Is Isometric game development in C++ a good idea?

Game developers always try to create games that are in high demand. For an indie game developer, the process of selecting a game and then building it, is an entirely different proposition compared to a game developer working on a AAA title. For indie game developers resources such as development cost, time, etc. are scarce and it is hard to get started.

Game developer aspirants, on the other hand, also need to work on projects that can help them improve their knowledge and make them job-ready.

Isometric games are extremely popular among game developers. It is a great way for learners who are eager to improve their skills or are interested in learning Isometric game development.

However, there is confusion among developers on the choice of which programming language to use. C++ is a good option, but is it the best programming language for Isometric game development? Let’s explore the question.

C++, The Performance King

Game performance is one of the key factors in the success of a game. No one wants to play a game that is not playable and offer low frame rates. Isometric games are heavily dependent on rendering tiles on the screen. If you add the multiplayer aspect to the game, the request to render and show game elements at the same time can increase exponentially, making performance important criteria.

This is where C++ comes in. C++ is a performance beast and topples any other programming language out there.

Two reasons that make C++ a beast are Smart pointers and Move semantics. Leor Zolman, an author, and developer, explains the reason in detail on why C++ is a performance beast.

Keeping all the aspects in mind, there is no doubt, C++ is a good choice for developing isometric games.

Isometric Game Engines

Games engines are very popular among game developers as they offer tools for rapid game development. Game developers also don’t need to worry about basic game functionalities, (such as wheel rotation, gravity, etc.) as they can use the inbuilt methods and features that facilitate rapid game development.

When it comes to isometric game development using C++, there are few notable game engines you can use. One of the most famous and widely used game engines is the Flexible Isometric Free Engine (FIFE).

FIFE is a free to use, open-source game engine and offers 2D related features such as integrated GUI, lightning, map editor, hardware accelerated 2D graphics and much more. The key here is the C++ layer provided by the framework. You can directly use the C++ layer and code the game in C++ or just use Python scripting layer. The Python layer is built on the top of the base C++ API.

Easily Available Tutorials and Resources

Game development is not an easy trade. It becomes more unforgiving for beginners as they rely heavily on the tutorials and other important resources available on the internet.

C++ and game development has always been a hot combination. You can get started with C++ by following C++ Learn page. Once you are familiar with the basics, you can jump into other advanced online tutorials or resources. Check some of them below.

Watching other game developers develop their game can also be a great learning experience.

You can watch Daggersoath from SE work on create a Isometric game in C++. He covers everything from start to end so that the learner doesn’t feel lost.

So, where it lands us?

We started the article to answer a simple question, “Is Isometric game development in C++ a good idea?” And, the answer is “Yes”, from both a technical and learning perspective.

From a technical perspective, C++ has always been the language for game development. It is fast and offers low-level access to the hardware. The learning material and the possibility to use game engines to develop games also add points to the choice of C++ for isometric game development. Irrespective of what you are trying to aim, i.e., building an indie or AAA isometric game, C++ is a great choice.

Are you still confused? Let us know what you think about the topic and if there is a good alternative to C++ for isometric game development. We are listening.