Nintendo wants children to create the next hit games on the Switch console

Nintendo is hoping to teach youngsters how to make their own video games with a fun new Switch title that gives you basic coding skills.

Game Builder Garage is out next month and is aimed at kids and parents who want to step into game design for the first time.

Various parts of the Switch console, like the buttons and joystick, are rebranded as colourful creatures called Nodon.

And kiddies will love connecting Nodon to various moves and options to on screen to move, jump and shoot their way around a self-built level.

There are dozens of Nodon in Game Builder Garage, each with a unique function, and you can learn how to build games just by connecting them in various ways.

For example, you can create and move a human-like character with an analogue stick just by connecting Stick Nodon with Person Nodon.

As young gamers adjust to the options on offer, controlling everything from sound to visuals, to gameplay and level design, they’ll get to learn the basics of game programming in a fun and intuitive way.

You’ll be able to create a wide variety of different types of video games too, from side-scrolling platformers, to kart racers, to space blasters.

It’s packed full of lessons which are based around fun gameplay to allow children to explore without feeling like it’s too much like school.

And there are checkpoints in between for players to test their knowledge by solving small puzzles or tasks.

In Free Programming mode, you can bring your own game ideas to life by putting all the skills learned in the lessons to the test.

With the simple press of a button, you can swap between the programming and game screen to quickly try out your creation and see how it plays.

A Nintendo spokesman said: “If you’re looking for a little inspiration, you can exchange and download games with friends and family over the internet or via a local wireless connection.

“This is a great way to not only show off some of your own creations, but also to check out games created by other players. You can even go into Free Programming mode to pull the curtain back on the programming of games uploaded by other players to study them and learn some tricks of your own.”

While Game Builder Garage can be controlled with the console’s Joy-Con controllers, you can also build games using a compatible mouse that is plugged into the USB port on the Nintendo Switch dock.

This control option might be easier for people who love the feel of a mouse when navigating the software.

Game Builder Garage launches as a Nintendo eShop exclusive in Europe on June 11.