The Simplest Platformer In Godot 4.3

An accessible way to learn the basics of game development.

What you'll learn

Operating the Godot 4.3 software

Learning creative and logical thinking.

Principles and rules for creating a simple platformer game.

A solid foundation for further programming learning.

Requirements

A computer and internet access.

Description

GODOT is becoming increasingly popular and, most importantly, is a completely free program not only for game development. Thanks to its unique GDScript language and user-friendly interface, it is gaining a growing number of fans.In this course, I aim to introduce you to the basics of using Godot—not through dry theory but through practical, short examples that will gradually bring us closer to creating a complete game. Our focus will be on programming and interface usage, without unnecessary and time-consuming embellishments.Starting with version 4.3, Godot introduces a slightly modified Tilemap system using node layers, which will be covered in the course.We will begin the process of creating a platformer game by designing our main character, including animations and coding its movement. Topics such as collisions with the environment, gravity, and movement types will be discussed.In the level design section, we will explore the "Tilemap" node, which allows us to quickly draw individual levels. We'll add environment graphics and collision objects.Once we have our character and the world they move in, we will create enemies to challenge them. Both stationary obstacles, like spikes, and moving hazards, like spinning blades, will make the gameplay more challenging. We will also introduce more advanced enemies, such as a skeleton that can detect gaps and a ghost that avoids obstacles and only focuses on the player.At the final stage, we will develop the logic for completing each level, requiring the player to collect a key and reach a door. This will involve transitioning from one level to the next. In the title screen, we will also learn how to select specific levels.Programming will be taught in GDScript, a language very similar to Python and remarkably intuitive. The user-friendly hint system and the comprehensive Methods and Classes encyclopedia in GDScript will significantly speed up the learning process.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction to the course

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 Launching Godot 4.3

Lecture 3 Starting Scene for Testing – Sandbox

Lecture 4 Static and Forever Immobile Platform – StaticBody Node

Lecture 5 Physics Object – Rigidbody2D

Lecture 6 Object Instances in the Scene

Section 2: Character, animations, and controls

Lecture 7 Initial player settings

Lecture 8 Hero Animation – AnimatedSprite2D Node

Lecture 9 Overview of the Built-in Script for CharacterBody2D

Lecture 10 Camera, Resolution, and Zoom

Lecture 11 Modifying and Simplifying the Hero Control Script

Lecture 12 Animating the Hero – FlipH, the Sign Function, and Code Simplification Methods

Lecture 13 Animating the Hero – Idle, Walk, Jump

Section 3: Level map - Tilemap

Lecture 14 Free Assets – Where to Get Them

Lecture 15 Tilemap - Introduction

Lecture 16 Tilemap - Drawing

Lecture 17 Tilemap – Collisions and Alternative Tiles

Lecture 18 Tilemap – Additional Layer, Overlay View, and Camera Considerations

Section 4: Obstacles and dangers - Hazards

Lecture 19 Dangerous spikes - a stationary obstacle

Lecture 20 Moving Blades

Lecture 21 Introduction to the AnimationPlayer Node

Lecture 22 AnimationPlayer and a Surprise Attack from the Floor

Lecture 23 Sinister Wall That Shoots Projectiles

Section 5: Enemies

Lecture 24 Moving enemy - Skeleton

Lecture 25 Raycast and Checking If We’re Still Standing on the Floor

Lecture 26 Physics Layers and Collision Aspects Between Nodes

Lecture 27 Ethereal Ghost, Wave-Like Movement, and Reaction to Leaving the Camera View

Section 6: Doors, keys, and level completion conditions

Lecture 28 Doors and keys - Scene construction

Lecture 29 Doors and keys - Script

Section 7: Levels in the game

Lecture 30 Creating a level template in the game and scene inheritance

Lecture 31 Starting Scene

Lecture 32 Changing Levels in the Game

Lecture 33 How to Create a Simple Background

Beginner programmers interested in game development.