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Godot

By · Reviewed & last updated · Part of Game Development Tutorial

Godot is a free, open-source game engine with its own scripting language (GDScript) and a node-based scene system. Lightweight, MIT-licensed, fast iteration loop.

Player + signals + scene composition

EXAMPLE
# Player.gd — attached to a CharacterBody2D
extends CharacterBody2D

@@export var speed: float = 200.0
@@export var jump_velocity: float = -380.0

var gravity: float = ProjectSettings.get_setting("physics/2d/default_gravity")

@@onready var sprite: AnimatedSprite2D = $Sprite
@@onready var jump_sound: AudioStreamPlayer = $JumpSound

signal died        # custom signal
signal coin_grabbed(amount: int)

func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
    # 1) Gravity
    if not is_on_floor():
        velocity.y += gravity * delta

    # 2) Jump
    if Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump") and is_on_floor():
        velocity.y = jump_velocity
        jump_sound.play()

    # 3) Horizontal input
    var dir: float = Input.get_axis("move_left", "move_right")
    if dir != 0:
        velocity.x = dir * speed
        sprite.flip_h = dir < 0
        sprite.play("run")
    else:
        velocity.x = move_toward(velocity.x, 0, speed)
        sprite.play("idle" if is_on_floor() else "jump")

    move_and_slide()

# 4) Handle damage from outside
func take_damage(amount: int) -> void:
    $Health.value -= amount
    if $Health.value <= 0:
        died.emit()
        queue_free()

# 5) Connecting signals
# In another script (e.g. Main.gd):
#   func _ready():
#       $Player.died.connect(_on_player_died)
#       $Player.coin_grabbed.connect(_on_coin_grabbed)
#   func _on_player_died() -> void:
#       get_tree().reload_current_scene()
#   func _on_coin_grabbed(amount: int) -> void:
#       hud.set_score(hud.score + amount)

# 6) Input mappings — Project → Project Settings → Input Map
#    Add actions: move_left, move_right, jump
#    Bind to keys / gamepad buttons

# 7) Scene composition — every scene can be instanced into another
var coin_scene: PackedScene = preload("res://Coin.tscn")
func spawn_coin(pos: Vector2) -> void:
    var c = coin_scene.instantiate()
    c.position = pos
    add_child(c)

# 8) Singletons (Autoload) — global game state
# Project → AutoLoad → register Game.gd
# extends Node
# var score: int = 0
# Access anywhere as Game.score

# 9) Common gotchas
#   • _process(delta) runs every render frame; _physics_process(delta) runs fixed (60Hz)
#   • Use @export to expose vars in the Inspector
#   • signal naming: past tense (died, grabbed, scored) — clearer at call sites
#   • Prefer signals + composition over inheriting from a massive base node

# 10) Export to web
# Project → Export → Add HTML5/Web preset → Export to a folder
# Serve over HTTPS; the WASM build is ~30MB for a small game

Why it matters

Godot signals are events — loose-coupled callbacks across scenes. Pair them with composition (instance scenes into scenes) and you get a code base where the inspector is the architecture.

Tip: Tweak the snippet with Try it Yourself », then sit the quiz at the bottom of the page.

Example

Example
# Godot 4 (GDScript) — drop on a Node2D
extends Node2D

@export var speed := 200.0

func _process(delta: float) -> void:
    var direction := Input.get_axis("ui_left", "ui_right")
    position.x += direction * speed * delta
Try it Yourself »

Exercise

Godot per-frame override.

func _process( ): pass

Discussion

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