11-Year-Old Game Developer Secures Guinness World Record
11-Year-Old Game Developer Secures Guinness World Record
11-year-old Penarth boy builds five-level game to set Guinness record
Highlights
- 11-year-old Max from Penarth set a Guinness World Record after building a five-level video game in four hours.
- The record attempt was completed under expert supervision at the Penarth Makerspace, with no outside assistance allowed.
- The achievement has led to outreach from IT and development professionals following a post by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
An 11-year-old boy from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, has become a Guinness World Record holder after successfully developing a full video game with five unique levels in four hours, BBC News reported. Max completed the record attempt in May 2025 and received official confirmation six months later.
Max has been creating games since age seven, publishing several on Itch.io as CrowStoleIt Studios. Mostly self-taught with help from YouTube, he is also part of the V.O.G. Bots coding club and studies Python through Ignite Hubs.
His father, Trevor Baker, said the idea came after Max noticed a gap in the record category. “He saw there was a record for the female developer but not one for the male, so he put together an application and they [Guinness World Records] send you what is required,” he said.
The game was built under strict supervision, with experts ensuring Max received no assistance during the process.
Youngest Video Game Developer Sets Record at Makerspace
The record attempt took place at the Makerspace in Penarth Library, a council-run facility designed to improve digital and creative skills. Trevor said the space helps Max learn through hands-on problem-solving. “They identify a problem - such as how do I make the character jump - then learn about it and then he can test it in the environment,” he added.
After receiving confirmation, Max said he was “really, really happy” and added, “whatever you can dream of you can put into a code language and make it real.” He now hopes to pursue game development as a full-time career and has already reached out to local studios for advice.
A post on the Vale of Glamorgan Facebook page has also led to people in IT and development offering opportunities.
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Max’s journey reflects a wider shift in how young people enter game development. Osian Taubman-Edwards from Mold, who began building games on Roblox at 14, said YouTube tutorials have transformed how people learn to code.
Local councillor Rhiannon Birch said Max’s progress “demonstrates exactly what our Makerspaces are designed to inspire."
Author
Probaho Santra is a content writer at Outlook India with a master’s degree in journalism. Outside work, he enjoys photography, exploring new tech trends, and staying connected with the esports world.
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