Pitfall 2D - Platformer Game (C++ from Scratch)
This project was my first project at BUAS and a personal deep dive into building a 2D platformer game entirely from scratch in C++ - no game engine, no shortcuts, just raw code and systems I designed and implemented myself. Inspired by the classic Pitfall!, I set out to recreate the feel and challenges of the original while learning how to construct every system by hand.
Core Features I Built
Custom Rendering System
- Designed a tile-based map renderer to load and display levels using data from Tiled.
- Wrote all logic to correctly connect graphics with gameplay logic directly in C++ without relying on a prebuilt engine.
Player Mechanics
- Developed a fully controllable player with smooth movement, jumping, climbing ladders, and logic for swimming
World Interaction
- Integrated dynamic objects like ropes, balloons and ladders.
- Designed collision detection systems from scratch to handle interactions between the player, environment and enemies.
Enemies & Challenges
- Added enemies with simple AI behaviors to challenge the player.
- Added collectable items, checkpoints and saving data logic
Game Loop & UI
- Built the entire game loop and state management system in C++.
- Added a scoring system, a title screen and an end-screen to make the game feel complete.
What I Learned
This was one of my most valuable learning experiences because:
- I built almost all core systems myself: rendering from Tiled, input, physics, collisions, state management.
- I improved my understanding of math and geometry as applied to 2D games.
- I got hands-on practice with tooling workflows: using Perforce for version control, Visual Studio for development, and Tiled for level design.
- I learned how to manage a full game project solo, from prototype to working product.
Unlike engine-based projects, this one forced me to understand every layer of the game stack, which gave me much deeper insight into how professional engines work under the hood.
