Video games are for more than just fun entertainment, they can be a great platform for learning new skills as well. Puzzle games help to develop problem-solving skills, first-person shooters can improve hand-eye coordination, strategy games based on real-world events teach history and culture, and there are even games available which cover the basics of computer programming.
Two of the best-known games which teach players basic programming skills are Apple’s Swift Playgrounds and Tomorrow Corporation’s Human Resource Machine. Swift Playgrounds for iPad teaches players Apple’s programming language which is used to create the most popular apps on iOS. Players go through the basic fundamentals of Swift using real code to guide their character through his small world. From there, users can move on to some of the more advanced concepts so the can eventually begin creating on their own.
Budding programmers who which to learn about assembly language concepts should check out Human Resource Machine. In this game, players manage an office setting using simple programming in a visual-friendly way. The puzzles teach the basic commands to complete beginners and can offer some challenges for experts too. The best part is that the game is available on numerous platforms, making it accessible on just about every device. Human Resource Machine has been released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Wii U, Linux, iOS, Android, and (as of March 2017) the Nintendo Switch.
If you’ve wanted to learn more about how your favorite electronic devices work but you’ve been thinking it might be too overwhelming, a programming game might be just what you needed. Even if you only get through the first few levels, you’ll come out of the experience knowing much more than you did before you started.
