Create games with Gemini Canvas

Describe any simple browser game in Gemini, open Canvas from the + menu, and wait a few minutes for HTML/CSS/JS you can play in Preview—great for learning how games are coded.

Parent Required Ages 8–16 (with adult) Freemium Updated 2026-05-20

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How to use it

Use tool

Everything you need for this tool is on this page. Overview, safety, and pricing are in “More about this tool” at the bottom.

A parent’s Google account (18+) should run Canvas. Review the generated game and any code before kids play or share. Do not paste personal data into prompts.

Flow: open gemini.google.com/app → type your game idea → tap + → choose Canvas → wait while it writes HTML/CSS/JS → switch to Preview and play. First build often takes a few minutes.

  1. Open Gemini and describe your game

    Sign in at gemini.google.com/app with a parent account. In the main prompt box, describe the game clearly: players, rules, and how someone wins. Example: a two-player Dots and Boxes game where players connect dots to close rectangles and the highest score wins.

    Example prompt

    Create a dots and boxes game for 2 players. Each player takes turns connecting adjacent dots with a line. When a player closes a rectangle, they score a point and get another turn. The player with the most rectangles at the end wins. Make it colorful and easy for kids.
    Gemini prompt box with a Dots and Boxes game description typed in

  2. Tap + and choose Canvas

    Tap the <strong>+</strong> button on the left of the input area. From the menu, select <strong>Canvas</strong> (tooltip: “Code, write or make slides”). Canvas tells Gemini to build an interactive page—not just chat text.

    Tip: If Canvas is missing, check that you are signed in and try refreshing. Feature names can change—look for the canvas / code workspace option.

    Gemini plus menu with Canvas option highlighted

  3. Wait while Gemini generates the game

    Send the prompt. A Canvas panel opens on the right with a title (for example “Dots and Boxes”) and a <strong>Generating…</strong> status while it writes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Stay on the tab—this can take a few minutes for a full game. Use <strong>Code</strong> to peek at the source if you are curious.

    Gemini Canvas panel showing Dots and Boxes generating with code icon

  4. Open Preview and play

    When generation finishes, click <strong>Preview</strong> in the Canvas toolbar. The game runs inside the panel—click lines, take turns, and use any Reset or grid-size controls the model added. If something breaks, ask in chat: “Fix the bug when…” or “Make the board 6×6.”

    Finished Dots and Boxes game in Preview with scores and Player 1 turn

  5. Iterate and learn

    Ask follow-ups in the same chat: add sound, change colors, add a timer, or simplify rules for younger players. Each big change may regenerate the Canvas. Talk about what HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are doing—Canvas is a fun intro to “games are programs.”

    Tip: Start with classic games (tic-tac-toe, memory match, snake) before complex 3D ideas—smaller prompts finish faster and fail less often.

More about this tool — overview, features, safety, pricing

Overview

Gemini Canvas turns natural-language game ideas into a playable browser mini-game—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one workspace with Code and Preview tabs.

Families can prototype board games, quizzes, or arcade-style toys without installing an IDE; a parent should supervise account use and review output.

Generation time varies with complexity and server load—simple two-player games often appear in a few minutes; huge requests may time out or need a shorter prompt.

Key features

  • Prompt-to-playable game. Describe rules in plain English; Gemini builds a single-page game you can try immediately in Preview.
  • Live code workspace. Switch between Code and Preview to connect “what we typed” with “what runs.”
  • Easy remixing. Follow-up messages adjust mechanics, layout, or difficulty without starting from scratch.
  • No local install. Runs in the browser through Gemini—good for a quick weekend project.

Safety & privacy notes

Data & accounts

  • Requires a Google account; prompts and generated code are processed by Google. Do not include real names, schools, or photos of children in game prompts unless you accept Google’s terms.

Supervision

  • Parents should own the account, approve prompts, and check games for inappropriate text or imagery before kids play.

Content & community

  • AI can produce buggy or surprising behavior—treat online play as supervised. Sharing Canvas output may expose your prompt; use family judgment.

Family project ideas

  • Classic Dots and Boxes. Use the example prompt, then tweak grid size and colors together. (20–30 min)
  • Math quiz game. Ask for multiplication flash cards with score and celebratory animation when correct. (25 min)
  • Two-player tic-tac-toe. Smallest possible game—compare first draft vs after asking for “bigger buttons and scoreboard.” (15 min)
  • Code peek challenge. In Code view, find where the game checks for a winner and explain it in kid-friendly words. (15 min)

Pricing & account

Freemium — Gemini free tier may work for simple games; Pro plans give more capacity. Confirm limits on gemini.google.com.

Account required: Yes

Platforms: web