The Life Starter
Sign up
All courses/Create

Course 119 · Create course 11

Make a 2D Game with Godot

Start with a complete small game, learn why each part works and make two tested design changes.

Before you start

A computer that meets the free Godot 4 editor requirements and permission to install/run it. No account or paid assets are needed.

See everything you’ll need

Practice materials and a worked example · Free download. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

A playable original Godot game with movement, token collection, score, pause, restart and a tested source-project handoff.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload practice filesStart with the supplied materials, follow the lessons, and compare your work with the annotated example.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Optional course overview

Watch an introduction.

This overview from Brackeys introduces ideas you’ll practice in the lessons.

Watch directly on YouTube
BrackeysHow to make a Video Game - Godot Beginner TutorialYouTube
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners age 14+ who meet the stated prerequisites.

Prepare before lesson one
  • A computer that meets the free Godot 4 editor requirements and permission to install/run it. No account or paid assets are needed.
  • Recognize variables, conditions and functions; earlier beginner programming practice will help.
  • Reading and core practice include the three checks. Initial software setup and optional video viewing take extra time.
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

A playable original Godot game with movement, token collection, score, pause, restart and a tested source-project handoff.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • Complete importable Godot 4 source project.
  • Movement and boundary calculations.
  • Single-award collection and 4/4 completion tests.
  • Pause/resume and restart from three states.
  • Two intentional design choices with a playtest log.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Project opens with all required files.
  • Collection, score and finish agree.
  • Controls and restart behave consistently.
  • Design changes and evidence are clearly explained.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Make the rule visible

A collected object disappears and progress changes once.

02

Separate progress and pause

Pause preserves state; restart restores a known baseline.

03

Test the whole loop

Play from start through completion and back to a fresh run.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Node
A scene-tree object with properties and behavior.
Scene
A saved tree of nodes that can be instantiated.
Signal
An event that can notify a connected function.
Delta
Elapsed time in seconds for an update.
State
Stored values describing the game’s current situation.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Open and explain a playable scene

    Import a complete project and connect its scene, script and visible result.

  2. 2
    36 min

    Move with time and bounds

    Explain input direction, elapsed time and a bounded position.

  3. 3
    36 min

    Collect and remove one token

    Use a distance rule and remove collected objects without counting them again.

  4. 4
    36 min

    Connect score and a finish state

    Trace a signal from a collection event to the display and completion state.

  5. 5
    36 min

    Make pause and restart reliable

    Restore every related state variable and test a clear pause control.

  6. 6
    36 min

    Refine, playtest and package the game

    Make two explainable design changes and hand off a reproducible project.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
ZIP · practice files

Make a 2D Game with Godot practice files

Start with the supplied materials, follow the lessons, and compare your work with the annotated example.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

Godot: Your first 2D game
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: A playable 2D project, game state and restart workflow.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Godot: Nodes and Scenes
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Node composition, scenes and the scene tree.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Godot: Using signals
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Connecting a signal to a receiving function.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Godot: Input class
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: get_vector input directions and action mapping.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Public reference; link only. LifeStarter prose, exercises and files are independently authored.

Godot: Complying with licenses
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Opened and inspected on 2026-09-12: Engine license attribution and separate asset obligations.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Link only. Godot uses the MIT license; retain applicable notices when distributing an engine build. All course game code and shapes are original.

How to make a Video Game - Godot Beginner Tutorial
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Metadata retrieved and inspected on 2026-09-12: exact title and channel confirmed through YouTube oEmbed. Playback and full video content were not tested. Optional overview; the written lesson and supplied practice stand alone.

Access: Free public web page; no paid enrollment required.

Reuse: Link or provider embed only; do not copy video, audio or transcript.

Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one