Coding
Kodu Game Lab
A Windows program for building a 3D game world and programming its characters with visual rule tiles.
Kodu Game Lab gives a child a three-dimensional landscape to shape, then characters and objects to place in it. Behavior is set with visual programming tiles rather than typed code, so world-building and coding happen side by side. The introductory material starts with reshaping terrain and giving one character a simple action. A child who would rather design a world than climb a ladder of small puzzles may take to it; one who wants ready-made levels to play might not.
- Ages
- Introductory lesson: ages 9–14; choose by readiness
- Works on
- App
- Topics
- Coding
- Languages
- English
- Listed
- 2026-10-11
What kids do
- Shape a 3D landscape
- Place characters and objects
- Program a character action with tiles
- Play and revise a small game
Who it suits
The publisher’s introductory lesson is pitched at ages 9–14, though the tool itself doesn’t set a firm age limit.
Notes for parents
Kodu is a downloadable Windows application rather than a browser editor, so there is a one-time install before anything else happens.
What you need
- A Windows computer that can run Kodu
- The Kodu installation
More Coding
- Code.org / CodeAI: Guided coding activities alongside open tools for making games, animations, apps and web pages.
- ScratchJr: Picture-based programming blocks for making characters move and telling interactive stories.
- Scratch: Interactive stories, animations and games built by snapping visual coding blocks together.
- Kodable Basics: Maze-style coding challenges that begin with sequences and patterns.
- codeSpark: Coding for Kids: Coding puzzles that don’t rely on reading, leading into tools for making stories and games.
- Tynker: Coding for Kids: Guided coding puzzles, game-making and Minecraft-related projects.
- Hopscotch: Programming for Kids: Tutorials and open creation tools for building games and other interactive projects.
- Tynker Junior: Coding for Kids: Picture commands, voiceovers and themed adventures that introduce sequencing, loops and conditions.