C++ Game Development from the Ground Up

Build a 2D Action Game with AI Enemies and Procedural Dungeons

Lydia Underwood

• Publisher: Chiify
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Computer Science
• eBook ISBN:
  9798259604391
• Subtopic: Programming Games
• Index: Computer Science

C++ game development game engine programming from first principles. Build games in C++ from the ground up with real, runnable code. This practical guide teaches you the game loop, rendering, physics, and entity systems—no fluff, just hands-on coding. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will learn to create performant games using modern C++. Unlike C# 12 and .NET 8 – Modern Cross-Platform Development Fundamentals or C#.Net (Quick Study Computer), which focus on web and cross-platform services, this book dives deep into game-specific architecture. Master memory management, collision detection, and sprite rendering. Each chapter builds on the last, culminating in a complete 2D game. Start coding today and transform your ideas into playable software. Lydia Underwood and [placeholder] deliver a no-nonsense approach to game development. This hands-on C/C++/C#/.NET guide is written to be used at the keyboard: every concept is paired with something you can run, adapt, and keep. You move from first principles to real, working results, with the common errors and fixes called out along the way so you are never stuck for long. This hands-on C/C++/C#/.NET guide is written to be used at the keyboard: every concept is paired with something you can run, adapt, and keep. You move from first principles to real, working results, with the common errors and fixes called out along the way so you are never stuck for long. This hands-on C/C++/C#/.NET guide is written to be used at the keyboard: every concept is paired with something you can run, adapt, and keep. You move from first principles to real, working results, with the common errors and fixes called out along the way so you are never stuck for long.

Table of contents

• C++ Game Development from the Ground Up
• C++ Game Development from the Ground Up
• Preface
• Chapter 1 — Setting Up Your Professional C++ Game Development Environment
• Chapter 2 — The Game Loop and Input – Making a Rectangle Move
• Chapter 3 — Sprites and Animation – Bringing the Player to Life
• Chapter 4 — Collision Detection – Adding Enemies and Hazards
• Chapter 5 — Entity Management with a Simple ECS
• Chapter 6 — Shooting and Bullet Systems
• Chapter 7 — Visual Juice – Particles, Screen Shake, and Effects
• Chapter 8 — Audio Integration – Sound Effects and Music
• Chapter 9 — Procedural Dungeon Generation
• Chapter 10 — Enemy AI – Basic Chase and Spawn Systems
• Chapter 11 — Advanced AI – State Machines and Behavior Trees
• Chapter 12 — Tilemaps and Camera Scrolling
• Chapter 13 — Data-Driven Design – Using Configuration Files
• Chapter 14 — Difficulty Scaling and Wave Systems
• Chapter 15 — User Interfaces – Menus, HUD, and Game Over Screens
• Chapter 16 — Save/Load with Serialization
• Chapter 17 — Multiplayer Networking – Adding Co-op Support
• Chapter 18 — Packaging, Publishing, and Building a Portfolio
• About the Author