Scratch is a surprisingly accessible visual programming platform that lets beginners create games with 3D-like effects. Learning how to make a 3D game in Scratch can open the door to understanding fundamental game development concepts through hands-on creation. Let’s dive in and learn how to build a cool 3D game from scratch!
Key Takeaways:
Before learning how to make a 3D game in Scratch, it’s important to understand what the platform offers. Scratch is a block-based visual programming language from MIT that lets users create interactive stories, animations, and games using colorful puzzle-like blocks instead of typed code.
Although Scratch is mainly 2D, creative designers use perspective and scaling to simulate 3D effects. By adjusting sprite size, position, and depth, they create convincing 3D-like environments that teach programming logic and spatial reasoning in a simple, visual way.
Also Read: How to Make a Video Game for Free: Tools, Tips, and Timeframes
Now, it’s time to learn how to make a 3D game in Scratch easy and make your own 3D game!
To start learning how to make a 3D car game in Scratch or games of other genres, visit scratch.mit.edu and create a free account through the “Join Scratch” button. Follow the registration steps, verify your email, and sign in to access the Scratch editor.
Once inside, click “Create” to open the workspace, which includes the stage, sprite list, block palette, and coding area used to build and program your game.
Before you begin your 3D project, remove the default cat sprite by right-clicking its thumbnail and selecting “delete.” This clears the workspace and gives you a blank canvas to design your 3D car racing game from scratch with complete creative freedom.
Creating a convincing 3D illusion in Scratch starts with designing depth through perspective. Begin by choosing “Paint” under “Choose a Backdrop” to craft a custom background.
Draw a trapezoidal road that’s wider at the bottom and narrower at the top using dark gray or black asphalt, then add two yellow lines converging toward a vanishing point to simulate distance.
To enhance the illusion, use contrasting colors like green for grass and blue for the sky to frame the road and emphasize depth.
Also Read: How to Become a Video Game Designer and Break Into the Industry
Next, click “Paint” to create a new sprite and draw a simple rear-view car with a rectangular body and two visible wheels. Keep it small for easy adjustments, center it using the crosshair guide, and name it “Car.”
Once done, begin programming movement by dragging the “when green flag clicked” block to start your script.
Add “when [left arrow] key pressed” and “when [right arrow] key pressed” blocks, assigning “change x by -10” for left and “change x by 10” for right movement. Furthermore, include conditions that detect when the car touches grass, moving it back to the track.
Finally, create wheel sprites that follow the car and spin using “turn 15 degrees” in a forever loop to simulate rolling motion.
This step focuses on adding the core mechanics that make your game fun and challenging.
Create obstacle sprites such as cones, cars, or barriers. Place them at the top of the screen and use scripts that make them glide downward with random x positions for unpredictable movement.
Use “if touching [obstacle]” blocks to detect collisions and broadcast a “game over” message when they occur. Then, create a score variable set to 0 at the start before increasing it continuously using “change score by 1” and “wait 1 second.”
To make the game more dynamic, add a “speed” variable so obstacles move faster over time. Finally, include Scratch’s built-in sounds, like engine noises during movement and crash sounds on collision, for extra immersion.
Also Read: Choosing the Best 3D Game Engines for Your Next Project
Testing and polishing are key to making your 3D game smooth and enjoyable. Click the green flag repeatedly to test different scenarios. Check if the car stays within the screen, obstacles spawn fairly, and the score updates correctly.
If something feels off, fix misaligned sprites using “go to x: y: [-140]” at the start of scripts and adjust collision detection if gameplay feels too easy or difficult.
Furthermore, design a “Game Over” screen with bold text like “GAME OVER” and “Your Score: [score],” then switch to it when a collision occurs. Also, add a restart option with “when [space] key pressed” to reset variables and return to the main backdrop.
Also Read: Exploring 3D Art Styles for Games: From Realism to Stylized
Mastering how to make a 3D game in Scratch opens endless creative possibilities, regardless of the game genre you’d like to explore. With consistent testing and iteration, even simple Scratch projects can look and feel dynamic.
As you explore how to make a 3D racing game in Scratch or experiment with other 3D projects, don’t overlook the impact of strong visuals and textures. Enhance your creations by exploring premium 3D design resources at Tridimensi.
With diverse models, textures, and scene packs available at flexible prices, Tridimensi gives you everything you need to build polished, professional-looking games that truly impress.
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