How to make Flappy Bird Game – HTML, CSS and JavaScript

Enhance your Flappy Bird game with advanced CSS design techniques.

Creating games using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a fun way to improve your web development. One of the most popular games, the developers want to develop is Flappy Bird. I will guide you step by step to create your own Flappy Bird game. It is great for beginners and you will understand how games are made. By the end, you will have your own Flappy Bird game and a good understanding of game development. Let’s get started to create our Flappy Bird Game – HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Watch how our coding transforms into a beautiful game in this video.

Introduction

Flappy Bird is a game that is simple to start but difficult to stop playing. You can control the bird’s movement using arrow keys or by touching your screen by moving up and down. Trying to fly through the pipes without crashing into the pipes is the most challenging part. If the bird hits a pipe or the ground, the game ends. The goal is to score points by flying through the gaps between the pipes.

In this, I will tell you everything that you need to create your Flappy Bird game. First, we’ll start with setting up the HTML and CSS. Then let’s move on to coding the game in JavaScript. We’ll also make the game look better by adding images and a scoreboard. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a complete Flappy Bird game that you can customize further.

Introduction to Game Development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Importance of Learning Game Development

Game development is an excellent way to improve your problem-solving skills, improve your creativity, and you can also understand complex programming concepts. When you create games, it’s fun and helps you learn to code better. Plus, it feels really good when you finish and see your game working.

Overview of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in Game Development

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) defines how things are organized on a web page. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) makes everything look nice and styled. JavaScript controls how the game works and lets you interact with it. When you use these together, you can make cool and interactive stuff right in your web browser.

Setting Up the Project

A beginner-friendly guide to developing Flappy Bird, covering all essential steps.

Before we starts coding, let’s set up the project structure. Create a new directory for your project and inside it, create the following files:

index.html
styles.css
script.js

We’ll start by setting up the HTML structure.

HTML Structure

Open index.html and add the following code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Flappy Bird Game - HTML, CSS, and JavaScript</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <div id="game-container">
        <canvas id="gameCanvas"></canvas>
        <div id="start-screen">
            <button id="start-button">Start Game</button>
        </div>
        <div id="game-over-screen">
            <p id="final-score">Score: 0</p>
            <button id="retry-button">Retry</button>
        </div>
    </div>
    <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

This HTML setup includes a main area for the game, a canvas where the game is drawn, and two screens: one for starting the game and another for when it ends. There are buttons for starting the game and trying again.

Discover the key steps in Flappy Bird game development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

CSS Styling

Next, let’s add some basic styling to our game. Open styles.css and add the following code:

body, html {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    overflow: hidden;
}

#game-container {
    position: relative;
    width: 100vw;
    height: 100vh;
    overflow: hidden;
    border: 10px solid transparent;
    border-image: url('https://i.postimg.cc/8jZFYZyf/pngwing-com-1.png') 30 round;
    background-color: #70c5ce;
}

canvas {
    display: block;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    background: url('https://i.postimg.cc/cv6KGfj9/flappy-bird-background.jpg') no-repeat center center;
    background-size: cover;
}

#start-screen, #game-over-screen {
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
    display: none;
}

#start-screen.active, #game-over-screen.active {
    display: flex;
}

#start-button, #retry-button {
    padding: 10px 20px;
    font-size: 18px;
    cursor: pointer;
}

#scoreboard {
    position: absolute;
    top: 10px;
    right: 10px;
    font-size: 20px;
    color: #FFF;
    background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
    padding: 5px 10px;
    border-radius: 5px;
}

#final-score {
    font-size: 24px;
    color: #FFF;
}

This CSS design arranges how the game looks and where things go. We use a canvas to draw the game and put background pictures in the game area with a border around it. The screens for starting and ending the game stay hidden until you need to see them.

For this project, instead of creating a separate folder for images, I used the “https://postimg.cc/” website to generate image links, which I directly included in this code.

 border-image: url('https://i.postimg.cc/8jZFYZyf/pngwing-com-1.png') 30 round;
 url('https://i.postimg.cc/cv6KGfj9/flappy-bird-background.jpg')
 birdImage.src = 'https://i.postimg.cc/LJ7J9nFH/pngwing-com.png';
 pipeImage.src = 'https://i.postimg.cc/8jZFYZyf/pngwing-com-1.png';

Before creating image link on website, first we need to download all the necessary images. Next, visit “https://postimg.cc/“, upload the images there, and it will generate a link. You can simply copy this link and paste it into your code. Here’s an example image to guide you:

Master HTML5 game programming while building a Flappy Bird game.

JavaScript Game Logic

Now it’s time to implement the game logic using JavaScript. Open script.js and add the following code:

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
    const canvas = document.getElementById('gameCanvas');
    const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
    const startScreen = document.getElementById('start-screen');
    const gameOverScreen = document.getElementById('game-over-screen');
    const startButton = document.getElementById('start-button');
    const retryButton = document.getElementById('retry-button');
    const finalScore = document.getElementById('final-score');
    const scoreboard = document.createElement('div');
    scoreboard.id = 'scoreboard';
    document.getElementById('game-container').appendChild(scoreboard);

    const birdImage = new Image();
    birdImage.src = 'https://i.postimg.cc/LJ7J9nFH/pngwing-com.png';

    const pipeImage = new Image();
    pipeImage.src = 'https://i.postimg.cc/8jZFYZyf/pngwing-com-1.png';

    const bird = {
        x: 50,
        y: 150,
        width: 20,
        height: 20,
        speed: 4
    };

    const pipes = [];
    const pipeWidth = 50;
    const pipeGap = 150;
    let pipeInterval = 90;
    let frameCount = 0;
    let score = 0;
    let gameStarted = false;
    let gameEnded = false;

    canvas.width = window.innerWidth;
    canvas.height = window.innerHeight;

    window.addEventListener('resize', () => {
        canvas.width = window.innerWidth;
        canvas.height = window.innerHeight;
    });

    function drawBird() {
        ctx.drawImage(birdImage, bird.x, bird.y, bird.width, bird.height);
    }

    function drawPipes() {
        pipes.forEach(pipe => {
            ctx.drawImage(pipeImage, pipe.x, pipe.y, pipeWidth, pipe.height);
            ctx.drawImage(pipeImage, pipe.x, pipe.y + pipe.height + pipeGap, pipeWidth, canvas.height - pipe.y - pipe.height - pipeGap);
        });
    }

    function updateBird() {
        if (bird.y + bird.height > canvas.height || bird.y < 0 || bird.x + bird.width > canvas.width || bird.x < 0) {
            endGame();
        }
    }

    function updatePipes() {
        if (frameCount % pipeInterval === 0) {
            const pipeHeight = Math.floor(Math.random() * (canvas.height - pipeGap));
            pipes.push({ x: canvas.width, y: 0, height: pipeHeight });
        }

        pipes.forEach((pipe, index) => {
            pipe.x -= 2;
            if (pipe.x + pipeWidth < 0) {
                pipes.splice(index, 1);
                if (!gameEnded) score++;
                updateScore();
            }
            if (bird.x < pipe.x + pipeWidth && bird.x + bird.width > pipe.x && (bird.y < pipe.height || bird.y + bird.height > pipe.height + pipeGap)) {
                endGame();
            }
        });
    }

    function updateScore() {
        scoreboard.innerText = `Score: ${score}`;
    }

    function gameLoop() {
        ctx.clearRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
        drawBird();
        drawPipes();
        updateBird();
        updatePipes();
        frameCount++;
        if (!gameEnded) requestAnimationFrame(gameLoop);
    }

    function resetGame() {
        bird.x = 50;
        bird.y = 150;
        pipes.length = 0;
        score = 0;
        frameCount = 0;
        gameEnded = false;
        updateScore();
    }

    function endGame() {
        gameEnded = true;
        gameOverScreen.classList.add('active');
        finalScore.innerText = `Score: ${score}`;
    }

    function startGame() {
        gameStarted = true;
        startScreen.classList.remove('active');
        gameOverScreen.classList.remove('active');
        resetGame();
        gameLoop();
    }

    document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
        if (gameStarted && !gameEnded) {
            if (e.key === 'ArrowUp') bird.y -= bird.speed;
            if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') bird.y += bird.speed;
            if (e.key === 'ArrowLeft') bird.x -= bird.speed;
            if (e.key === 'ArrowRight') bird.x += bird.speed;
        }
    });

    startButton.addEventListener('click', startGame);
    retryButton.addEventListener('click', startGame);
});

Enhance your Flappy Bird game with advanced CSS design techniques.

Advanced Game Mechanics

To make the game more challenging and fun, you can add features like gravity, acceleration, and better collision detection. These advanced mechanics will make the gameplay more exciting.

Enhance your game with advanced mechanics like gravity, acceleration, and improved collision detection for a more exciting experience!

Gravity and Acceleration

You can add gravity to make the bird fall slowly instead of instantly. Create a gravity variable that changes the bird’s vertical position over time. This will make the bird’s movement more realistic.

Complex Collision Detection

To improve collision detection, you can check for collisions more precisely at the edges of the bird and pipes. This will stop the bird from seeming to pass through the edges of the pipes.

Optimizing Game Performance

To keep the game running smoothly, it’s important to optimize its performance. Here are some simple tips and techniques to help you do that:

Boost your game’s performance with efficient rendering, image caching, and frame rate control—simple techniques for a smoother gameplay experience!

Efficient Rendering: Use smart rendering methods to reduce the number of times you draw on the screen. This helps lower the CPU load.
Image Caching: Save images so you don’t have to reload them every frame. This speeds up the game by reducing loading times.
Frame Rate Control: Keep the game running smoothly on different devices by managing the frame rate. Use requestAnimationFrame to handle the game loop efficiently.

Responsive Design and Mobile Compatibility

To make the game playable on mobile devices, you need to add touch controls and ensure the game layout is responsive.

Touch Controls: Add event listeners for touch events to control the bird’s movement on mobile devices. Use touchstart, touchmove, and touchend events to detect touch interactions.

Responsive Layout: Make sure the game adapts to different screen sizes with responsive design techniques. Dynamically set the canvas size based on the window size and use CSS media queries to adjust the layout for different devices.

Adding Sound Effects and Music

Make the game more enjoyable by adding sound effects for the bird’s movements, collisions, and scoring. Use the Web Audio API to play sounds in the game.

Web Audio API: The Web Audio API lets you create and control audio in the game. You can load audio files, make sound effects, and control playback with JavaScript.

Game Over Screen Enhancements

Make the game over screen more engaging by adding animations and social sharing options.

Animations: Use CSS animations to add visual effects when the game ends. CSS transitions and animations can make the game over message and buttons appear more lively.

Social Sharing: Add social sharing buttons so players can share their scores on platforms like Facebook and X. Use social media APIs to make sharing easy.

Creating Levels and Increasing Difficulty

To keep players engaged, create multiple levels with different difficulties. Each level can have a unique background, pipe speed, and gap size.

Level Design: Design levels that get harder as players advance. Use different backgrounds and obstacles for each level.

Difficulty Progression: Make the game more challenging by gradually decreasing the gap size between pipes or increasing the pipe speed. This keeps the game exciting and challenging for players.

Debugging and Testing

Ensure a smooth gaming experience by testing for common issues like bird movement, collision detection, and performance, using console logging, breakpoints, and performance monitoring.

Thoroughly test the game to find and fix any problems. Here are some common issues and how to debug them:

Common Issues

Bird Movement: Make sure the bird moves smoothly and responds well.
Collision Detection: Check that collisions are accurate and the bird doesn’t pass through pipes.
Performance: Ensure the game runs smoothly on different devices.

Debugging Techniques

Console Logging: Use console.log to check the game’s logic and spot issues.
Breakpoints: Set breakpoints in the browser’s developer tools to pause the game and inspect variables.
Performance Monitoring: Use the browser’s performance tools to analyze and improve the game’s performance.

Publishing Your Game

Once the game is complete, you can publish it online for others to play. Here are the steps to host your game:

Hosting

Choose a Hosting Provider: Pick a place to store your game files, like GitHub Pages or Netlify.
Upload Files: Put your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on the hosting provider.
Deploy: Make your game live and get a link to share.

Social Media: Share your game link on social media to let more people play.
Game Portals: Put your game on sites like itch.io and Game Jolt for more players to find.

Conclusion

Great job! You’ve built your own Flappy Bird game using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This tutorial has given you a strong start in game development, teaching you about game loops, collision detection, and managing scores.

Now that you’ve followed this step-by-step guide, you can create and personalize your own web games.

Keep exploring and making more games to improve your coding abilities and imagination. Game development is a big and exciting world, full of new things to discover and learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Section

1. What are the basic technologies needed to create a Flappy Bird game?

To develop a Flappy Bird game, you primarily need HTML for structuring the game interface, CSS for styling elements like the bird and pipes, and JavaScript for implementing game mechanics such as bird movement and collision detection.

2. Can I create a Flappy Bird game using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as a beginner?

Yes, absolutely! Creating a Flappy Bird game is a great project for beginners in game development. It helps you understand fundamental concepts like event handling, animation, and game loops in JavaScript.

3. How do I handle game mechanics like bird movement and collision detection in JavaScript?

Bird movement is typically handled by updating its position based on user input (like keyboard events) or gravity simulation. Collision detection involves checking if the bird touches the pipes, which can be achieved by comparing coordinates and dimensions of game elements.

4. Are there any step-by-step tutorials available for creating a Flappy Bird game with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?

Yes, there are many step-by-step tutorials and resources available online. These tutorials guide you through each stage of development, from setting up the game canvas to implementing game logic and adding visual elements.

5. What tools and libraries are commonly used in HTML5 game development?

In addition to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, HTML5 game developers often use libraries like Phaser.js, Pixi.js, or frameworks like React.js for more complex games. These tools provide additional features and simplify game development.

6. How can I customize my Flappy Bird game to make it unique?

You can customize your Flappy Bird game by modifying game assets (like the bird image or pipe design), adjusting game mechanics (such as pipe speed or gap size), adding sound effects using the Web Audio API, or implementing high-score tracking using local storage.

Emmimal Alexander

Emmimal Alexander is an AI educator and the author of Neural Networks and Deep Learning with Python. She is the founder of EmiTechLogic, where she focuses on explaining how modern AI systems are built, trained, and deployed — and why they fail in real-world settings. Her work centers on neural networks, large language models, AI hallucination, and production engineering constraints, with an emphasis on understanding the architectural trade-offs behind modern AI. She is known for translating complex theoretical foundations into practical engineering insights grounded in real system behavior.

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