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How to create a leaderboard system in Scratch

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LM

LeaderboardMaster

Posted on August 25, 2023 • Intermediate

🏆 Need help creating a leaderboard system

Hi everyone! I’m working on a competitive game and want to add a leaderboard to track high scores. I need something that can:

  • Store and display top player scores
  • Work across different game sessions
  • Show rankings from highest to lowest
  • Be simple enough for a beginner to understand

I’ve seen some complex tutorials but I need a basic approach first. Can someone help me get started? 🙏

DS

DataSortingPro

Replied 45 minutes later • ⭐ Best Answer

Great question @LeaderboardMaster! I’ll show you both basic and advanced leaderboard systems. Let’s start simple and build up:

🏆 Leaderboard System Flow

Here’s how a complete leaderboard system works:

flowchart TD A[🎮 Game Ends] --> B[Get Final Score] B --> C{Score > Current Records?} C -->|Yes| D[Find Insertion Position] C -->|No| E[Show Current Leaderboard] D --> F[Shift Lower Scores Down] F --> G[Insert New Score] G --> H[Update Display] H --> I[Save to Cloud/Local] I --> J[Show Updated Leaderboard] E --> J J --> K[🏅 Display Rankings] style A fill:#e1f5fe style D fill:#fff3e0 style G fill:#e8f5e8 style K fill:#fce4ec

🔧 Method 1: Simple Local Leaderboard

Start with a basic local leaderboard using lists:

    when flag clicked
// Initialize leaderboard with default scores
delete all of [Leaderboard v]
add [1000] to [Leaderboard v]
add [800] to [Leaderboard v]
add [600] to [Leaderboard v]
add [400] to [Leaderboard v]
add [200] to [Leaderboard v]

When the game ends, check and update the leaderboard:

    when I receive [game over v]
set [position v] to [0]
repeat (length of [Leaderboard v])
change [position v] by (1)
if <(final_score) > (item (position) of [Leaderboard v])> then
insert (final_score) at (position) of [Leaderboard v]
if <(length of [Leaderboard v]) > [5]> then
delete (6) of [Leaderboard v]
end
stop [this script v]
end
end

☁️ Method 2: Cloud Leaderboard

For persistent, shared leaderboards, use cloud variables:

    when flag clicked
// Create cloud list for leaderboard
set [☁ top_score_1 v] to [1000]
set [☁ top_score_2 v] to [800]
set [☁ top_score_3 v] to [600]
set [☁ top_score_4 v] to [400]
set [☁ top_score_5 v] to [200]

Update cloud leaderboard when player gets high score:

    when I receive [check high score v]
if <(final_score) > (☁ top_score_1)> then
set [☁ top_score_5 v] to (☁ top_score_4)
set [☁ top_score_4 v] to (☁ top_score_3)
set [☁ top_score_3 v] to (☁ top_score_2)
set [☁ top_score_2 v] to (☁ top_score_1)
set [☁ top_score_1 v] to (final_score)
else
if <(final_score) > (☁ top_score_2)> then
set [☁ top_score_5 v] to (☁ top_score_4)
set [☁ top_score_4 v] to (☁ top_score_3)
set [☁ top_score_3 v] to (☁ top_score_2)
set [☁ top_score_2 v] to (final_score)
end
end

📊 Method 3: Advanced Sorting Algorithm

For larger leaderboards, use bubble sort:

    define sort leaderboard
set [sorted v] to [false]
repeat until <(sorted) = [true]>
set [sorted v] to [true]
set [i v] to [1]
repeat ((length of [Leaderboard v]) - (1))
if <(item (i) of [Leaderboard v]) < (item ((i) + (1)) of [Leaderboard v])> then
set [temp v] to (item (i) of [Leaderboard v])
replace item (i) of [Leaderboard v] with (item ((i) + (1)) of [Leaderboard v])
replace item ((i) + (1)) of [Leaderboard v] with (temp)
set [sorted v] to [false]
end
change [i v] by (1)
end
end

🎨 Displaying the Leaderboard

Create an attractive leaderboard display:

    when I receive [show leaderboard v]
clear
set [y_pos v] to [150]
set [rank v] to [1]
repeat (length of [Leaderboard v])
go to x: (0) y: (y_pos)
set [display_text v] to (join (join (rank) [. Score: ]) (item (rank) of [Leaderboard v]))
say (display_text)
change [y_pos v] by (-30)
change [rank v] by (1)
end

🏅 Adding Player Names

Store both names and scores:

    when flag clicked
delete all of [Player_Names v]
delete all of [Player_Scores v]
add [Alice] to [Player_Names v]
add [1000] to [Player_Scores v]
add [Bob] to [Player_Names v]
add [800] to [Player_Scores v]

Insert new player with score:

    define add player (name) score (score)
set [position v] to [1]
repeat (length of [Player_Scores v])
if <(score) > (item (position) of [Player_Scores v])> then
insert (name) at (position) of [Player_Names v]
insert (score) at (position) of [Player_Scores v]
if <(length of [Player_Scores v]) > [10]> then
delete (11) of [Player_Names v]
delete (11) of [Player_Scores v]
end
stop [this script v]
end
change [position v] by (1)
end

💾 Saving and Loading

For persistent local storage, use a simple encoding system:

    define save leaderboard
set [save_string v] to []
set [i v] to [1]
repeat (length of [Leaderboard v])
set [save_string v] to (join (save_string) (join (item (i) of [Leaderboard v]) [,]))
change [i v] by (1)
end
set [☁ saved_leaderboard v] to (save_string)

🔥 Pro Tips for Better Leaderboards

  • Limit Size: Keep leaderboards to 5-10 entries for performance
  • Validation: Check for reasonable scores to prevent cheating
  • Visual Design: Use colors and formatting for better presentation
  • Categories: Create separate leaderboards for different game modes
  • Time Stamps: Track when high scores were achieved

🚀 Advanced Features

  • 🎯 Multiple categories (daily, weekly, all-time)
  • 👥 Friend leaderboards
  • 🏆 Achievement integration
  • 📈 Score progression tracking
  • 🎨 Animated score updates

📚 Related Topics

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