About Syntax Arcade
Syntax Arcade is a hand-picked list of games in which writing code is the main thing you do. It covers free browser games and commercial titles alike, and every game is checked against the same rule before it is listed.
The rule
A game is listed when writing code is its primary verb, and when that code is part of the game's own premise.
- Code is the main activity. Most of your time goes into writing, reading or fixing programs, not into shooting, building or exploring.
- Code belongs to the game. The programming is what the game is about, not a scripting layer or mod added on top of a game with a different story.
- Any kind of code counts. Real languages, languages invented for the game, visual blocks and logic circuits all qualify, as long as you are building the logic yourself.
What is left out
Two kinds of games are not listed, even though they often come up in conversations about programming games:
- Scripting layers and mods. Minecraft redstone, Roblox, Garry's Mod, Factorio circuits, kOS in Kerbal Space Program and the programmable blocks in Space Engineers all let you program, but the games themselves are about something else.
- Games about computers where you don't write code. Papers, Please, Orwell and Duskers have terminals and systems, but you operate them rather than program them.
The borderline tier
Some games come close to the rule without quite meeting it: you type commands instead of writing programs, you build machines on a timeline, you rearrange rules instead of code, or the coding sits alongside an action game. Rather than dropping them silently, they are listed and marked as borderline, with a short reason on their page. Examples are Opus Magnum, Uplink, Hacknet, Hack 'n' Slash, Net.Attack() and Baba Is You.
Categories
Games are grouped into categories such as code puzzlers, automation sims, competitive bot programming, hacker fiction, world-hackers, learn-to-code games and build-a-computer. A game can belong to more than one category.
How entries are checked
- Free or paid only. Prices change too often to keep up with, so pages only say whether a game is free or paid. Check the game's own page for the current price.
- Last verified. Each game page shows when its platforms and cost were last checked against the store or the game's site. Entries marked "not yet verified" are still waiting for that check.
- Images. Game images belong to their publishers and are shown only to identify each game. Each image names its source.
- No advertising. Listing a game does not mean it is endorsed, and no game pays to be listed.
How to Suggest a game
Know a game that should be here, or spotted a mistake? Suggestions are collected as issues on GitHub: github.com/syntax-arcade/games. Borderline cases are welcome too; say why you think the game fits.
Related sites
Syntax Arcade is not the first list of its kind. If you want to dig further, try these: