player.gd

1extends CharacterBody2D

2

3# Player movement constants

4const SPEED = 200.0

5const JUMP_VELOCITY = -450.0

6

7func _physics_process(delta):

8    if not is_on_floor():

9        velocity.y += gravity * delta

10

11    if Input.is_action_just_pressed("ui_accept"):

12        if is_on_floor():

13            velocity.y = JUMP_VELOCITY

14

15    move_and_slide()

✦ Tutorial Series · GDScript · Godot 4

How To Godot
Build Your First Platformer

A step-by-step beginner tutorial series for building a complete 2D platformer using Godot 4 and GDScript. No game dev experience needed.

🎮 Beginner Friendly 📦 8 Modules ⏱ 5+ Hours ⚙️ Godot 4.3

📄 Download Full Tutorial → 📋 View Curriculum

✦ Learning Outcomes

What you'll build & learn 🛠️

By the end of this series you'll have a fully playable 2D platformer game — and the skills to keep building from there.

⚙️

Godot Basics

Master Nodes, Scenes, Signals, and the Editor interface. Understand how Godot projects are structured.

🏃

Player Control

Implement responsive running, jumping, and gravity using CharacterBody2D and GDScript physics.

🗺️

Level Design

Build interactive levels with TileMaps, TileSets, and parallax scrolling backgrounds.

👾

Enemies & Hazards

Simple patrolling enemy AI, collision detection, player death and respawn logic.

🎮

UI & Game State

Coin collectibles, a HUD score counter, game over screens, and managing game state with signals.

🚀

Export & Ship

Sound effects, music, a main menu, and exporting your finished game for PC and web.

✦ Course Curriculum

8 Modules + Bonus 📋

Everything covered in order — follow along from zero to a finished, exportable game.

Module 01 · Setup

Setting Up Your Project

Install Godot 4, understand the editor interface, configure project settings, and organise your asset folders.

Godot 4.3Project SetupEditor Tour

Module 02 · Player

The Player: CharacterBody2D

Create the player scene, set up CollisionShape2D, and write your first GDScript — basic structure and properties.

CharacterBody2DGDScriptCollision

Module 03 · Physics

Movement & Jumping Physics

Implement responsive left/right movement, jump velocity, gravity, and the move_and_slide() loop.

PhysicsGravitymove_and_slide()

Module 04 · Levels

Creating Interactive Terrain (TileMaps)

Build your levels using TileSets and TileMaps, add collision layers, and design your first playable stage.

TileMapTileSetLevel Design

Module 05 · Enemies

Enemies & Hazards

Simple patrolling enemy AI using RayCast2D, player death via Area2D overlap, and respawn checkpoints.

Enemy AIArea2DRespawn

Module 06 · UI

Collectibles & UI (HUD)

Coin collectibles with Area2D, a score counter HUD using Labels, and managing game state with Autoloads.

HUDSignalsAutoload

Module 07 · Polish

Finishing Touches

Add sound effects with AudioStreamPlayer, background music, and build a simple main menu scene with buttons.

AudioMain MenuScene Switching

Module 08 · Ship It

Exporting Your Game

Configure export templates, build for PC (Windows/Mac/Linux) and HTML5 web, and prepare for itch.io upload.

ExportHTML5itch.io

✦

Bonus Module · Visual FX

Particle Effects

Create beautiful dust trails for landing jumps and sparking collision effects using GPUParticles2D.

GPUParticles2DVisual FXPolish

✦ Taste the Code

GDScript in action 💻

Everything is taught in GDScript — Godot's beginner-friendly Python-like language. Here's a taste of what you'll write.

Jump Logic GDScript

if Input.is_action_just_pressed("ui_accept"):
    if is_on_floor():
        velocity.y = JUMP_VELOCITY

# Apply gravity when airborne
if not is_on_floor():
    velocity.y += gravity * delta

Coin Pickup GDScript

func _on_body_entered(body):
    if body.is_in_group("player"):
        GameState.score += 1
        emit_signal("coin_collected")
        queue_free()

Enemy Patrol AI GDScript

func _physics_process(delta):
    if direction == 1 and $RightWall.is_colliding():
        direction = -1
    elif direction == -1 and $LeftWall.is_colliding():
        direction = 1

Scene Transition GDScript

func _on_goal_reached():
    # Load the next level
    GameState.save_score()
    get_tree().change_scene_to_file(
        "res://scenes/level_2.tscn"
    )

✦ Update Log

What's been added 📝

The tutorial is kept up to date with the latest Godot releases and community feedback.

🔭 Coming Next

In Progress

Module 9: Animated Sprites & Character States

Working on a new module covering AnimationPlayer, state machines for player animations (idle, run, jump, fall), and blending transitions cleanly.

✅ Updated

November 10, 2025

Full Godot 4.3 Compatibility Check

Every module has been reviewed and updated for Godot 4.3 stable — including new editor UI changes, updated TileMap workflow, and revised export templates.

✨ Bonus Added

October 1, 2025

Bonus Chapter: Particle Effects

Added the bonus particle effects module — covering GPUParticles2D for dust trails on landing, sparkle effects for coin pickups, and screen shake on enemy collision.

How To Godot
Build Your First Platformer

What you'll build & learn 🛠️

8 Modules + Bonus 📋

GDScript in action 💻

Ready to build your first game?

What's been added 📝

More from JVDesignStudio 🎮

How To GodotBuild Your First Platformer

What you'll build & learn 🛠️

8 Modules + Bonus 📋

GDScript in action 💻

Ready to build your first game?

What's been added 📝

More from JVDesignStudio 🎮

How To Godot
Build Your First Platformer