Summary
At first glance, the games made on the scratch engine look like they’re simple and for kids. While that may be true to some extent, there is a lot of underestimating the power that this Little Engine That Could is capable of. All while being easy and accessible to someone learning how to code.
There is no end to the creativity of budding programmers using this engine, and while there are plenty of copies of games that already exist (as seen below), there are others that are born straight out of the minds of these creators and are worth taking a look at what Scratch has to offer. Hopefully, this list will offer you a point of entry to enjoying these simple, but entertaining games.
8Arena
Four of you step into the arena, but only one of you will remain! Prepare yourself for fast-paced 8-bit action as youfight three other players in a life-or-death battletune to your specifications. There are several guns you come across as you play, but you can also experiment with other weapons or even a shield.
The controls are simple since there are only four customizable buttons you use to control your warrior, making the learning curve fairly low, but you’ll have to act with your lightning-fast reflexes to outplay your enemies and become the king of the arena.
7Scratcharia
If exploration is more your thing, Scratcharia might be able to scratch that itch for you. Just as with its Terraria counterpart, you take up an axe andmake your way down through the depths of the undergroundto find yourself some rare materials. You aren’t limited to strictly the underground either, you can explore all types of terrain, and even underwater.
The best part about this game, other than being completely free, is that you can play it along with your friends straight inside the web browser. There’s no worrying about downloading the game, so plug in and have fun!
6Epic Ninja
When you open up Epic Ninja and play it for the first time, it would be understandable if you thought thatthe game was specifically made for speedrunning. The premise is simple enough: find all 33 fruits hidden on the stage. As simple as that sounds, you’ll find that you’ll have to contend with hordes of ninjas waiting to stop you at all costs.
You’ll start with just your bare hands and feet as your weapons, but soon enough you’ll be throwing shuriken and even pikes (short, spear-type weapons) in no time. There’s nothing that will stand between a ninja and his fruit.
5Slither.io
While not on the same technological level as its non-scratch counterpart, it still serves as a competent multiplayer experience for younger folks or those who want to play a more customizable experience. There’s nothing wrong with a game being a little rough around the edges if it’s still fun to play.
As mentioned earlier, the scratch version of the game lets you make the game however you want it to look. Want to make the Alaskan Bull Worm devour a bunch of yellow sponges? You can do that. If you know how to code in Scratch, the only limit to the game’s appearance is your imagination.
4Mystic Valley
Have you ever woke up one day with the desire to be a cute Cyclops? Well, now’s your chance! Mystic Valley has simple platforming gameplay as youmake your way through a colorful landscapewith obstacles and mini-puzzles to solve. The in-game store offers quite a few power-ups for you to experiment with:
The best part about this is that you can play it with up to three of your friends! Each of you could wield a different power-up and overcome anything thrown at you. It’s a short game with ten levels, but it’s an easy and replayable game that keeps that little Cyclops guessing what comes next.
3Getting Over It
Listen, not everyone can handle rage games such as Getting Over It. That’s not a diss, but a fact. Even when you look at various YouTubers and other people who’ve played the game, you can easily see that this isn’t for the throw-your-controller type of player. However, if you still want to have the experience of playing that type of game, but it is more accessible, consider the Scratch version.
There are several Getting Over It clones on the Scratch website, so it all comes down to how you want your game to look. Sure, you’re working with a little less accuracy, but the game is slightly more forgiving in how sensitive the hammer’s controls are while adapting itself to your playstyle.
2Geometry Dash
Geometry Dash manages to hit all the right notes in style and rhythmic gameplay by both being easy to pick up, butformidable to master once you hit the harder levels. Its explosive popularity gave birth to several equally successful spin-offs, such as:
Geometry Dash in all versions is a good time no matter where you play it, but there’s something about being able to hit a tangible button to the beat that…well, can’t be beaten. Each level comes with a phenomenal soundtrack with an eclectic mix of genres, such as EDM, Chiptune, and classical music.
1Paper Minecraft
Take everything you know about OG Minecraft: the exploration, the creatures you have to fight off to find the better, stronger materials and gems, and having to build everything from the ground up, and compress it into a side-scrolling adventure. Then you’ll have Paper Minecraft in a nutshell.
One could argue that the Scratch version is the more accessible version of the game, due to the lack of a paywall like the original, so as long as you have access to a web browser, you’re able to get your Minecraft fix whenever you want for free.Get together with your friendsand build the kingdom of your wildest dreams!
