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Learn how to create a Donkey Kong like game in Scratch! This tutorial walks you through how to make your character jump, move an obstacle, stop the game, add more obstacles, and keep score. Scratch is a free web-based visual programming language designed by MIT Media Lab to help young people learn to code and create interactive stories, games and animations. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.

Scratch.mit.edu
donkey kong remix on scratch

Set The Stage

  1. Click on the “Backdrops” tab and choose a backdrop.
  2. Choose a suitable backdrop for your game. You can select something resembling a construction site or a jungle.
    • You can also upload your own backdrop.

Add Sprites

  1. Add Mario
    • Click on the “Choose a Sprite from Library” and search for a main player as Mario
      • Optional: Download a transparent image of Mario from the web and upload it into your sprite library. 
  2. Add Donkey Kong
    • Click on the “Choose a Sprite from Library” button and search for “Monkey”
    • Select the Monkey sprite from the library and click “OK” to add it to your project.
      • Optional: Download a transparent image of Donkey Kong from the web and upload it into your sprite library. 

Step 4: Code Mario’s Movement

  • Click on the Mario sprite to select it.
  • Drag out a “when green flag clicked” block from the Events category and attach it to the top of the scripting area.
  • Drag out a “forever” block from the Control category and attach it below the “when green flag clicked” block.
when green flag clicked forever

  • Drag out a “when [space] key pressed” block from the Sensor category and attach it to the scripting area.
  • Inside the “when [space] key pressed” block, use “change y by 10” blocks from the Motion category to make Kong jump.

Gravity: 

  • To simulate gravity, drag  [wait .2 seconds] then [change y by -20]   

Step 6: Add Barrels

  • Download the Barrel file below and upload it as a sprite.
  • Position the barrels on the stage where you want them to appear.

Step 7: Code Barrel Movement

  • Click on the barrel sprites to select them.
  • Drag out a “when green flag clicked” block from the Events category and attach it to the top of the scripting area.
  • Drag out a “show” block from the Looks category and attach it below the “when green flag clicked” block.
  • Then, use “glide” blocks from the Motion category to make the barrels move down and across the screen.

Step 8: End the Game

‘STOP ALL’ if/when Barrel hits Mario

Step 8: Add Platforms

  • Click on the “Choose a Sprite from Library” button again and search for “line.”
  • Select the line sprites from the library and click “OK” to add them to your project.
  • Position the lines on the stage where Kong can climb and jump.

Step 9: Add Collectibles 

  • Click on the “Choose a Sprite from Library” button again and search for “banana” or “coin.”
  • Position the collectibles on the stage for Kong to collect.

Step 10: Test and Play Your Game

  • Click the green flag to test your game and make sure everything works as expected.
  • Use the arrow keys to control Kong and try to avoid the barrels while climbing and jumping on platforms.

Step 11: Customize and Enhance

  • Experiment with different sprites, backgrounds, and game mechanics to customize your Donkey Kong-like game further.
  • Add sound effects, animations, and scoring to make your game more engaging and exciting.

That’s it! You’ve created an easy Donkey Kong-like game on Scratch. Enjoy playing and customizing your game further!