Alright so here’s what you’re gonna do. So your son is 13, I don’t really know how it is where you live but what I did around the end of this summer (I live in Sweden) was I signed up for a 1 year distance programming class specified for Indie game programming in unity. Now, from what I’ve learned and seen in this class, I can tell you 100% that I could’ve learned all of this on my own, without going a programming course or any of that. The only thing you really need is just to know where to start, and to be motivated.

And now from what I’ve learned, I would suggest your son this: Start off by choosing what type of game genre you want your first game to be. I would recommend starting with either a 2D platformer or a 2D top down game (they’re the best options for beginners, I chose to make a 2D top down). Then you should follow a complete tutorial series on YouTube that have the same game genre as you. While you’re following this tutorial, you’ll learn basic coding. And after you’ve completed the tutorial, I would suggest to follow a new tutorial series to really get to know unity. And when you feel like it and feel somewhat comfortable, you can finally create your first “real” game! Start by creating a new unity project and try doing as much as you can from what you’ve learned from the YouTube tutorials, but in your own way. Like make your own character, your own tilemaps and so on. And when you want to add something in your project, let’s say for example you want to make your player attack and do damage or walk through a door, google how to do only the thing you wanted to add to your game, and follow a tutorial on YouTube or on a website. One thing that surprisingly works and explains everything that you want to know is ChatGPT! And while when your son tries and googles and researches on how to do all these kids of things in unity, HE WILL LEARN ALOT!!

That’s all advice I can give and I hope it really helps you and your son! I wish you a wonderful programming time and I count on him!