Pygame Zero is a beginner-friendly framework for making games in Python without boilerplate. It is designed for education, so students can focus on core programming ideas (variables, conditionals, loops, functions) while Pygame Zero handles the setup and game loop.

Link to Tool

• Documentation (start here): https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html
• Intro course: https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/introduction.html
• Install guide: https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/installation.html

What it is (at a glance)

• 2D Python game framework built for teaching.
• No manual event loop required. Students define functions like update() and draw().
• Simple sprite support via Actors.
• Built-in support for images, sounds, music, keyboard and mouse.
• Works well with lightweight projects and quick iteration.

Student Examples

• Class mini-project ideas:
  • Click-to-collect game (mouse input, score, timer)
  • Simple dodge game (keyboard movement, collision)
  • Animation or interactive story (sprites + sounds)

Tutorials and Lessons

• Step-by-step course list (official): https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html#courses
  • Create a window
  • Draw a background
  • Draw a sprite
  • Moving the alien
  • Handling clicks
  • Sounds and images
  • Clock
• “Migrating from Scratch” (helpful bridge): https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/from-scratch.html

Reference (when students are ready)

• Built-in objects (screen, keyboard, mouse): https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/builtins.html
• Actors (sprites): https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/actors.html
• Resource loading (images/sounds): https://pygame-zero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/resources.html