How To
Godot 4
Build Your First Platformer

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

• Create a new scene add a CharacterBody2D node as root, rename it "Player"
• Add a Sprite2D child node, assign your player texture in the Inspector
• Add a CollisionShape2D child — set Shape to CapsuleShape2D, size it to fit your sprite
• Right-click Player node → Attach Script → GDScript → Create
• Save the scene as res://scenes/player.tscn

# player.gd starter script
extends CharacterBody2D

const SPEED = 200.0
const JUMP_VELOCITY = -450.0
var gravity = ProjectSettings.get_setting("physics/2d/default_gravity")

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

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

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

    # Horizontal movement
    var direction = Input.get_axis("ui_left", "ui_right")
    velocity.x = direction * SPEED

    move_and_slide()

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

• Create a new scene add a TileMap node as root
• In the Inspector, create a new TileSet resource — set tile size (e.g. 32×32)
• Click the TileSet editor drag your tileset texture in, then select tiles and add Physics Layer collision shapes
• Back in the TileMap, paint your level using the tile palette at the bottom of the screen
• Add a Camera2D node to the Player scene enable Position Smoothing for a nice feel

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

# enemy.gd simple patrol AI
func _physics_process(delta):
    if direction == 1 and $RightWall.is_colliding():
        direction = -1
    elif direction == -1 and $LeftWall.is_colliding():
        direction = 1
    velocity.x = direction * SPEED
    move_and_slide()

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

# coin.gd collected by player
func _on_body_entered(body):
    if body.is_in_group("player"):
        GameState.score += 1
        emit_signal("coin_collected")
        queue_free()

• Create a CanvasLayer scene for your HUD add Labels for score and lives
• Create an Autoload called GameState (Project Settings → Autoload) store score and lives here
• Connect signals from coins/enemies to update the HUD

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

• Add AudioStreamPlayer nodes to the player import WAV files for jump, land, and hurt sounds
• Add a separate AudioStreamPlayer to the main scene for looping background music (use OGG format)
• Create a MainMenu scene with a TextureRect background, title Label, and Start button
• Connect the Start button to get_tree().change_scene_to_file("res://scenes/level_1.tscn")

Configure export templates, build for PC and HTML5 web, and prepare for itch.io upload.

• Open Project → Export click Add and choose your platform (Windows, Mac, HTML5)
• Click Manage Export Templates download the templates for Godot 4.3
• For HTML5: set the export path, click Export Project — this creates an index.html + .wasm file
• On itch.io: upload as a ZIP containing all HTML5 export files, set Kind to HTML
• Test in browser before publishing some features need HTTPS to work

Create beautiful dust trails for landing jumps and sparkling effects for coin pickups using GPUParticles2D.

• Add a GPUParticles2D node to the Player scene it starts emitting immediately
• Create a new ParticleProcessMaterial set Direction, Spread, Gravity, and Initial Velocity
• Set One Shot = true and Explosiveness = 1.0 for burst effects (landing, hit)
• Trigger it from code: $DustParticles.restart() on landing detection

# Detect landing to trigger dust burst
var was_on_floor = false

func _physics_process(delta):
    var just_landed = is_on_floor() and not was_on_floor
    if just_landed:
        $DustParticles.restart()
    was_on_floor = is_on_floor()