Lesson 3 — Build Your First Mini Game

Create a tiny browser game with one character, one goal, and one simple rule. Output: my-first-mini-game.html — a free, parent-guided lesson.

Free · Parent-guided

Safety rule: Use ideas, not secrets. Do not enter real names, school names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, passwords, photos, medical details, financial details, account information, exact locations, or private family details into any AI tool.

For parents

A parent-guided beginner project

This is a free, parent-guided beginner project. You may help your child copy, save, and open the HTML file — that part is allowed. Let your child make the creative choices (the idea, the character, the goal). No coding knowledge needed.

The project

What your child will build

A tiny local browser mini game, saved as one HTML file:

✓One character
✓One goal
✓One simple rule
✓A score or win message
✓A reset button
✓Saved as my-first-mini-game.html and opened locally in the browser

Two rules

One File Rule · Tiny Game Rule

One File Rule: everything stays in a single .html file — no extra files, no external libraries or online assets. Tiny Game Rule: keep it to one character, one goal, and one simple rule. Local browser project only — no account, no upload, no public posting, no private details.

Lesson path

1Pick a simple game ideaChoose one character, one goal, and one simple rule. Keep it tiny — that is the whole point.

2Ask AI for a tiny one-file HTML gameUse a parent-approved AI assistant. Ask for ONE HTML file with simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript inside.

3Copy the codeCopy the full code the AI gives you. A parent may help with copying.

4Save the file as my-first-mini-game.htmlPaste it into a plain text/code editor and save with a name ending in .html.

5Open it in a browserDouble-click the file to open it in Chrome, Safari, or Edge — no internet needed.

6Test one thing at a timePlay it. If something is off, ask the AI to fix just one thing, then test again.

7Celebrate the first playable versionIf you can play it, you did it. You can make it better later in Lesson 4.

Prompt cards

Copy-friendly prompts for a parent-approved AI assistant. When copying prompts, use ideas, not secrets.

Prompt 1 — Game idea

Help me make a very simple browser mini game for a child beginner. Use one character, one goal, and one simple rule. Do not ask for personal information.

Prompt 2 — One-file HTML

Create a one-file HTML mini game. It should work when saved as my-first-mini-game.html and opened in a browser. Use simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one file. Do not use external libraries or online assets.

Prompt 3 — Fix my game

My game did not work. Please help me check the code. Explain the fix simply. Keep it as one HTML file.

Prompt 4 — Make it easier

Make the game easier for a beginner child to understand. Keep only one character, one goal, and one simple rule.

Save it

Save as my-first-mini-game.html

Open a plain text or code editor.
Paste the full code.
Save the file as my-first-mini-game.html.
Make sure the filename ends in .html (not .txt).
Open the file in Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
If it opens as plain text, check the filename and re-save.

Need the full picture? See Save Your Files.

Test it

Test checklist

✓The page opens
✓The game starts
✓The player can interact
✓The goal is clear
✓The score or win message works
✓The reset button works
✓No private information is included

Stuck?

Troubleshooting — common fixes

File opens as text, not a gameThe filename must end in .html (not .txt). Re-save with the correct ending.
Blank screenOpen the file again, or ask the AI: “My game shows a blank screen. Fix it and keep it as one HTML file.”
Button does nothingAsk the AI to check the button and the JavaScript, and to keep everything in one file.
Game is too hardUse Prompt 4 to make it easier — one character, one goal, one simple rule.
AI added too much complexityAsk for a simpler version with fewer features. Tiny is the goal.
Code got split into multiple filesAsk the AI to put all the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript back into one single HTML file.
AI asked for private detailsDo not share them. Say: “Use made-up, general ideas only. Do not ask for personal information.”

More: Troubleshooting.

Compare

Open the sample mini game

See a finished example to compare against. It opens locally in a new tab — no internet needed. This is an example, not your child's project.

You made your first local browser game. 🎉

You used AI as a helper to build a tiny game, saved it as one HTML file, and ran it on your own computer.

Next: Lesson 4 — Make the Game Yours →