We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Single-Minded Ryan

Hello, I’m Single-minded Ryan, a game developer and digital artist.

In this course, we are going to create a typical 2D-style game in a 3D world, but before getting into the details, I know you have a big question a ask:

What is the core benefit that this course has to offer?

The answer is that I want you to feel like you are making a real game from the very beginning

I want to you learn the knowledge about game development with production-level game assets, so you can absorb these ideas seamlessly.

Read more

Hello, I’m Single-minded Ryan, a game developer and digital artist.

In this course, we are going to create a typical 2D-style game in a 3D world, but before getting into the details, I know you have a big question a ask:

What is the core benefit that this course has to offer?

The answer is that I want you to feel like you are making a real game from the very beginning

I want to you learn the knowledge about game development with production-level game assets, so you can absorb these ideas seamlessly.

This is why I put a lot of effort into creating the assets for the course, so you can have high-quality characters, smooth animations, detailed materials and VFX particles, and good-looking level modules to work with.

These assets are great benefits you can get with this course because you can use the assets to experiment with new ideas and design your levels even after finishing the course.

Let’s talk about what we are going to do in this course.

Our player can explore this world with 2D movements, so we’ll cover these behaviors in GDScript, including the run, jump, and melee attack actions.

Then we’ll learn how to control the animations using a combination of different animation nodes, such as the StateMachine node, the blend animation node, and the OneShot node. This way you will have more flexibility when dealing with complicated animation setups.

When it comes to the enemy, I’ll show you how to make it patrol around the platform, and to detect the edges and blocks so it knows when to turn around. These behaviors are achieved by the ray cast feature, which is an essential technique you have to know to deal with the physics engine in game development.

Visual effect is also a big part of video games, I’ll show you how to control the particles via the script and how to create material animation for the sword-swinging action.

Want more challenges for the player? Let’s create a trap with spikes, here we’ll learn how to detect physics bodies using a collision shape, and how to use physics layers to manage the collision detection.

Need something to keep the player alive? Here comes the health pickup. To make the pickup work, We’ll finish the player’s health system with the heart UI on screen.

Finally, we’ll set up an end door as the destination of the level, and cover the game over UI and the restart game button to finish up the gameplay

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to export the game to executable files and show it off to your friends.

If you are eager to improve your programming skills, this course also has a lot to offer.

We’ll talk about the core idea of Godot game development: the Game Lifecycle functions, these concepts are shared between many game engines, so understanding these functions will help you establish a solid foundation for your further career.

You’ll learn about some basic programming ideas like how to use variables and constants, how to use conditions and control flow like the if statement and the for loop.

We’ll also talk about some unique GDScript features, like how to use annotations and how to communicate between scripts using signals, which is

But I want you to notice that this course is not heavily code-oriented, meaning it would be really great if you understood some basic programming ideas.

I’ll keep adding new content later like I’ll add new lectures to talk about how to make collectible coins and how to shoot bullets in summer this year.

I can’t wait to see you in this course and check out the cool games you are going to make.

At the end of this course, you will be able to do things like:

  • Code in GDScript, which is Godot's built-in programming language

  • Code basic character 2D movement (run/jump)

  • How to create a patrol behavior for the enemy using the RayCast feature

  • Create a melee attack

  • Use Godot's input system

  • How to use the StateMachine animation node and OneShot node to control the player’s animation

  • How to blend animations

  • Control material effect with GDScript and animation

  • Control VFX via GDScript

  • Control Enemy's behaviors like causing damage to the player and dead

  • How to create a trap to hurt the player

  • Create a health & damage system

  • Create a health pick-up

  • Design the 2.5D Game Level

  • How to use the UI system to display the player’s health hearts

  • How to reset the game scene

  • How to create a button and how to reload the game

  • Customize Godot's settings for your game and your workflow

  • How to export the game into executable files

Please NOTE that this course DOES NOT contain any sound and music assets at the moment, because I don't know how to compose them for now.

*All of the assets (models, animations, VFX, etc.) provided in this course are only for educational purposes, please do not use them in any commercial projects.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn to make a good-looking 2.5d action game with godot
  • Learn how to code a 2.5d game in gdscript
  • Learn how to control the player's 2d movement
  • Learn how to create patrol behavior using the raycast3d node
  • Learn how to make the attack & health system
  • Learn how to make a health pick-up
  • Learn how to control vfx
  • Learn how to use statemachine to control and blend animations
  • Learn how to create game ui in godot, like the health ui & the restart button
  • Learn how to export godot project into exe files
  • Learn how to create a trap
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Introduction & Setup
Introduction

Please download Godot 4.2.1 stable while you are following the course.


Godot official website

https://godotengine.org/


Godot archive for download Godot 4.2.1 stable

godotengine.org/download/archive/

Read more

Enemy & item positions for Level_02

Door 217/13.5/-1.5

Enemy_A 22/0/0

Enemy_A2 73.5/8.5/0

Enemy_A3 112/9/0

Enemy_A4 103.5/20/0

Enemy_A5 157/15.5/0

Enemy_A6 181.5/12.5/0

SpikeTrap 93/6.5/3

SpikeTrap2 119.5/7/3

SpikeTrap3 194/10.5/3

Pickup_Health 99.5/6.5/0

Pickup_Health2 97.5/18/0

Pickup_Health3 167.5/5.5/0

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses Godot 4, which is a modern and actively supported game engine, making the skills learned highly relevant for current game development projects
Provides production-level game assets, allowing learners to experiment with new ideas and level designs even after completing the course
Covers core game development concepts like Game Lifecycle functions, which are transferable to other game engines, establishing a solid foundation
Teaches GDScript, Godot's built-in programming language, which is essential for creating interactive game elements and behaviors
Requires learners to download Godot 4.2.1 stable, which may require learners to ensure their systems meet the software's minimum requirements
Does not include sound and music assets, which are important components of a complete game experience, and learners may need to source these separately

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Create a 2.5d game with godot 4

According to learners, this course is a great starting point for making 2.5D games in Godot 4. Students appreciate the inclusion of high-quality 3D assets which allow them to focus on coding and game logic. The instructor's teaching style is described as clear and easy to follow, making it accessible for those with some basic programming knowledge. Reviewers highlight the hands-on approach, praising how the course guides them through building a complete game project including player movement, combat, enemy AI, and UI elements. While the course provides a solid foundation, some note that it stays focused on core mechanics and doesn't delve into more advanced programming or game design topics.
Helpful to know some coding first.
"While accessible, having some prior programming knowledge definitely helps."
"It's not for absolute programming beginners, some basic concepts are assumed."
"Knowing how variables, loops, and functions work beforehand makes it easier to follow the GDScript parts."
Course is maintained and updated.
"The instructor is responsive to questions and keeps the course updated for newer Godot versions."
"Glad to see the course is actively maintained."
"Seems like the instructor has fixed some issues mentioned in older reviews."
You build a complete game.
"I loved building a full game from start to finish. It makes learning very practical."
"Working on a real project kept me engaged and motivated."
"The structure around building a single game is effective for learning how different systems connect."
"It's satisfying to see the finished game running after following the steps."
Excellent introduction to Godot 4.
"This course is a great starting point for anyone wanting to dive into Godot 4 game development."
"Perfect for getting your feet wet with Godot's 2.5D capabilities and GDScript."
"I learned the core concepts needed to start my own projects."
"Provides a solid base for understanding Godot's workflow and basic game systems."
Teaching style is easy to follow.
"The instructor is very good at explaining complicated stuff in a simple manner. The course is clear and concise..."
"The course is well structured and the pace is good for beginners."
"Explanations are very clear and step-by-step. Easy to keep up with."
"I found the lectures easy to understand and the coding process was well-guided."
Provides useful assets for the project.
"The assets provided are amazing and look very good. Saves a lot of time trying to find/make assets myself..."
"The course assets are great and you get to focus more on the code."
"Really appreciated the high-quality assets included, it made the final game look much better and more polished."
"Having the 3D models and animations ready allowed me to concentrate on the game logic."
"The included production-level assets were a significant benefit."
Focuses on basics, not deep dives.
"It covers the essentials but doesn't go into more complex programming patterns or optimization."
"Wish there was more depth on specific topics like AI or advanced physics."
"Great for the fundamentals, but you'll need other resources for advanced game features."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Make a 2.5D game with Godot 4 | 2D gameplay with 3D assets with these activities:
Review GDScript Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of GDScript syntax and basic programming concepts before diving into the course. This will make it easier to follow along with the code examples and implement your own game mechanics.
Browse courses on Scripting
Show steps
  • Read the official GDScript documentation.
  • Complete a basic GDScript tutorial.
  • Practice writing simple scripts.
Read 'Learning GDScript'
Deepen your understanding of GDScript with a dedicated book. This will provide a more thorough grounding in the language and its capabilities.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Learning GDScript'.
  • Read through the chapters relevant to the course topics.
  • Try out the code examples in Godot.
Read 'Godot Engine Game Development Projects'
Explore practical game development examples in Godot to broaden your understanding. This book will help you see how the concepts taught in the course are applied in larger projects.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Godot Engine Game Development Projects'.
  • Read through the relevant chapters.
  • Experiment with the code examples.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Simple Platformer Level
Practice level design and 2D movement by creating a small platformer level. This will reinforce your understanding of the concepts covered in the course and allow you to experiment with your own ideas.
Show steps
  • Design a simple platformer level layout.
  • Implement basic player movement and collision.
  • Add a few enemies and obstacles.
  • Test and refine your level.
Document Your Level Design Process
Reflect on your level design process and create a short video or blog post. This will help you solidify your understanding of level design principles and share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Record your screen while designing a level.
  • Add commentary explaining your design choices.
  • Edit the video or write a blog post.
  • Share your content online.
Practice GDScript Coding Challenges
Sharpen your GDScript skills by completing coding challenges on platforms like Edabit or HackerRank. This will improve your problem-solving abilities and make you a more proficient game developer.
Show steps
  • Find a website with GDScript coding challenges.
  • Choose a set of challenges to complete.
  • Write and test your code.
  • Refactor your code for clarity and efficiency.
Contribute to a Godot Open Source Project
Contribute to an open-source Godot project to gain experience working in a collaborative environment. This will expose you to different coding styles and project management practices.
Show steps
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Find an open-source Godot project on GitHub.
  • Read the project's contribution guidelines.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Make a 2.5D game with Godot 4 | 2D gameplay with 3D assets will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Game Developer
A game developer brings video games to life, working with programming languages, game engines, and assets to build engaging experiences. This course helps to build a foundation for this role as it covers essential 2D gameplay mechanics in a 3D environment using the Godot engine. You will learn essential techniques in GDScript, and also use concepts like character movement, animations, enemy behaviors, and user interface design. These directly translate to the kind of work a game developer does daily. Someone looking to enter a career in game development may wish to begin here.
Hobbyist Game Developer
Hobbyist game developers create games for personal enjoyment and exploration, often as a passion project. This course is specifically designed for someone interested in making games, so it may be very useful for a hobbyist game developer. The course steps through the process of making a 2.5D action game, using production-level assets in the Godot engine. This could be a great first step for a hobbyist game developer looking to gain some practical experience. You may find this course useful to begin exploring this area.
Indie Game Developer
Indie game developers often work independently or in small teams, creating unique and innovative games. This course helps develop skills useful to indie developers by providing a practical approach to game creation through a hands-on project. By learning to use production-level assets and fundamental game development concepts like character control, animation, and physics, you build a portfolio piece that could make you a more attractive candidate. The course also gives you direct experience with GDScript. An aspiring indie game developer may find this helpful to begin their journey.
Gameplay Programmer
Gameplay programmers focus on the interactive elements of a game, coding player controls, character behaviors, and game mechanics. This is a role where this course helps build experience, as it delves into GDScript programming for player movement, enemy AI, and animation implementation. Learning about ray casting, collision detection, and health systems, with a practical approach, helps prepare for the kind of challenges a gameplay programmer will typically face. This might be a good starting point for a gameplay programmer.
Technical Artist
A technical artist bridges the gap between art and programming in game development, implementing art assets into the game engine, and creating visual effects. This course may be useful for a technical artist as it provides a mix of learning about art assets and applying code. The course provides high-quality character models, animations, visual effects particles, and more. Moreover, the course also helps you learn to control particles via script, to create material animation, and more. These skill areas might be helpful for a technical artist.
Level Designer
Level designers craft the environments where games take place, focusing on layouts, challenges, and the overall player experience. This course may be useful for a level designer as it teaches the basics of level creation within the Godot engine. Learning to implement gameplay elements, such as traps, health pickups, and the end door, can help a level designer develop a sense of the possibilities available to them. This course enables one to design levels within a 2.5D environment. The experience may be suitable to those interested in this role.
Game Designer
Game designers are responsible for the overall vision of a game, creating the rules, levels, and systems that make the game fun and engaging. This course may be useful for game designers as it gives a practical introduction to core game mechanics like character control, enemy behavior, and UI design. Learning how to implement these systems in a game engine, and using provided assets, allows a designer to understand what is possible and how that might be realized. This course may be helpful for an aspiring game designer.
Animator
Animators bring characters and objects to life, creating fluid and engaging movement. This course may be useful for animators looking to expand their skill set into game engines. The course covers using different animation nodes in Godot, such as the StateMachine, blend, and OneShot nodes, to create more complex and flexible animations. Though this course is not focused directly on animation, it introduces workflows for implementing animations within the Godot engine, and may be useful for an animator who wants to understand how their work might be used.
Software Developer
Software developers write code to create applications of all kinds, using a variety of programming languages and tools. This course may be useful for a software developer who is interested in game programming using GDScript. The course covers the basics of coding for a game, including using variables and constants, conditions, and control flow like if statements and for loops. Learning how to implement game logic in GDScript may help a software developer to expand their knowledge of relevant programming concepts. This may be a good starting point.
Computer Science Student
A computer science student learns the principles of computer science and programming. This course may be useful for a computer science student who is interested in game development but does not have experience in this area. This course covers the basics, such as using variables and constants, conditions, and control flow. The course also provides an introduction to the Godot engine and GDScript. This may be a good introduction for a computer science student.
User Interface Designer
User interface designers focus on the look and feel of the interfaces that players interact with within a game. This course may be useful for a user interface designer as it covers the creation of UI elements within the Godot engine. The course includes instruction on how to set up a health UI, a game over UI, and a restart button. Learning how to implement these kinds of common user interface elements, with the Godot engine, may provide an experience that helps to understand the challenges for this role in the gaming space.
Quality Assurance Tester
Quality assurance testers play games to identify bugs and ensure playability. This course may be useful for a quality assurance tester who wishes to develop games of their own. Experience from this course could help you understand the kinds of systems that go into a game, and improve your ability to recognize issues. By going through the process of developing a simple game, a quality assurance tester may gain important insight. This may be relevant to your career goals.
Digital Artist
A digital artist creates art using computer software, which can include 2D and 3D assets for games. While this course focuses on game development rather than digital art creation itself, the included assets and the methods used to implement them may be helpful for a digital artist to better understand how assets are used in a game environment. In this regard, this course may be useful for a digital artist. You would gain experience using high-quality assets in Godot.
Educator
Educators teach others, often in a classroom or workshop setting, and may specialize in a variety of subjects. This course may be useful for an educator who would like to understand game development using the Godot engine. By learning from this course, you have increased the depth of your knowledge. Moreover, you gain experience using a game engine, and how it might be useful in the classroom. This experience could improve your capabilities as an educator.
Project Manager
Project managers oversee the development of software, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. This course may be useful for a project manager as it provides insight into the game development process. Though the course itself does not cover project management, learning the technical challenges involved in something like game development may make it easier to understand how a project should be managed. This may be valuable for someone who wishes to manage technical projects, such as in game development.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Make a 2.5D game with Godot 4 | 2D gameplay with 3D assets.
Comprehensive guide to GDScript, the scripting language used in Godot Engine. It covers the fundamentals of the language, as well as more advanced topics such as object-oriented programming and game design patterns. It useful reference for both beginners and experienced programmers. This book adds more depth to the GDScript portion of the course.
Provides practical examples of game development projects using Godot Engine. It covers a range of game genres and techniques, offering valuable insights into real-world game development scenarios. While not strictly necessary for the course, it serves as excellent supplementary material for expanding your knowledge and skills. It is particularly helpful for understanding how to structure larger game projects.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser