Build a 2D Space Shooter with Phaser and Claude Code
A practical guide for building games with AI assistance in 20 minutes
Building games with AI is now accessible to everyone. In this tutorial by Peter Yang, you'll learn how to build a retro space shooter using Phaser and Claude Code, an AI coding assistant that handles the technical work while you focus on game design. Peter builds games with his seven-year-old daughter, who doesn't even know how to type yet.
The Five-Step Game Development Process
Set up your project with Cursor and Claude Code, find free pixel art assets (Peter uses a pack by Animus), and draft a game spec using Claude's "ask user question" feature. Then build through three playable milestones and deploy your game using GitHub and Vercel.
What You'll Build with Phaser
- Vertical scrolling shooter mechanics
- Enemy waves and power-up systems
- Boss battles with health bars
- Visual effects like screen shake
- Real debugging scenarios
Perfect for parents building with their kids. Source code and demo included.