Best Games That Use Python

Python is one of the most popular coding languages out there. Its easy-to-learn syntax gives flexibility and ease of use. However, Python is not the first coding language that comes to mind when considering video games. With that being said, there are some big games that use Python. The reason behind this may come down to Python’s benefits of being faster than most other languages to write and build. Unlike other computer languages, Python reads like English, making it much simpler for the user to read and work with. It’s a powerful and easy-to-use language, and it’s easy to see why some games have used this language to develop their games.

Most people may not expect certain titles to be coded in Python, given that most video game engines have their own type of coding that is more optimized for running games in the most seamless manner possible. However, most people would be surprised by the many games that use Python in their coding in some form or another. It’s pretty rare, but definitely quite fascinating for people into video games who want to know everything about these titles and how they’re developed, down to the very coding language that is used for the same.

Updated on October 29, 2024, by Gerardo Molina: While Python is a simpler coding language than others, such as Whitespace, INTERCAL, or even COW, it still has many of the complexities people would expect to find in a language used for programming games.

Many players who’ve studied Python at some point in their educational journey might have used the coding language in a very simplistic form, but as this article shows, there are actually many different possibilities that Python opens up for both programmers and players. Without Python, many things indispensable wouldn’t exist, which is why this programming language should be cherished and get more praise than it does.

17 The Battle For Wesnoth

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• Platform(s): PC, Linux, macOS, beOS, Web browser, AmigaOS, MorphOS, Android, iOS
• Release Date: June 18, 2003
• Developer: The Battle for Wesnoth Project, David White
• Genre: Turn-based strategy, Free-to-play strategy

As far as open-source, turn-based strategy games with medieval elements and a lot of fantasy go, The Battle for Wesnoth is among the best. This title will have players explore the vast world the developers crafted for them while discovering many secrets and encountering several foes along the way.

While Python seems to only be one part of a much greater engine, its presence in the game cannot be denied, and neither can its usefulness when it comes to creating and scripting this title, and others similar to it.

16 The Powder Toy

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• Platform(s): Linux, PC, macOS, Android, iOS
• Release Date: November 27, 2013
• Developer: Jacob1, The Powder Toy Team, Stanislaw K Skowronek, Marcin Chojnacki
• Genre: Simulation Video Game

The Powder Toy isn’t the classical action-packed game, but rather an entertaining falling-sand game simulator. This title allows players to create in-game content and share it using its proprietary online-sharing system.

While the game is mainly built on C++, the Python programming language also plays a role in its functioning and development, allowing the simulation game to run smoothly and give players an entertaining experience. Fun fact, according to several sources, the developers host an April Fools event every year, which is a nice touch and an undeniable token of appreciation.

15 Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk

A Simple Task Becomes a Daunting Challenge

The Ren’py visual novel development engine was made using Python, which is why almost every game made using this engine qualifies as a game technically made using Python. One such title that fits the bill is a unique psychological horror game that took over the gaming landscape by storm.

Documenting the journey of a woman riddled with trauma and psychosis who must go to a grocery store and get a bag of milk, it’s amazing how such a simple task becomes nightmarish when coupled with the presentation of this game. Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk is an unnerving title that will make its players sympathize with a broken protagonist who must overcome her fears every day.

14 Slay The Princess

A Constant Loop Forcing Players To Make One Decision After Another

Most fantasy stories revolve around a noble warrior who must save a princess from evil forces time and time again. So, it’s nice to see a game like Slay the Princess bend this trope and make the princess the true antagonist of the game.

Players are stuck in a loop as they either slay or save the game’s princess, leading to riveting dialogue and events every single time. It’s a simple gameplay loop that is perfected to a T and lets players enjoy a terrifying adventure that will truly grip players by the time its Eldritch influences come to the surface.

13 Katawa Shoujo

A Feel-good Story With Personable Characters

• Platform(s): PC
• Release Date: January 4, 2012
• Developer: Four Leaf Studios
• Genre: Visual novel

A game that takes a sobering and respectful look at how people live with disabilities, Katawa Shoujo is a sensitive and eye-opening visual novel that fans should check out. The writing is excellent and does a great job of humanizing its characters.

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Despite relying on age-old visual novel tropes, Katawa Shoujo more than makes up for its lack of innovation with strong characterization and a feel-good story for the ages. It’s easy to see why this title has quickly become one of the best visual novels that fans can check out.

12 Star Trek: Bridge Commander

A Title That Successfully Simulates Space Travel In The Star Trek Universe

• Platform(s): PC
• Release Date: February 28, 2002
• Developer: Totally Games
• Genre: Space combat simulator

It’s a shame that not many great Star Trek games are being made right now. This space-faring IP is perfect for games that make the most of its grand universe. However, players have to look to the past if they want to check out fun games that use the world of Star Trek to great effect.

One such title is Star Trek: Bridge Commander, a game that focuses on simulating space combat and does a great job of it. The storyline of this game is pretty decent and features many familiar characters, adding to the authenticity of the experience.

11 Doki Doki Literature Club!

A Horror Game That Appears Harmless At First

Renpy is one of the most popular engines used to develop a slew of visual novels, and the name itself makes it clear that this engine works using Python as a base. One of the most popular games made using the Renpy engine is Doki Doki Literature Club!, which became a viral sensation upon its release.

The game starts off as a run-of-the-mill visual novel before things take a turn for the worse. No player could anticipate the twist in this game’s tale, turning into a full-on horror game that messes with the player and has some clever things to say about the role that people play in the video games they love.

10 Frets On Fire

A Great Addition To The Ever-expanding Repertoire Of Rhythm Games

• Platform(s): PC
• Release Date: August 3, 2006
• Developer: Unreal Voodoo
• Genre: Rhythm

Players who love Guitar Hero or Rock Band will love what Frets on Fire has to offer. The best part about this game is that it’s completely free, allowing players to download this game along with numerous custom tracks to hone their skills on whatever track they wish. Given the popularity of good rhythm games, it’s easy to see why Frets on Fire became such a popular title.

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Fans of fun rhythm games that are easy to get into will love Frets on Fire, with fan support for this title being pretty impressive indeed. Python has been used to code various facets of this title, and it’s clear that the developers knew what they were doing when they formed this amazing musical extravaganza that will keep players entertained for a long time.

9 Vega Strike

A Rich Sci-Fi Emulation Game

• Platform(s): PC
• Release Date: February 19, 2002
• Developer: The Vega Strike Team
• Genre: Space simulation

Python has been used to develop many open-source video games, and one such title that players absolutely adore is Vega Strike. This game has a massive scope and essentially functions as a space simulator where players can engage in everything from intergalactic trading to full-blown space combat that can be quite enthralling to witness in its own right.

Fans of deep simulation games with a sci-fi twist will love what Vega Strike has to offer, and many players simply can’t believe that this game is completely free! The systems in this game are extremely deep, and it’s not unsurprising for players to jump in for a quick session only to watch hours pass by like it’s nothing.

8 Unknown Horizons

A Free-to-play City-building Title That’s Lots Of Fun

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• Platform(s): PC
• Release Date: October 1, 2008
• Developer: The Unknown Horizons Team
• Genre: City-building, real-time strategy

Another free game makes an appearance in the form of Unknown Horizons, a city-building simulation game that is pretty engaging in its own way. The title is still being updated to this day, but most people can’t really complain about the slow pace of the updates given that this game costs the grand total of zero dollars!

The city-building gameplay is pretty deep and engaging, even if later increments are yet to be integrated into the game. Players who want to pass their time playing a satisfying simulation game will find Unknown Horizons to be right up their alley!

7 Battlefield 2

Server Controls Are Heavily Reliant On Python

The confusingly named Battlefield 2 is actually the third installment of the franchise and was released in 2005. It is the first modern-setting installment of the battlefield series. Set around 2007, the game sets a fictional war across the United States, the European Union, a Middle Eastern coalition, and China. The Battlefield franchise was once one of the biggest names in the first-person shooter genre but is losing popularity in recent times.

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This title was an ambitious project that wanted to lift the scale of the game further than before. For all of its add-ons, Battlefield 2 uses Python for a lot of the background work, like server controls. The game needed Python to help create a multifunctional system. The product of engineering was a great online experience that was revolutionary for its time, such as large-scale combat that required using real-time voice chat to engage with other players.

6 The Sims 4

A Great Installment Of A Well-known Franchise

There is little need for an introduction for this franchise, but it may surprise some players to find out this game uses Python. The Sims 4 is a classic simulation game, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The longevity of this franchise is something to behold as it has changed over the years. It recently changed to a free-to-play model on October 18, 2022. Eight years after its release, it is still going strong.

As the name suggests, this game allows players to create an avatar to control. The gameplay revolves around simulating a life for a “Sim.” The game uses a custom-developed game engine, with this engine it allows for multiple add-ons and flexibility in gameplay, including an active modding community.

5 Mount & Blade

A Great Medieval RPG That Deserves More Praise

TaleWorlds Entertainment released the iconic medieval strategy RPG Mount & Blade in 2008. In the game, the player creates a character and can traverse the land of Calradia. Whether they choose to be a trader, a warrior, or something in between, Mount & Blade gives players the freedom to choose their own game style. It is an addicting experience with unique combat mechanics, a historical background, and a large modding community that helped push the limits of the game further.

The sequels to Mount & Blade were equally successful making it one of the best-known medieval RPG franchises available. The successful franchise has come a long way, but it owes its humble beginnings to Python as the modding capabilities for Mount & Blade were built using Python.

4 World Of Tanks

Fun, Lots Of Fun With Massive Vehicles

World of Tanks is an MMO game developed by Wargaming. Players can take control of some of the best 20th-century tanks and combat vehicles. It is free to play and has a sizable player base. Players can choose from over 600 combat vehicles to take out their enemies and explore vast maps. BigWorld engine is used for the server side, and it is largely written using Python. And it doesn’t just stop there, as World Of Tanks uses a plethora of programming tools.

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The UI uses Flash, which surprises some people, but it works well. However, even that is subject to change depending on which platform the game is being played on. For example, the game uses unique clients for Xbox or Mobile. Game development is complicated, it seems.

3 EVE Online

A Space Adventure That’s Been Running For Over Two Decades

EVE Online is a huge game in size and history. For around 20 years, EVE Online has been a mainstay in the MMO scene, it truly is a pioneer of the genre. It’s set in a science-fiction universe where players can become anything they want: traders, miners, pirates, or mercenaries. It is complex, there is no denying that. New players will need to slog through a steep learning curve but are rewarded with a completely unique product.

Once again, it is a complex game that requires Python to keep it running. The game’s client and server both use Python for the bulk of the work.

2 Sid Meier’s Civilization 4

Python Is A Key Component Of This Title’s Modding Culture

Sid Meier’s Civilization is widely recognized as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all time. Players take control of a newly-formed civilization and must guide them from the basics of human origin to the heights of space exploration. There are certain paths to victory: diplomacy, warfare, and technological advancement. Players must traverse all three to become the greatest civilization the world has ever seen. It is easy to pick up and play with friends, making it an instant classic with value for money as it can be played over and over.

There are so many randomized maps and countless hours of addicting turn-based fun to be had in Civ 4. Like a lot of the games on this list, Python enables a lot of the modding capabilities. Furthermore, one of the best parts of Civ 4 is creating custom maps to play on. This is also compatible with Python.

1 Disney’s Toontown Online

A Defunct Title That Offered Tons Of Fun When It Was Live

• Platform(s): PC
• Release Date: June 2, 2003
• Developer: Disney’s Virtual Reality Studio and Schell Games
• Genre: MMORPG

A now technically defunct Disney game, Toontown Online was a children’s MMO that gained a cult following but was eventually closed in 2013. The original game was completely written using Python throughout its development. The game was ultra-safe with a wacky Disney atmosphere, allowing players to create basic avatars from presets and explore Toontown without fear. It was so popular that fans even held Toonfest, a festival in honor of the game.

Now a fan-made replica is available for any nostalgia hunters. Python is still used to carry on the legacy of the original game, as the people behind the remake advertised job vacancies for people who know Python.

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