Learn COCOS2DX with Real Code Examples

Cocos2d-x uses C++ as its core programming language with optional JavaScript/Lua bindings.

It provides a scene graph, sprite system, actions, transitions, physics, UI widgets, audio, and efficient rendering pipelines.

Cocos2d-x powers countless 2D mobile games, educational apps, casual titles, animation apps, and high-performance 2D experiences on Android, iOS, and desktop.

Scene management

Sprite system

Actions (move, rotate, scale, fade)

Particle system

UI widgets via Cocos UI

Director: manages game loop

Scene: main container

Layer: UI/logic layer

Node: base class for visual objects

Action: animations applied to nodes

Classes/ - C++ source files

Resources/ - images, audio, fonts

proj.android - Android config

proj.ios_mac - iOS/macOS config

CMakeLists.txt - build configuration

Create scene and layers

Add sprites and nodes

Apply actions and animations

Integrate physics/UI/audio

Compile for mobile/desktop

Beginner: simple sprite movement

Intermediate: 2D platformers

Advanced: physics games, complex UI

Expert: optimizing FPS-heavy scenes

Enterprise: educational/game portals

Cocos2d-x vs Unity: lightweight 2D vs full 3D engine

Cocos2d-x vs Godot: C++ performance vs editor-driven workflow

Cocos2d-x vs Cocos Creator: C++ native vs JS editor-based

Cocos2d-x vs LibGDX: C++ vs Java approach

Cocos2d-x vs Phaser: mobile native vs browser-first

2010 – Cocos2d-x release

2013 – Major API rewrite for v3

2015 – JS/Lua bindings added

2018 – 3D features experiment

2025 – Stable lightweight 2D engine focus

Scene Graph: hierarchical rendering model

SpriteSheet: combined image atlas

Action: transform over time

BMFont: bitmap font format

TMX: tilemap format