How to Make a Game in Scratch (Step-by-Step for Kids)

Scratch is the world’s most popular coding platform for kids, and for good reason. Developed by MIT’s Media Lab, it uses colorful, snap-together code blocks that eliminate syntax errors and let children focus on logic and creativity. In this tutorial, your child will build a complete, playable game from scratch — a maze chase game where a character navigates through obstacles to reach a goal. The project takes about forty-five minutes and requires no prior coding experience.

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What Is Scratch?

Scratch is a free, browser-based programming environment designed for children ages eight and up. Instead of typing lines of code, users drag and drop visual blocks that snap together like puzzle pieces. Each block represents a coding concept — loops, conditionals, variables, events — but presents it in plain language that children can understand intuitively.

With over 100 million registered users and a thriving online community where kids share and remix projects, Scratch is often the first step on a child’s coding journey Kids’ Coding Readiness Quiz.

What You Will Need

• A computer with internet access (Scratch runs in any modern browser)
• A free Scratch account at scratch.mit.edu
• Approximately 45 minutes
• Optional: a parent or guardian nearby for support

Step-by-Step: Build a Maze Chase Game

Step 1: Create a New Project (5 minutes)

Log in to Scratch and click Create to start a new project. Name your project “Maze Chase” by clicking the title field at the top of the screen.

Delete the default cat sprite by right-clicking it and selecting Delete. You will add your own characters next.

Step 2: Design the Maze Backdrop (10 minutes)

Click the Stage panel, then select Backdrops and choose Paint. Use the line and rectangle tools to draw a simple maze. Use one consistent color for the walls — black works well. Leave a clear starting area in one corner and a goal area in the opposite corner.

Keep the maze simple for a first attempt. Three to four pathways with a few dead ends is plenty. Your child can always create more complex mazes later.

Step 3: Add the Player Sprite (5 minutes)

Click Choose a Sprite and select a character your child likes, or use Paint to create a custom one. Keep the sprite small enough to fit through the maze corridors.

Name this sprite “Player” for clarity.

Step 4: Code the Player Movement (10 minutes)

Click the Player sprite and add the following block sequences:

Arrow key movement:

• When green flag clicked → forever → if key “up arrow” pressed then change y by 5
• Repeat for down arrow (change y by -5), right arrow (change x by 5), and left arrow (change x by -5)

Wall detection:

• Inside each movement block, add: if touching color [black] then move in the opposite direction (e.g., change y by -5 to undo the upward move)

This creates smooth movement that stops the player when they hit a wall. It is a practical introduction to collision detection, a fundamental concept in game development.

Step 5: Add the Goal (5 minutes)

Create a new sprite for the goal — a star, a treasure chest, or any object your child finds motivating. Place it in the goal area of the maze.

Add this code to the Player sprite: forever → if touching “Goal” then say “You win!” for 2 seconds → stop all.

Step 6: Add a Timer and Challenge (10 minutes)

To make the game more engaging, add a timer:

• Create a variable called “Time” and set it to 0 when the green flag is clicked.
• Inside a forever loop, wait 1 second then change Time by 1.
• When the player touches the goal, the timer stops automatically with the “stop all” block.

Now players can challenge themselves to beat their best time, adding replayability to the game.

Concepts Your Child Just Learned

Coding Concept	How It Appeared in the Game
Events	Green flag starts the game
Loops	Forever blocks keep the game running
Conditionals	If/then blocks handle movement and collisions
Variables	The timer tracks and displays a changing value
Collision detection	Touching color and touching sprite checks
User input	Arrow key presses control the character

These six concepts form the foundation of nearly every video game and are transferable to any programming language your child may learn in the future Best Free Coding Resources for Kids (Curated List).

Ways to Extend the Project

Once the basic game works, encourage your child to experiment:

• Add enemies that move along set paths
• Create multiple levels with increasingly complex mazes
• Add sound effects and background music
• Include a scoring system based on collected items
• Share the project with the Scratch community and invite friends to play

Each extension reinforces the core concepts while introducing new ones like arrays, custom blocks, and broadcasting messages How to Build a Simple Website with Your Kid (Tutorial).

Key Takeaways

• Scratch is a free, beginner-friendly platform where children learn real coding concepts through visual blocks.
• A complete, playable game can be built in under an hour with no prior experience.
• The project naturally teaches events, loops, conditionals, variables, collision detection, and user input.
• Extensions like enemies, levels, and scoring keep the learning going well beyond the initial tutorial.

Next Steps

• Visit scratch.mit.edu, create a free account, and follow the tutorial above to build your first game.
• Explore the Scratch community to see what other kids have built for inspiration.
• Check out our curated list of free coding resources to continue learning beyond Scratch Best Free Coding Resources for Kids (Curated List).
• If your child wants structured guidance, find a coding tutor who specializes in Scratch and game development Find a Kids’ Coding Tutor.