# Game ideas you can make in a few minutes

Small ideas make the best first games: one goal, one way to lose, and something to do again and again. Here are 40, by genre. Each "Make it" link opens Go Bananas with the idea typed in, ready for you to change before you send it.

Make a game: https://gobananas.co/ (or https://gobananas.co/?idea=<your idea> to open the create box with it typed in). Opens Go Bananas with your idea in the create box. Your first game is free, no account needed.

## Arcade game ideas

- **Asteroid dodger**: A space shooter where you dodge asteroids, shoot drones and collect shield power-ups. Arrow keys or tilt to steer, it gets faster every 30 seconds, and a high score table. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20space%20shooter%20where%20you%20dodge%20asteroids%2C%20shoot%20drones%20and%20collect%20shield%20power-ups.%20Arrow%20keys%20or%20tilt%20to%20steer%2C%20it%20gets%20faster%20every%2030%20seconds%2C%20and%20a%20high%20score%20table.)
- **Lily pad hop**: A frog hops across a river on lily pads that sink a second after it lands. Tap left or right to jump. How far can you get? [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20frog%20hops%20across%20a%20river%20on%20lily%20pads%20that%20sink%20a%20second%20after%20it%20lands.%20Tap%20left%20or%20right%20to%20jump.%20How%20far%20can%20you%20get%3F)
- **Neon brick breaker**: Break neon bricks with a bouncing ball and a paddle. Some bricks drop power-ups: a wider paddle, three balls, a laser. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Break%20neon%20bricks%20with%20a%20bouncing%20ball%20and%20a%20paddle.%20Some%20bricks%20drop%20power-ups%3A%20a%20wider%20paddle%2C%20three%20balls%2C%20a%20laser.)
- **Fruit catcher**: Catch falling fruit in a basket and dodge the rotten ones. Three misses and the game ends. Bright cartoon colors. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Catch%20falling%20fruit%20in%20a%20basket%20and%20dodge%20the%20rotten%20ones.%20Three%20misses%20and%20the%20game%20ends.%20Bright%20cartoon%20colors.)
- **Tractor beam**: Fly a UFO over a farm and beam up cows before the timer runs out, while the farmer throws pitchforks at you. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Fly%20a%20UFO%20over%20a%20farm%20and%20beam%20up%20cows%20before%20the%20timer%20runs%20out%2C%20while%20the%20farmer%20throws%20pitchforks%20at%20you.)

## Puzzle game ideas

- **Merge the numbers**: Slide tiles on a 5 by 5 board; two equal tiles merge into their sum. Reach 1,000 before the board fills up. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Slide%20tiles%20on%20a%205%20by%205%20board%3B%20two%20equal%20tiles%20merge%20into%20their%20sum.%20Reach%201%2C000%20before%20the%20board%20fills%20up.)
- **Light switch puzzle**: A grid of lights where tapping one flips it and its neighbors. Turn every light off in as few taps as possible, with 20 levels. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20grid%20of%20lights%20where%20tapping%20one%20flips%20it%20and%20its%20neighbors.%20Turn%20every%20light%20off%20in%20as%20few%20taps%20as%20possible%2C%20with%2020%20levels.)
- **Parking jam**: Slide cars and trucks on a grid so the red car can leave the parking lot. 15 levels from easy to hard. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Slide%20cars%20and%20trucks%20on%20a%20grid%20so%20the%20red%20car%20can%20leave%20the%20parking%20lot.%2015%20levels%20from%20easy%20to%20hard.)
- **Pipe connect**: Rotate pipe pieces so water flows from the tap to the flower pot before the timer ends. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Rotate%20pipe%20pieces%20so%20water%20flows%20from%20the%20tap%20to%20the%20flower%20pot%20before%20the%20timer%20ends.)
- **Word ladder**: Change one letter at a time to turn a start word into a goal word, in as few steps as possible. Give a hint after 30 seconds. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Change%20one%20letter%20at%20a%20time%20to%20turn%20a%20start%20word%20into%20a%20goal%20word%2C%20in%20as%20few%20steps%20as%20possible.%20Give%20a%20hint%20after%2030%20seconds.)

## Racing game ideas

- **Shopping cart downhill**: Race a shopping cart down a steep hill in 3D, steering around traffic cones and jumping off ramps. Crash and the groceries fly everywhere. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Race%20a%20shopping%20cart%20down%20a%20steep%20hill%20in%203D%2C%20steering%20around%20traffic%20cones%20and%20jumping%20off%20ramps.%20Crash%20and%20the%20groceries%20fly%20everywhere.)
- **Snail race**: Tap as fast as you can to make your snail beat three computer snails to the finish line. Each snail has a silly name. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Tap%20as%20fast%20as%20you%20can%20to%20make%20your%20snail%20beat%20three%20computer%20snails%20to%20the%20finish%20line.%20Each%20snail%20has%20a%20silly%20name.)
- **Top-down kart**: A top-down kart race on a twisty track with three computer drivers, boost pads and a lap timer. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20top-down%20kart%20race%20on%20a%20twisty%20track%20with%20three%20computer%20drivers%2C%20boost%20pads%20and%20a%20lap%20timer.)
- **Sled run**: Steer a sled down a snowy mountain between trees and flags in 3D. Hit a flag for bonus time. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Steer%20a%20sled%20down%20a%20snowy%20mountain%20between%20trees%20and%20flags%20in%203D.%20Hit%20a%20flag%20for%20bonus%20time.)
- **Tractor pull**: Hold to rev a tractor pulling a heavy sled down a dirt track. Too much power and the front wheels lift: release in time or flip over. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Hold%20to%20rev%20a%20tractor%20pulling%20a%20heavy%20sled%20down%20a%20dirt%20track.%20Too%20much%20power%20and%20the%20front%20wheels%20lift%3A%20release%20in%20time%20or%20flip%20over.)

## Action game ideas

- **Zombie night**: Survive waves of zombies in a small town at night with a flashlight and limited ammo. Find ammo crates between waves. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Survive%20waves%20of%20zombies%20in%20a%20small%20town%20at%20night%20with%20a%20flashlight%20and%20limited%20ammo.%20Find%20ammo%20crates%20between%20waves.)
- **Robot arena**: A top-down arena where you fight robots that get smarter each wave. Twin-stick controls on phones, WASD and mouse on a computer. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20top-down%20arena%20where%20you%20fight%20robots%20that%20get%20smarter%20each%20wave.%20Twin-stick%20controls%20on%20phones%2C%20WASD%20and%20mouse%20on%20a%20computer.)
- **Dragon boss**: A boss fight against a dragon with three attack patterns. Dodge with a dash, hit back when it lands. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20boss%20fight%20against%20a%20dragon%20with%20three%20attack%20patterns.%20Dodge%20with%20a%20dash%2C%20hit%20back%20when%20it%20lands.)
- **Rooftop ninja**: Run across rooftops, throw stars at guards and jump the gaps. One hit and you start the rooftop again. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Run%20across%20rooftops%2C%20throw%20stars%20at%20guards%20and%20jump%20the%20gaps.%20One%20hit%20and%20you%20start%20the%20rooftop%20again.)
- **Pirate cannons**: Sail a pirate ship and fire cannons at enemy ships. Aim by holding and releasing; the wind moves the cannonballs. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Sail%20a%20pirate%20ship%20and%20fire%20cannons%20at%20enemy%20ships.%20Aim%20by%20holding%20and%20releasing%3B%20the%20wind%20moves%20the%20cannonballs.)

## Strategy and simulation game ideas

- **Tower defense**: Place towers along a winding path to stop waves of goblins. Three tower types, upgrades, and a boss every fifth wave. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Place%20towers%20along%20a%20winding%20path%20to%20stop%20waves%20of%20goblins.%20Three%20tower%20types%2C%20upgrades%2C%20and%20a%20boss%20every%20fifth%20wave.)
- **Lemonade stand**: Run a lemonade stand for 14 days: set the price, buy lemons and sugar, and watch the weather. End with the most money. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Run%20a%20lemonade%20stand%20for%2014%20days%3A%20set%20the%20price%2C%20buy%20lemons%20and%20sugar%2C%20and%20watch%20the%20weather.%20End%20with%20the%20most%20money.)
- **Tiny farm**: Plant, water and harvest crops on a small farm, sell them at the market and buy bigger fields. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Plant%2C%20water%20and%20harvest%20crops%20on%20a%20small%20farm%2C%20sell%20them%20at%20the%20market%20and%20buy%20bigger%20fields.)
- **Moon base**: Build a base on the moon: balance oxygen, power and food as new crew members arrive. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Build%20a%20base%20on%20the%20moon%3A%20balance%20oxygen%2C%20power%20and%20food%20as%20new%20crew%20members%20arrive.)
- **Traffic lights**: Control the traffic lights at a busy crossing. Keep cars and buses moving without a crash; rush hour gets busier every day. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Control%20the%20traffic%20lights%20at%20a%20busy%20crossing.%20Keep%20cars%20and%20buses%20moving%20without%20a%20crash%3B%20rush%20hour%20gets%20busier%20every%20day.)

## With friends game ideas

- **Draw and guess**: One player draws a word, the others guess it in the chat. Points for fast guesses, for 2 to 6 players in a room. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=One%20player%20draws%20a%20word%2C%20the%20others%20guess%20it%20in%20the%20chat.%20Points%20for%20fast%20guesses%2C%20for%202%20to%206%20players%20in%20a%20room.)
- **Giant tic-tac-toe**: Tic-tac-toe on a 9 by 9 board where you need five in a row, for two players on their own phones. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Tic-tac-toe%20on%20a%209%20by%209%20board%20where%20you%20need%20five%20in%20a%20row%2C%20for%20two%20players%20on%20their%20own%20phones.)
- **Bumper cars**: Bumper cars for up to 4 players in real time: push the others off the ice rink to win the round. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Bumper%20cars%20for%20up%20to%204%20players%20in%20real%20time%3A%20push%20the%20others%20off%20the%20ice%20rink%20to%20win%20the%20round.)
- **Quiz night**: A quiz for a room of friends: everyone answers on their own phone, and the fastest right answer scores most. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20quiz%20for%20a%20room%20of%20friends%3A%20everyone%20answers%20on%20their%20own%20phone%2C%20and%20the%20fastest%20right%20answer%20scores%20most.)
- **Card duel**: A card game for two: each player gets 5 cards with attack and defense numbers and plays one per turn. First to break the other's castle wins. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=A%20card%20game%20for%20two%3A%20each%20player%20gets%205%20cards%20with%20attack%20and%20defense%20numbers%20and%20plays%20one%20per%20turn.%20First%20to%20break%20the%20other's%20castle%20wins.)

## 3D game ideas

- **Paper plane**: Fly a paper plane through a house in 3D, through open doors and around furniture, without touching the floor. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Fly%20a%20paper%20plane%20through%20a%20house%20in%203D%2C%20through%20open%20doors%20and%20around%20furniture%2C%20without%20touching%20the%20floor.)
- **Crane stacker**: Stack shipping containers with a crane in 3D. The tower sways in the wind: how high can it go? [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Stack%20shipping%20containers%20with%20a%20crane%20in%203D.%20The%20tower%20sways%20in%20the%20wind%3A%20how%20high%20can%20it%20go%3F)
- **Penguin slide**: Slide a penguin down an icy 3D track, collecting fish and jumping over cracks. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Slide%20a%20penguin%20down%20an%20icy%203D%20track%2C%20collecting%20fish%20and%20jumping%20over%20cracks.)
- **Maze explorer**: Explore a 3D maze in first person, find three keys and open the exit before the torch burns out. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Explore%20a%203D%20maze%20in%20first%20person%2C%20find%20three%20keys%20and%20open%20the%20exit%20before%20the%20torch%20burns%20out.)
- **Bowling alley**: Bowl in 3D: swipe to throw, curve the ball with the angle of the swipe, and score ten frames. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Bowl%20in%203D%3A%20swipe%20to%20throw%2C%20curve%20the%20ball%20with%20the%20angle%20of%20the%20swipe%2C%20and%20score%20ten%20frames.)

## Learning game ideas

- **Math blaster**: Shoot the asteroid that shows the right answer to a times-table question. It gets faster as you score. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Shoot%20the%20asteroid%20that%20shows%20the%20right%20answer%20to%20a%20times-table%20question.%20It%20gets%20faster%20as%20you%20score.)
- **Flag match**: Match country flags to their names before the time runs out, with a map that shows where each country is. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Match%20country%20flags%20to%20their%20names%20before%20the%20time%20runs%20out%2C%20with%20a%20map%20that%20shows%20where%20each%20country%20is.)
- **Piano notes**: Notes fall down a piano keyboard; press the right key as each one lands to learn where the notes are. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Notes%20fall%20down%20a%20piano%20keyboard%3B%20press%20the%20right%20key%20as%20each%20one%20lands%20to%20learn%20where%20the%20notes%20are.)
- **Planet sizes**: Drag the planets into order from smallest to largest, then see how many Earths fit in each one. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Drag%20the%20planets%20into%20order%20from%20smallest%20to%20largest%2C%20then%20see%20how%20many%20Earths%20fit%20in%20each%20one.)
- **Typing race**: Type the words on the road to make your car go faster. Every mistake slows it down; race three computer cars. [Make it](https://gobananas.co/?idea=Type%20the%20words%20on%20the%20road%20to%20make%20your%20car%20go%20faster.%20Every%20mistake%20slows%20it%20down%3B%20race%20three%20computer%20cars.)

## How to make an idea your own

Take any idea below and change one thing: the hero (a cat instead of a frog), the place (space instead of a river), or the twist (the platforms move, the lights are off, the floor is lava). That's usually enough to make it feel like yours.

Then finish this sentence before you make it: "The player keeps trying to ___ by ___." If you can, the idea is ready. Our guide to [game design basics](https://gobananas.co/guides/game-design-basics) explains why that works, and [how to describe a game](https://gobananas.co/guides/how-to-describe-a-game) shows what to put in the description.

## Read next

- [How to make a video game: a step-by-step guide](https://gobananas.co/guides/how-to-make-a-video-game)
- [Free AI game maker](https://gobananas.co/ai-game-maker)
- [Free games you can play in your browser](https://gobananas.co/games/)