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Start by learning enough Java to read and change a small program, then build a tiny desktop game with libGDX. Its official A Simple Game tutorial guides you through a bucket that catches falling droplets, introducing the core parts of a playable game without requiring a large project.
What to learn before making a game
You do not need to master Java before starting. Learn enough to follow code and make small changes:
- Variables and basic data types
- Conditionals and loops
- Methods, parameters, and return values
- Classes, fields, and creating objects
- Basic collections for working with groups of objects
These are practical prerequisites, not a Java course prescribed by libGDX. Its beginner pages assume some coding familiarity. As you work through the game, connect each Java concept to what the program does: a method handles a task, fields hold state, and objects represent things the game needs to track.
Why begin with libGDX and a desktop game
libGDX is a Java game-development framework based on OpenGL ES. The project lists Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, browser, and iOS among its targets. That range is useful later, but it does not mean a first project automatically runs everywhere; each target can bring setup and platform-specific concerns.
For the first milestone, follow the official tutorial’s suggestion to include the core module and desktop platform. It warns that adding other platforms early may introduce issues that a beginner is not yet ready to solve. Keep the goal modest: get one game running on your computer before expanding its reach.
Set up the development environment
Choose an IDE with your eventual target in mind. The official setup guide recommends Android Studio for newcomers who want to develop for desktop and mobile, and also lists IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse. For its IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse setup paths, the guide specifies JDK 17 or JDK 21. Follow the current instructions for the IDE you choose, since software support and setup guidance can change.
- Install an IDE and the Java Development Kit version specified for its libGDX setup path.
- Use the official libGDX project-generation tool to create a project.
- Select the core and desktop modules for your first build; leave other targets for later.
- Open the generated project in your IDE and run the desktop application before changing anything. This confirms that the basic project setup works.
Build the first game in stages
1. Follow A Simple Game
Work through A Simple Game in order. The example is a bucket that collects falling droplets. It introduces assets, the application lifecycle, rendering, input, game logic, and audio as parts of one small playable project.
Pay attention to how the tutorial separates the recurring game flow into input, logic, and drawing. That separation helps you understand when the program reads player actions, updates what is happening, and displays the result. The tutorial keeps its implementation in one class for simplicity, and explicitly points toward better organization as a next step.
2. Move on to Extending the Simple Game
After the first game runs, follow Extending the Simple Game. The learning path recommended by libGDX is setup, the simple game, and then this extension. If this is your first exposure to game development as well as Java, libGDX also links to a simpler alternative tutorial from its learning page.
3. Add features one at a time
Choose one small change, such as a score, restart behavior, a second screen, or an additional obstacle. Run the game after each change so that new code does not obscure the cause of a problem. Once a feature works, move on to the next one.
libGDX or JavaFX?
Choose based on what you want to make, not on an unsupported claim that one tool is universally easier or faster. The sources do not provide a controlled comparison of performance or beginner difficulty.
| Option | Best fit | What the official sources offer | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| libGDX | A code-first Java game project | The project provides setup guidance and a staged game tutorial, and lists desktop, mobile, and browser targets. | You will work with a Java project and its setup; additional platform targets can add complexity. |
| JavaFX | A Java desktop application or graphics project | Oracle describes JavaFX as a framework for desktop applications and provides getting-started documentation. | The cited documentation establishes a desktop application role, not the same game-oriented, multi-platform learning sequence offered by libGDX. |
If your goal is a playable game and you want a guided first project, libGDX is the better-supported starting route here. If your goal is desktop application interfaces or graphics, JavaFX may fit that aim better.
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What to do after the first playable build
- Keep improving the game in small, testable steps.
- Learn screens and cleaner project organization through the extension tutorial before taking on a large game.
- Add another platform only when the desktop version is stable and you are ready to handle its setup.
The libGDX homepage reported releases 1.14.1 and 1.14.2 on May 28, 2026. Check the project’s homepage and setup guide for current release and setup information rather than assuming a version or configuration from an older tutorial remains current.
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