How to make a game with AI
From idea to a playable browser game — even if you've never programmed.
You don't need to know how to program to make a small game with AI. You need a clear idea, an AI tool and patience to test and give feedback. Here's the process most creators on this list follow.
1. Start with a tiny idea
The most common mistake is asking for "an MMORPG". Start with one core mechanic you can describe in a sentence: "a top-down game where you dodge falling meteors and collect stars; it gets faster every 10 seconds". Small games get finished — and finished games get played.
2. Pick a tool
- Easiest: a chat AI like Claude or ChatGPT. Ask for
"a complete game in a single HTML file". Save it as
game.htmland open it in your browser. - No setup, hosted for you: Lovable, Bolt or Replit build the game and give you a link.
- Bigger projects: Cursor, Claude Code or Codex work on a whole folder of files — better for 3D, levels and multiplayer.
3. Write a good first prompt
Describe the genre, controls, goal, how you win or lose, and the look. For 3D games, name the library ("use Three.js"); for 2D, "HTML5 Canvas, no external files". Ask for a start screen, a score and a restart button — they make any prototype feel like a game.
4. Play, then give specific feedback
Play for a minute and report what's wrong as precisely as you can: "the jump is too floaty", "enemies spawn on top of the player", "add a sound when you collect a star". Change one or two things at a time. If something breaks, paste the error from the browser console (F12) back to the AI.
5. Publish it for free
Upload your HTML file to itch.io (free, made for games), or deploy to GitHub Pages, Vercel or Netlify — all free for small games. You'll get a public link you can share.
6. Get players
Post a short video or GIF on X, Reddit (r/vibecoding, r/WebGames) or Hacker News ("Show HN"), and submit it to VibeGamesList — it's free, and good games get listed and ranked by players. Want more? Enter the next Vibe Jam.
What makes a vibe coded game stand out?
Looking at the top-rated games here: they load instantly, the goal is clear in five seconds, they have juice (sound, particles, screen shake), and they add one original twist instead of cloning a classic.
