Godot Engine

Godot is a completely free game engine with no royalties. Let’s build a simple 2D platformer to learn the basics.

Setup

Create a new project. Choose a folder and select “Forward+” renderer (or “Compatibility” for older hardware).

The Node System

Everything in Godot is a Node. Characters, UI, lights — all nodes. Nodes are organized in a tree. The root is the top-level node.

Create your first scene:

Scene → New Scene
Add a CharacterBody2D node (this is the root)
Rename it to “Player”

Add a sprite:

Right-click Player → Add Child Node → Sprite2D
In the Inspector, drag an image into the Texture slot
Add a CollisionShape2D as another child
Set its Shape to RectangleShape2D and resize to fit

Movement Script

Right-click Player → Attach Script. Replace with:

extends CharacterBody2D

var speed = 300

func _physics_process(delta):
    velocity = Vector2.ZERO
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_right"): velocity.x += 1
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_left"): velocity.x -= 1
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_down"): velocity.y += 1
    if Input.is_action_pressed("ui_up"): velocity.y -= 1
    velocity = velocity.normalized() * speed
    move_and_slide()

Add a Platform

Add a StaticBody2D node with a Sprite2D and CollisionShape2D child. Position it below your player. Add a Camera2D as a child of Player, enable “Current” in the inspector to follow the player.

Run It

Press F5 (or click the play button). Select your main scene as the default. Your character should move with arrow keys and collide with the platform.

Export

Project → Export → Add → Choose your platform (Windows, Mac, Linux). Click Export Project. Godot produces a standalone executable instantly.

Godot Engine — Build Your First Game in 30 Minutes