the left side. Set the value on the right side to -170 (or the bottom of your screen). Finally, inside the “if” condition, copy the “go to x: pick random -200 to 200 y: 180” block to reset the apple’s position. The apple will now fall and reset when it hits the bottom.

By following these steps, the apple should now fall continuously from random positions at the top of the screen, creating the illusion of falling from the sky. Remember to test your code frequently by clicking the green flag to ensure everything works correctly. This is your first bit of programming and the start of a fun game. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right away, as it's completely normal in programming!

Coding the Basket: Player Control

Next, let’s program the basket to move left and right. Select the basket sprite, then follow these instructions:

Starting Point: As before, start with the “when flag clicked” block from the “Events” category. Place this block in the scripts area.
Motion: Go to the “Control” category and add a “forever” block to the scripts area. This will make the basket move continuously while the game runs.
Key Controls: Inside the “forever” block, add two “if…then” blocks from the “Control” category. In the first “if” condition, drag the “key space pressed?” block from the “Sensing” category and change the key to “left arrow”. Inside the “if” block, add a “change x by -10” block from the “Motion” category. This makes the basket move left. In the second “if” condition, add another “key space pressed?” block and change the key to “right arrow”. Add a “change x by 10” block inside this block. This makes the basket move right.
Positioning: Lastly, to keep the basket from going off-screen, add another “if…then” block from the “Control” category after the “key” checks. Add a “<” operator from the “Operators” category and a “x position” block from the “Motion” category. Then, add a “set x to” block from the “Motion” category. Set the condition to check if the basket reaches the left edge of the screen and set its position to that edge so that it does not go off the screen. Repeat this for the right edge of the screen. This completes your control for the basket.

Now, your basket should be able to move left and right in response to the arrow keys. Test this out and see how it works! Remember, experimentation and modification are key, so don’t be afraid to change the values and see how they impact your game. The ability to make your game interactive is the whole point of game design!

Adding Collision Detection: Catching the Apple

So far, the apple is falling, and the basket is moving. Now, let’s make it so the basket can catch the apples! This is the heart of the game, and we’ll implement collision detection.

Check for Collision: In the apple sprite, inside the “forever” block where the apple’s movement is defined, add an “if…then” block from the “Control” category. Inside the “if” condition, add a “touching?” block from the “Sensing” category and select your basket sprite from the dropdown menu. This condition will check if the apple touches the basket.
What Happens When Caught?: Inside the “if” block, add the following steps: Add a “play sound” block from the “Sound” category and choose a sound effect that plays when the apple is caught. Then, add a “go to x: pick random -200 to 200 y: 180” block to reset the apple’s position when it is caught.
Testing and Refining: Test your game. When the apple touches the basket, it should reset its position and play the sound. If the reset is not smooth, adjust the reset values. You can also add a slight pause using the “wait” block from the “Control” category to give the player a better reaction time. Adjust these elements until you get the perfect gameplay! This will greatly enhance player engagement.

With these steps, your game now has basic collision detection. When the apple touches the basket, the game acknowledges it, and the apple resets to continue the gameplay. Keep going, you are nearly there!

Keeping Score: Adding Points

What’s a game without a score? Let’s add a scoring system to make your game more engaging. This step provides your game with a sense of purpose.

Create a Variable: Go to the “Variables” category and click on “Make a Variable”. Name the variable “Score” (or any name you prefer) and make it for “all sprites.”
Initialize the Score: In the apple sprite, at the beginning of the script (after the “when flag clicked” block), add a “set Score to 0” block from the “Variables” category. This will ensure your score starts at zero every time the game starts.
Increase the Score: Inside the “if” block where the collision with the basket is detected, add a “change Score by 1” block from the “Variables” category. This will increase the score by one every time the apple is caught.
Display the Score: Add a “show variable Score” block from the “Variables” category, to make the score visible on the screen. This helps give immediate feedback to the player.

Now, your game will keep track of the score! Test it out, play your game, and watch your score increase every time you catch an apple. Adding a score makes the game much more fun, and players are encouraged to continue playing and achieving a higher score. Your game is almost ready!

Enhancements and Next Steps

Congratulations! You have created a simple yet playable Scratch game! But wait, it doesn’t end here. Now that you've got the basics down, you can add more features to make your game even better. Here are some ideas:

Difficulty Levels: Increase the apple's falling speed as the score increases.
Game Over: Add a game over screen if the apple touches the bottom of the screen without being caught.
Multiple Apples: Make more than one apple fall at a time.
Sound Effects: Add more sound effects.
Background Music: Add background music.

To make your game more polished, you can adjust the sprite appearances, modify the speeds, and refine the gameplay mechanics. Don’t be afraid to experiment! This is how you get better at coding and make more engaging games.

To share your game, click the “Share” button at the top of the screen. You can then add a description, instructions, and credits. This gives your game a wider audience and lets other users play your game.

Scratch is a powerful tool, and this “Catch the Apple” game is just the beginning. The more games you create, the more your skills will improve. Enjoy the process, and remember to have fun. Happy coding!