Screeps: Arena, a real-time strategy (RTS) PvP title tailor-made for programming enthusiasts, officially launched on November 2, 2025. It leans heavily into its core mechanic of letting you script your own AI, and it seems to be paying off—the game is currently sitting with a 'Very Positive' rating, boasting an 85% approval rate from 83 reviews.

Screeps: Arena serves as the successor to the 2016 programming-based MMORTS sandbox, Screeps: World. In this match-based arena, your 'Creeps'—the units you command—battle autonomously against an opponent’s scripts. The core feature is that you control the action using actual JavaScript code.

All the usual RTS staples are here: resource gathering, base construction, and unit upgrades. However, instead of using a mouse or keyboard to micromanage units, you write JavaScript that runs directly on the game server. If JavaScript isn't your preference, the game also supports C/C++, Rust, TypeScript, and Go via WebAssembly, with plans to expand the list of supported languages further.

Your code faces off against an opponent’s in a series of swift 1v1 bouts. The matchmaking system pairs you based on your current Arena ranking, which fluctuates with every match. Since your stored script handles the action even when you are offline, you can find a match at any hour of the day.

Screeps: Arena offers a variety of match types, each with its own rules and objectives. While you can start with basic programming knowledge, those with professional development experience will have an advantage. The developers have stated they plan to roll out new arenas each season to encourage players to constantly refine their code for new challenges.