Master Phaser.js Basics by Developing a Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Game development is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn programming and build creativity. Phaser.js, play tic-tac-toe a leading JavaScript framework for creating browser-based games, provides all the tools needed to turn simple ideas into interactive experiences. One of the best ways to learn the basics of Phaser.js is by building a simple, classic game like Tic-Tac-Toe.
This project teaches how to handle user input, create game logic, manage scenes, and display graphics using Phaser.js. By the end of this guide, you’ll have not only a working Tic-Tac-Toe game but also a solid understanding of the core concepts of Phaser.js.
What Is Phaser.js?
Phaser.js is an open-source HTML5 game framework built for both desktop and mobile browsers. It allows developers to easily create 2D games using JavaScript or TypeScript. Phaser.js includes a rich library of features such as animation, sound, physics, input handling, and asset management, all wrapped in a user-friendly structure.
For beginners, it’s an excellent starting point because it simplifies many complex game development tasks. You don’t need to worry about low-level graphics programming — Phaser handles rendering, sprites, and event management so you can focus on gameplay.
Why Start with Tic-Tac-Toe?
Tic-Tac-Toe is a simple grid-based game that’s perfect for learning game design fundamentals. It helps you explore concepts like:
-
Setting up a game board
-
Detecting user clicks
-
Managing turns between players
-
Checking for win conditions
-
Displaying results
These are foundational ideas you’ll reuse in every other game you make. Even though the game is small, it provides the perfect structure for understanding how Phaser.js manages scenes, logic, and interaction.
Setting Up Your Phaser.js Environment
Before you start coding, you need a basic setup for your Phaser project. Follow these simple steps:
-
Create a Project Folder:
Make a new folder, for example,tic-tac-toe-phaser. -
Include Phaser:
You can add Phaser.js by using a CDN link in your HTML file:<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/phaser@3/dist/phaser.js"></script> -
Set Up the Game File:
Create amain.jsfile where your game logic will live. -
Prepare the HTML Structure:
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>Tic-Tac-Toe with Phaser.js</title> </head> <body> <script src="main.js"></script> </body> </html>
Once these files are ready, you can start defining your Phaser game configuration.
Understanding the Game Configuration
In Phaser.js, every game begins with a configuration object that defines the canvas size, scenes, and other core settings.
const config = {
type: Phaser.AUTO,
width: 600,
height: 600,
backgroundColor: '#f0f0f0',
scene: {
preload: preload,
create: create,
update: update
}
};
const game = new Phaser.Game(config);
This structure tells Phaser how to render the game, what dimensions to use, and which functions handle different stages of the game.
-
preload()loads assets like images or sounds. -
create()sets up game objects on the screen. -
update()continuously runs the game logic (such as animations or checks).
Designing the Game Board
The Tic-Tac-Toe board consists of a 3x3 grid. You can easily create this by drawing lines in the create() function.
function create() {
const graphics = this.add.graphics({ lineStyle: { width: 4, color: 0x000000 } });
// Draw grid lines
graphics.strokeLineShape(new Phaser.Geom.Line(200, 0, 200, 600));
graphics.strokeLineShape(new Phaser.Geom.Line(400, 0, 400, 600));
graphics.strokeLineShape(new Phaser.Geom.Line(0, 200, 600, 200));
graphics.strokeLineShape(new Phaser.Geom.Line(0, 400, 600, 400));
}
Now you have a simple grid drawn in your game window. Each square will represent one of the nine positions where players can place their marks.
Managing Player Turns
To keep the game interactive, you need to alternate turns between two players — traditionally X and O. You can use a variable to track whose turn it is.
let currentPlayer = 'X';
let board = ['', '', '', '', '', '', '', '', ''];
Whenever a player clicks a cell, you’ll record the move in the board array and draw the symbol.
Handling Player Input
Phaser allows you to listen for pointer (mouse or touch) events. You can capture a click anywhere on the grid and calculate which cell was clicked.
this.input.on('pointerdown', function (pointer) {
const x = Math.floor(pointer.x / 200);
const y = Math.floor(pointer.y / 200);
const index = y * 3 + x;
if (board[index] === '') {
board[index] = currentPlayer;
drawSymbol(this, x, y, currentPlayer);
checkWinner();
currentPlayer = currentPlayer === 'X' ? 'O' : 'X';
}
}, this);
This snippet divides the screen into 3 columns and 3 rows, calculates the index of the clicked cell, and updates the game state accordingly.
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