3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch (with extra ideas kids love)

Examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch

Let’s start with the heart of this guide: three simple game ideas that form the foundation for lots of fun Scratch projects. Think of these as starter recipes. Once kids master them, they can remix, customize, and level them up.

These examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch are:

• A Clicker / Reaction Game
• A Maze Escape Game
• A Chase & Tag Game

From those, we’ll spin off more variations so you end up with several of the best examples of beginner-friendly Scratch games.

Example of a simple Clicker Game: “Cookie Clicker Jr.”

A Clicker Game is one of the easiest real examples of a Scratch project that kids can build in a single sitting. The idea is simple: click something fast, earn points, beat your own score.

Core idea
Kids create a big, tempting sprite—maybe a cookie, a soccer ball, or a cartoon cat. Every time the player clicks it, the score goes up. After a timer runs out, the game announces the final score.

Key Scratch blocks involved
Instead of drowning kids in theory, you can introduce concepts as they use them:

• Events: when green flag clicked, when this sprite clicked
• Variables: set score to 0, change score by 1
• Control: repeat until, wait 1 seconds
• Looks: say blocks for feedback like “Nice!” or “New High Score!”

How to build it, step by step
Start with the main sprite. When it’s clicked, the score goes up. Add a timer so the game only lasts, say, 20 seconds. When time hits zero, the sprite stops responding and shows a message like “Time’s up! You scored 27 points.”

To make this more engaging for older kids, add a high score variable. Now they’re not just playing—they’re testing logic: If my current score is higher than my high score, update it. That’s a natural way to introduce conditional if blocks.

Fun variations that count as more examples of simple games
This one basic project can branch into several examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch:

• Reaction Trainer – The sprite appears randomly around the screen, and kids have to click it before it disappears. Perfect for practicing go to random position and wait with random times.
• Whack-a-Mole – Multiple sprites pop up and hide. Kids earn more points for faster clicks. Add sound effects for hits and misses.
• Math Clicker – A problem appears (like 3 + 4 = ?) and kids click the correct answer sprite. Great for combining math practice with coding.

Each of these is an example of how a simple Clicker Game can turn into a whole family of projects without overwhelming beginners.

Example of a Maze Game: “Escape the Labyrinth”

Maze games are among the best examples of Scratch projects for teaching movement, collision detection, and problem-solving. Kids love them because they feel like real video games they’ve played before.

Core idea
The player guides a character from a start point to a goal without touching the maze walls. If they touch a wall, the character goes back to the start.

Key Scratch concepts
This example of a maze game introduces:

• Arrow key controls: when key pressed and change x by / change y by
• Sensing: if touching color or if touching [sprite]
• Broadcasting: broadcast next level to switch to harder mazes

Simple way to build it
Kids draw a maze backdrop with thick, colored walls. The character sprite starts at one corner. Using when key pressed events, they move the sprite up, down, left, and right.

Here’s the neat trick: if the character is touching the wall color, the code sends it back to the start. That tiny bit of logic (if touching color) feels like magic to a beginner.

Leveling it up into several examples of fun games
Once kids have the basic maze working, you can turn this into multiple examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch:

• Timed Maze Challenge – Add a timer variable that counts down from 30. If time reaches 0, the player loses. This naturally introduces repeat until and stop all blocks.
• Multi-Level Dungeon – Use broadcast messages to switch backdrops to new mazes when the player reaches a portal sprite. Each new level can add obstacles like moving enemies or doors that open with keys.
• Collect-the-Stars Maze – The player must collect all the stars before reaching the exit. This adds another layer of logic: the game checks if the star count equals a target number.

These are real examples teachers use to teach sequencing, conditionals, and debugging. When a character “gets stuck in the wall,” kids learn to adjust movement steps and collision detection—very hands-on problem-solving.

Example of a Chase Game: “Cat and Mouse Tag”

Chase games might be the most instantly fun examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch. They feel like tag on a screen.

Core idea
One sprite (the player) tries to avoid another sprite (the chaser). If the chaser catches the player, the game ends or the player loses a life.

Key Scratch skills
This type of project introduces:

• Sensing: if touching [sprite] for collisions
• Motion: point towards [sprite], move 5 steps
• Randomness: pick random for unpredictable movement
• Simple AI behavior: enemies that “chase” the player automatically

How to set it up
Give the player sprite keyboard controls (arrow keys or WASD). The enemy sprite uses a loop: forever, point toward the player and move a few steps. Adjust the speed so it’s challenging but not impossible.

When the enemy touches the player, a life counter decreases. If lives reach zero, a game over message appears.

Variations that become more examples of simple Scratch games
From this base, you can build more of the best examples of beginner projects:

• Collect and Escape – The player must collect 5 coins while avoiding the enemy. This mixes chase mechanics with collection goals.
• Two-Player Tag – One player uses arrow keys, the other uses WASD. Now you’ve got a local multiplayer game, which kids absolutely love.
• Space Chase – Move the game into space. The enemy spaceship fires projectiles. Kids learn to use clone blocks to create multiple bullets.

These real examples show kids that they can create games that feel surprisingly advanced using just a handful of Scratch blocks.

More real examples of simple Scratch games kids can build

Once kids understand the three main patterns above—clicker, maze, and chase—it’s easy to mix and match them into new examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch.

Here are a few more ideas that grow naturally from those foundations:

Platform Jumper: “Sky Island Hops”

Inspired by classic side-scrolling games, a platform jumper teaches gravity, jumping, and scrolling.

Kids create a character that can run left and right and jump onto platforms. They use variables to simulate gravity (constantly pulling the character down) and if touching blocks to let the character stand on platforms.

This is a good example of how older students (ages 10–13) can stretch beyond the very simplest games while still staying in a beginner-friendly space.

Quiz Game: “Trivia Showdown”

Quiz games may not look like “games” in the traditional sense, but they are some of the best examples for classrooms because teachers can plug in any subject—math, history, science, vocabulary.

Kids use lists or variables to store questions and answers, and if/else blocks to check whether the player answered correctly. They can add score tracking, sound effects, and a final “You scored 8 out of 10!” message.

Organizations like Harvard Graduate School of Education have highlighted how coding plus play supports problem-solving and creativity, and quiz games are a great fit for that blend.

Rhythm or Music Game: “Beat Tapper”

In a simple rhythm game, shapes fall from the top of the screen, and the player presses the right key when they overlap a target area. This is another real example that uses timing, events, and sound.

Kids learn to sync movement with music and use wait blocks to match the beat. Music-based projects are perfect for students who might not be into traditional “video games” but love art and sound.

Why these are some of the best examples of Scratch games in 2024–2025

In 2024 and 2025, Scratch is still one of the most widely used beginner coding platforms worldwide. The Scratch Foundation reports millions of monthly users, and the Scratch community continues to share new remixes and trends.

These examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch line up nicely with current education trends:

• Project-based learning – Schools are shifting toward hands-on projects where kids create something meaningful. Simple games are a perfect fit.
• Creativity plus coding – Research from organizations like MIT emphasizes creativity as a key part of learning to code. Games let kids design characters, stories, and rules.
• Short, finishable projects – Attention spans are not getting longer. These small games can be finished in one or two sessions, which keeps motivation high.

Teachers can also integrate these projects with other subjects. A maze can be themed around a historical journey, a clicker game can practice multiplication, and a chase game can model predator–prey relationships in science.

Tips for teaching with these examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch

To make these projects work well with real kids (not just in theory), a few teaching strategies help:

Start with remixing, not from-scratch builds
Let beginners open an existing project in the Scratch community and tweak it. Change sprites, adjust speeds, or add a new level. Remixing gives them early wins.

Introduce one new concept per project
For the clicker game, focus on variables. For the maze, focus on sensing and collision. For the chase game, focus on loops and simple AI behavior. That way, the examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch don’t feel overwhelming.

Encourage debugging as detective work
When something breaks—like a character getting stuck—treat it like a puzzle, not a failure. The U.S. Department of Education emphasizes problem-solving as a key STEM skill, and debugging is a perfect way to practice it.

Show-and-tell at the end
Give kids time to present their games to the group. Even a 30-second demo builds confidence and helps them see their work as real, shareable creations.

FAQ: examples of simple Scratch games and common questions

Q: What are some easy examples of Scratch games for absolute beginners?
A: The easiest examples include a basic Clicker Game (click to earn points), a simple Maze Game (move to the goal without touching walls), and a Chase Game (avoid an enemy). These are the same examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch described above, and they can all be built with a small set of blocks.

Q: Can younger kids (ages 7–9) really make these games on their own?
A: Yes, with guidance. Younger kids usually start by following step-by-step instructions or remixing an example of an existing Scratch project. They can handle simple clicker and maze games, especially if an adult or older student helps with reading and planning.

Q: What is an example of a Scratch project that works well in a classroom?
A: A quiz game tied to your current unit is a great example of a classroom-friendly project. Students can create questions about science, history, or language arts. It’s simple to code and easy to differentiate for different grade levels.

Q: How long does it take to build one of these simple games?
A: A basic version of each game—clicker, maze, or chase—can usually be built in 30–60 minutes, depending on age and experience. Polishing the game with sounds, extra levels, or artwork can stretch into several class periods, which many kids enjoy.

Q: Where can I find more real examples and tutorials?
A: The official Scratch site at scratch.mit.edu has an Educators section and a huge library of shared projects you can remix. Many museums, libraries, and schools also publish Scratch activities online, often linked from .edu or .org sites.

If you use these examples of 3 fun examples of creating simple games with Scratch as your starting point—clicker, maze, and chase—you’ll have a ready-made path for kids to move from “I’ve never coded before” to “Look, I made my own game.” And once that spark is lit, they’ll be off inventing their own twists, levels, and stories.