how to make a 2 player game on scratch

3 min read 16-05-2025

Scratch is a fantastic platform for beginners to learn game development. Creating a two-player game adds another layer of complexity, but with a clear plan and these steps, you'll be making multiplayer fun in no time! This guide will walk you through the process of building a simple but engaging 2-player game.

Choosing Your Game: Keep it Simple!

For your first 2-player Scratch game, simplicity is key. Avoid overly complicated mechanics. Consider these ideas:

Pong: A classic! Two paddles, a ball, and the goal is to prevent the ball from passing your side.
Racing Game: Simple left/right movement, avoiding obstacles, and reaching a finish line first.
Catch the Falling Objects: Two players compete to catch the most falling objects.

Once you've chosen, let's get started! We'll use a simplified version of Pong as our example.

Setting Up Your Stage: Sprites and Background

Create your Sprites: You'll need at least three sprites: two paddles (one for each player) and a ball. You can use the pre-made sprites in Scratch or draw your own.
Position your Sprites: Drag your paddles to opposite sides of the screen. Place the ball in the center.
Choose a Background: Select a background that suits your game. A simple black or dark-colored background often works best for visibility.

Coding Your Game: The Heart of the Matter

This is where the magic happens. We'll focus on the core logic for our simplified Pong game. Remember to adjust the code based on your chosen game type.

Paddle Movement:

For each paddle (Player 1 and Player 2):
- Use the when [green flag] clicked block.
- Add forever loops.
- Inside each loop, use the if <key [up arrow v] pressed?> then and if <key [down arrow v] pressed?> then blocks to control the vertical movement of each paddle. You'll need to assign different keys for each player (e.g., up/down arrows for Player 1, W/S for Player 2).
- Use change y by (10) or similar to adjust the speed of the paddles. Add move (10) steps to set the movements.

Ball Movement:

Use a when [green flag] clicked block.
Use a forever loop.
Use change x by (5) and change y by (5) to make the ball move. This creates a diagonal movement. Adjust the numbers for speed.
Add if on edge, bounce blocks to make the ball bounce off the top and bottom edges.

Collision Detection:

This is crucial for a functioning game.

Ball-Paddle Collision: Use the touching [paddle1 v] and touching [paddle2 v] blocks within the ball's forever loop. When a collision is detected, reverse the direction of the ball’s x-movement using set [x change v] to (-[x change v]).
Scorekeeping (Optional): Add variables for each player's score. Increment the score when the ball goes past a paddle's side. You can display the score using the say [join (Score) (score)] for (2) secs block.

Game Over (Optional):

Add a condition for game over (e.g., reaching a certain score). You can stop the game using a stop [all v] block.

Testing and Refining: The Iterative Process

Once you've coded the basics, test your game thoroughly. You'll likely need to adjust speeds, paddle sizes, and the ball's movement to create a balanced and enjoyable experience for both players. This iterative process of testing and refinement is a core part of game development!

Advanced Features (For Later):

Sound Effects: Add sound effects to make the game more engaging.
More sophisticated graphics: Improve the visuals.
Different Game Modes: Add variations to the gameplay.

Creating a 2-player Scratch game requires patience and attention to detail. Start with a simple concept, focus on the core mechanics, and iterate based on your testing. With practice, you'll be creating increasingly complex and fun multiplayer games in no time! Remember to have fun and experiment!