Programming learning, especially among informatics students, faces significant challenges related to understanding concepts and syntax, as well as low engagement in programming courses. To address these issues, this research developed DolananCoding, a serious game-based learning platform specifically designed for C++ programming learning. The platform integrates a live coding feature, enabling students to write code directly, along with a leaderboard to motivate them through healthy competition. The immersive concept in DolananCoding is designed to provide an interactive and enjoyable learning experience, aiming to enhance students’ engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes in C++ programming. This research aims to test the effectiveness of DolananCoding in supporting better and more engaging programming learning for students using three testing methods: system, unit, and user. The testing results on 276 informatics students showed that the average user satisfaction reached 4.3 out of a 5.0 scale, indicating a positive response to the DolananCoding platform.