Traditional programming instruction, due to its passive nature, often fails to motivate beginners, resulting in high dropout rates attributed to the lack of interactivity in conventional pedagogical methods. This article proposes a solution called CodePlay, a gamified and adaptive web application designed to enhance the learning of basic programming languages (specifically Python) through playful elements, immediate feedback, and performance-based personalization. The proposed platform integrates three types of interactive exercises, code ordering, block completion, and multiple choice questions, and connects to the Codewars API to expand the range of available challenges. For evaluation, a quasi-experimental study was conducted with two groups: one using CodePlay and the other using a traditional IDE. Results showed that CodePlay reduced exercise completion time by 56% (2.69 vs. 6.17 min) and the number of attempts by 21% (3.31 vs. 4.17), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Furthermore, usability, assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS), received a score of 69.86—considered acceptable, though with room for improvement in navigation and design.