Complete 2D Platformer in Unity C#
Learn how to create your very own platformer game using Unity and C#, an industry-standard program used by many large gaming studios and indie developers across the world.
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In this course you won’t just be learning programming concepts, but tying these concepts to real game development uses. You will have access to a course forum where you can discuss the topics covered in the course as well as the next steps to take once the course is complete.
This course has been designed to be easily understandable to everyone, so whether you’re a complete beginner, an artist looking to expand their game development range or a programmer interested in understanding game design, this course will help you gain a greater understanding of development.
At the end of this course you will have developed the ability to create such game elements as:
- Coding with c#, building from the basics up
- A character with full movement, running, jumping & double-jumping capabilites
- Collectibles such as fruit & extra health
- Parallaxing background effects
- moving & flying enemies
- Level Mechanics like Spikes, moving platforms, crushing blocks & more
- A checkpoint system with respawning and extra lives
- Full user Interface with interactive menus
- Creating levels with tilemaps
- Full health & damage system with player knockback
- Transitioning through multiple levels
- A unique and challenging boss battle
- A complete music and sound effects system
- And much more!
The course also includes a complete version of the final project to use for your own reference to ensure everything in your game works as it should!
Creating a complete 2D platformer in Unity using C# involves several key steps, including setting up the project, designing the levels, implementing player controls, adding enemies and obstacles, handling collisions, and incorporating other game elements. In this guide, we'll walk through the process step by step, providing code snippets and explanations along the way.
Step 1: Setting Up the Unity Project
Create a New Unity Project:
Open Unity Hub and create a new 2D project.
Import Assets:
Find or create assets for your game, including sprites for the player character, enemies, platforms, and background. Import them into Unity.
Setting Up the Scene:
Create a new scene and arrange the assets to form the first level. Set the camera's orthographic size for a proper view of the 2D environment.
Step 2: Player Controls
Player Character:
Create an empty GameObject called "Player" and attach a sprite renderer component for the player character. Add a Rigidbody2D component for physics interactions.
Player Controller Script:
Write a C# script for player controls. Handle input (e.g., arrow keys or joystick), and move the player using Rigidbody2D forces.
csharp
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public class PlayerController : MonoBehaviour
{
public float speed = 5f;
private Rigidbody2D rb;
void Start()
{
rb = GetComponent<Rigidbody2D>();
}
void Update()
{
float horizontalInput = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal");
Vector2 move = new Vector2(horizontalInput, 0);
rb.AddForce(move * speed);
}
}
Attach this script to the Player GameObject.
Step 3: Basic Platformer Mechanics
Ground Detection:
Implement ground detection to check if the player is standing on the ground.
csharp
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void OnCollisionEnter2D(Collision2D collision)
{
if (collision.gameObject.CompareTag("Ground"))
{
// Player is on the ground
}
}
Jumping:
Add jumping functionality by applying an upward force when the jump button is pressed.
csharp
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public float jumpForce = 10f;
void Update()
{
if (Input.GetButtonDown("Jump") && IsGrounded())
{
rb.AddForce(Vector2.up * jumpForce, ForceMode2D.Impulse);
}
}
bool IsGrounded()
{
// Implement ground detection logic
// Return true if the player is on the ground
}
Step 4: Enemies and Obstacles
Enemy Character:
Create an enemy character with its own sprite and Rigidbody2D.
Enemy AI Script:
Write a script for enemy movement. This can be simple patrolling behavior.
csharp
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public class EnemyController : MonoBehaviour
{
public float speed = 3f;
public Transform[] waypoints;
private int currentWaypoint = 0;
void Update()
{
MoveToWaypoint();
}
void MoveToWaypoint()
{
// Implement logic to move towards waypoints
}
}
Step 5: Level Design
Create Multiple Levels:
Duplicate your scene to create additional levels. Adjust the layout and difficulty as needed.
Implement Level Transitions:
Write a script to transition between levels when the player reaches a specific point.
Step 6: Polishing and Additional Features
Collectibles:
Add collectibles to the levels. Create a script to handle collection and update the player's score.
UI Elements:
Implement a UI system to display the player's score, lives, and other relevant information.
Sound Effects and Music:
Enhance the gaming experience by adding sound effects for actions like jumping, collecting items, and defeating enemies. Include background music to set the mood.
Polishing and Bug Fixing:
Playtest the game thoroughly, addressing any bugs or issues. Add polish, such as screen transitions, particle effects, and animations.
Conclusion
This guide provides a foundational framework for creating a 2D platformer in Unity using C#. Feel free to expand on these concepts, add more features, and customize the game to suit your creative vision. Unity's documentation and community forums are valuable resources for further learning and troubleshooting. Happy game development!
