Scratch vs Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

Struggling to choose between Scratch and Microsoft MakeCode Arcade? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Scratch is a Education & Reference solution with tags like visual-programming, game-development, animation, education, blockbased.

It boasts features such as Visual programming language, Drag and drop interface, Online community, Can create games, animations, music, stories, Sprite editor, Sound editor, Supports user generated content sharing and pros including Free and open source, Easy to learn, Promotes computational thinking, Large online community for sharing projects and ideas, Runs in web browser so works across platforms.

On the other hand, Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a Games product tagged with coding, block-coding, game-design, retro, arcade.

Its standout features include Block coding interface, Sprite editor, Sound effects, Music, Hundreds of game examples, Remixable games, Multiplayer support, Works on phones, tablets, and desktop browsers, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Easy to use block coding, Great for beginners, Large library of examples, Active community support.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Scratch

Scratch

Scratch is a free visual programming language and online community that makes it easy for anyone to create interactive games, animations, and more. It uses a drag and drop interface with colorful blocks that snap together to build programs.

Categories:
visual-programming game-development animation education blockbased

Scratch Features

  1. Visual programming language
  2. Drag and drop interface
  3. Online community
  4. Can create games, animations, music, stories
  5. Sprite editor
  6. Sound editor
  7. Supports user generated content sharing

Pricing

  • Free

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to learn

Promotes computational thinking

Large online community for sharing projects and ideas

Runs in web browser so works across platforms

Cons

Limited capabilities compared to text-based languages

Not suitable for complex or large programs

Web-based so requires internet connection

Can be slow with complex projects


Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a free, open-source web-based platform that allows users to create retro arcade games using block coding. It features Sprite Editor, sound effects, music, overlays and hundreds of game examples to remix.

Categories:
coding block-coding game-design retro arcade

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade Features

  1. Block coding interface
  2. Sprite editor
  3. Sound effects
  4. Music
  5. Hundreds of game examples
  6. Remixable games
  7. Multiplayer support
  8. Works on phones, tablets, and desktop browsers

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to use block coding

Great for beginners

Large library of examples

Active community support

Cons

Limited functionality compared to advanced game engines

Games can only be played in browser

Limited customization options

No monetization options