Video games didn’t start as massive 3D worlds, they began as simple ideas built by curious problem solvers. Over time, those ideas evolved into innovations that shaped everything we know about games today: levels that gently teach the player how to explore, stories that create emotional connections, and clever visual tricks that made flat 2D spaces appear to have depth. In this camp, students retrace that evolution. Using MakeCode Arcade, students will learn how early breakthroughs in game design still influence modern games. Throughout the week, they will explore how level design guides players through space, how storytelling creates meaning, and how early developers simulated the feeling of 3D using only 2D tools. Students will design their own sprites and environments, make decisions that influence how their games play, and use playtesting to refine their work just like real developers. Students will export their games and playtest them on a handheld device they will be able to take home, continuing their journey as young game designers beyond the classroom. *Camp cost includes the purchase of the ELECFREAKS codable console for Microsoft MakeCode Arcade.