99
games indexed
25+
languages covered
13
language tracks
100%
hand-reviewed
## Why a catalog?
Programming games are scattered everywhere — Steam, itch.io, GitHub repos, a competition that runs once a year on a university server. They get filed under “puzzle” or “simulation” and lost. If you want to learn a language by playing, or just scratch the itch to automate something, there’s no good front door.
This is that front door. One place to browse the genre by language, difficulty and genre — with real screenshots, honest reviews and guides to get you shipping your first bot.
## What counts as a programming game
We’re strict about this, because the strictness is the point. A game earns a spot only if all four are true:
1
code is the controller
The primary way you play is by writing code, scripts or instructions — not by direct input. Aiming with a mouse doesn’t count; programming the thing that aims does.
2
it runs your logic
The game executes, simulates or interprets what you wrote and shows you the result — a bot fights, a colony grows, a circuit lights up.
3
it’s actually playable
Every entry links to a real game you can download or open in the browser. No vaporware, no dead links.
4
it teaches something
Good programming games leave you a slightly better engineer than they found you — in a language, a paradigm, or a way of thinking.
## How we curate
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Hand-checked, not scraped. Every game is played and written up by a human. We note the language, difficulty and genre ourselves.
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Honest over hype. Reviews and ratings reflect how a game actually plays — including the rough onboarding and the steep walls.
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Links out, always. We’re a catalog, not a store. We send you straight to the source and take no cut.
$ pg list --type game
Ready to play by writing code?
Browse the full catalog or pick your language and dive into your first programming game.