CodeHS Game Design Insider: Word Game Project, AI in Games, and More!
🔠 Word Game Project
In this project, students build a console version of the popular NYT Wordle game using JavaScript. Players get six attempts to guess a 5-letter secret word, with feedback after each guess using uppercase letters for correct position, lowercase for correct letter but wrong position, and "#" for misses. It's a great exercise in string and array manipulation, loop logic, and building an interactive program with user input.
✨ AI in Games
Imagine video game characters who don't just follow pre-programmed routines, but react and adapt to your choices. This is the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in gaming. AI breathes life into non-playable characters (NPCs) by giving them the ability to make decisions, strategize, and even learn from their encounters with the player. It's like giving NPCs a virtual mind, making the game world feel more immersive and the challenges more dynamic.
While they don’t use generative or modern AI, the four ghosts in Namco’s Pacman are each programmed to simulate intelligent behaviors. The game’s designer, Toru Iwatani, wanted each ghost to behave differently. To do this, each ghost calculates a different target, relative to Pacman’s position and other rules ghosts must follow. This programmed artificial intelligence relies on the state of the ghosts and the player’s choices throughout the game.
As generative AI systems improve, it’s likely that non-player characters will simulate more realistic behaviors, like adjusting movements and behaviors by learning and predicting player behaviors.
For a closer look at the ghost AI system in Pacman, check out this video by Retro Game Mechanics Explained.
🔎 Unity Tip
Want to snap 3D objects in a Unity scene to a grid? As you move, rotate, or scale a GameObject, hold down your CTRL (PC) or CMD (Mac) key. This will snap your model to a predetermined grid interval.
To change the snap interval distance, adjust the x-, y-, and z-axis units under Edit > Snap Settings in Unity’s main toolbar.
Watch Unity’s video tutorial for snapping GameObjects.
🧠 AI Curriculum
CodeHS has AI courses and dozens of AI projects you can plug into your existing curriculum! By introducing AI in computer science classrooms you can prepare students for a technology driven world and students can learn that what may seem like magic is actually just programs and algorithms!
💸 Student Scholarship Application
Calling All High School Seniors - Now Accepting Applications!
CodeHS is proud to invite all eligible students to apply for the CodeHS Scholarship! We will award $1,000 grants to 10 students who plan to study computer science and related fields at the post-secondary level.
Review the scholarship eligibility requirements and learn how your students can apply today. All applications are due by May 20th, 2026 @ 11:59 PM CT.
💡 2026 CodeHS Virtual Teacher Conference
Registration is now open for the 2026 CodeHS Virtual Teacher Conference! Join fellow educators Saturday, April 11th 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM CT as they share insights, best practices, and valuable tips to enhance your computer science teaching. Attendees will also receive:
A trial of CodeHop, Tynker, or CodeHS Pro until June 30th
An exclusive Digital Swag Bag featuring CodeHS virtual backgrounds, posters, and more
Entry into a raffle for a chance to win an iPad
💬 Stay Connected
Chat with others in the CodeHS Educators Facebook Group
Explore the CodeHS Game Design Hub
Happy Coding,
The CodeHS Team