Game development is one of the most exciting ways to learn programming, and recreating classic games is a proven path to mastering both fundamentals and advanced concepts. Among the pioneers of arcade fun, Pong holds a special place—it’s simple, addictive, and timeless. Rebuilding Pong not only teaches core game mechanics but also brings the nostalgia of early video gaming into the modern coding era.
With the power of the Rust programming language, developers can build this classic game while enjoying the benefits of memory safety, performance, and modern tooling. Rust combines low-level control with high-level abstractions, making it a great choice for game development projects that demand speed and reliability.
Why Build a Game in Rust
Pong is an excellent starting point because of its simple mechanics—two paddles, a bouncing ball, and a score system. Yet, behind this simplicity lie fundamental concepts like collision detection, real-time input handling, and rendering updates. By building Pong in Rust, learners practice these core game development skills while also understanding how Rust handles concurrency, efficiency, and safety.
What You’ll Learn in This Project
- Setting up a Rust environment for game development.
- Creating game objects such as paddles, the ball, and the game arena.
- Implementing collision detection and movement logic.
- Handling real-time user input for paddle controls.
- Rendering game elements and updating the screen in real time.
- Building a scoring system to track wins and gameplay progress.
Benefits of Learning Through Game Development
- Practical Coding Experience: Understand how logic and visuals interact in a live application.
- Rust Fundamentals: Apply Rust’s syntax, memory management, and safety principles in a fun project.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Learn to debug and refine real-time systems.
- Foundation for Larger Games: The skills learned can be extended to more complex 2D or 3D projects.
Watch the Tutorial
This Zeba Academy tutorial guides viewers step by step through building a fully functional Pong game in Rust. From initializing the project to polishing gameplay with smooth paddle movement and ball physics, every stage is covered in detail.
By the end of this session, learners will not only have recreated a classic arcade game but also gained valuable hands-on experience in game development with Rust. It’s a perfect project for beginners entering game programming as well as developers who want to explore Rust in a creative, interactive way.
