Write the strategy, not the clicks
Screeps: Arena is a 1v1 asynchronous PvP strategy game where your units, called creeps, act on their own. You write real JavaScript that runs on the game servers and carries out your plan: gathering resources, building your base, and creating units. There is no direct control during a match, so the outcome comes down to how well your script reads the situation and reacts. Basic programming is enough to get started, and the environment gets deep enough for experienced coders to keep pushing.
Play against other people's code
Matches are short and fast-paced, and the system pairs you with opponents at your arena rating so you can find a game at any hour. Because the matches are asynchronous, your script keeps competing even when the other player is offline, using their saved code. Beyond the standard matchups, there are different arenas with their own rule sets and goals, and new ones arrive each season to force a rethink of your approach. You can also set up private challenges with friends to test your code against theirs on your own terms.
What to know before starting
JavaScript is the native language, and community-supported packages let you use TypeScript, Python, Rust, C#, Kotlin, and others. Expect to spend time debugging and tuning rather than issuing orders in the moment. Progress comes from earning daily fame, gathering resources, and crafting items to unlock more content, so there is a management layer alongside the coding.