# Creating A Game

> Guides the creation of a new game and is the high-level orchestrator skill that MUST be invoked first. Use when tasked with creating a new game.

- Skill: `googlecloudplatform/creating-a-game` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add googlecloudplatform/creating-a-game`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/googlecloudplatform/creating-a-game/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: GoogleCloudPlatform (https://skillmd.com/u/googlecloudplatform)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/googlecloudplatform/creating-a-game

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# Creating a Game

Follow these steps FIRST when creating a new game:

1. **Setup Workspace:**
   Copy the contents of the `game-template` directory recursively to a subfolder in the workspace with the name of the game as a folder-friendly name (e.g., `my-game`).
   Since `node_modules` are installed globally, you do not need to install dependencies.
   Use the `run_command` tool to copy the template:
   ```bash
   cp -r /workspace/game-template /workspace/<game-name>
   ```

2. **Develop the Game:**
   Attempt to make the game using this newly copied folder as the base. Start modifying the source files to fulfill the user's game request.

   * [ ] Read the game files before starting to understand the setup
   * [ ] Use each of these agent skills when creating or modifying a game
      - `messaging-game-over`
      - `ensuring-arcade-visuals`
      - `handling-user-input`
      - `improving-game-quality`
      - `adding-easter-egg`
      - If a "platformer" game use `building-platformer-games`

3. **Validation Loop:**
   After **every** code edit you make, you MUST run the build command to ensure the game compiles successfully.
   Use the `run_command` tool to run the build:
   ```bash
   cd /workspace/<game-name> && npm run build
   ```
   Do not proceed to the next step or notify the user until compilation succeeds. Fix any compilation errors you encounter.

4. **Play Testing:**
   Once the user has made changes and wants to test them, execute the `playing-the-game` skill to start the server and launch the browser.