How to Create a Simple 2D Game in Unity

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Unity is a powerful game development platform suitable for creating both 2D and 3D games. In this article, we will learn the steps to create a simple 2D game from scratch using Unity. We will cover setting up a new project, creating game objects, writing basic scripts, handling user input, and creating the game. Let's start with a step-by-step explanation.

Step 1: Setting up Unity and starting a new project

First, you need to install Unity on your computer. To do this, visit the Unity website, download the Unity Hub and follow the installation instructions. After installing the Unity Hub, open it and install the latest version of the Unity Editor. After setting up Unity, you can create a new project.

To create a new project, follow these steps:

• Open the Unity Hub and click the "New" button.
• Choose the "2D" template because we are creating a 2D game.
• Name your project something like “Simple2DGame”.
• Choose a location on your computer to save the project.
• Click the "Create" button to set up your new 2D project.

Once your project is created, Unity will open with a new project. You will see several windows in the Unity editor such as the Scene View, Game View, Hierarchy, Inspector, and Project window. Familiarize yourself with the layouts, as you will be using them throughout the project.

Step 2: Creating the game object

The Game Object is an essential building block in Unity. It can represent characters, environments, and other elements in your game. Let's start by creating the Player Game Object.

To create a player object:

• In the Hierarchy window, right-click to open the context menu.
• Select 2D Object and then Sprite. This will create a new sprite object in the scene.
• Rename the sprite object to "Player" by clicking on it and pressing F2.
• In the Inspector window, you will see the Sprite Renderer component. You can choose a sprite for this object. For now, use a placeholder image or a built-in sprite such as a simple circle or square.

Position the player sprite on the screen using the Rect Tool or by adjusting its position in the Transform component in the Inspector window.

Step 3: Writing a simple script

To move our player, we need to write a script. Let's create a simple movement script using C#.

• In the project window, right-click and then choose Create, then choose C# Script.
• Name the script “PlayerMovement”.
• Double-click the script to open it in a code editor like Visual Studio or any code editor of your choice.

Here's a basic example of a movement script:

using UnityEngine; public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour { public float speed = 5.0f; void Update() { // Get input float horizontal = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal"); float vertical = Input.GetAxis("Vertical"); // Create movement vector Vector3 movement = new Vector3(horizontal, vertical, 0) * speed * Time.deltaTime; // Move the player transform.position += movement; } }

This script moves the player object based on user input from the arrow keys or WASD keys. It reads the horizontal and vertical input, creates a movement vector, and updates the player's position.

After saving the script, return to Unity, and remember to assign the script to the player object:

• Select the Player object in the Hierarchy window.
• In the Inspector window, click "Add Component."
• Search for “PlayerMovement” and add this script to the player object.

Step 4: Adding collisions and physics

In games, you want objects to interact with each other, which usually involves some physics and collision detection. Unity provides built-in physics components that we can use.

To add basic physics to our player object:

• Select the player object in the hierarchy.
• In the inspector, click "Add Component" and add a RigidBody2D component. This will enable physics to affect the player.
• Change the Rigidbody2D property "Gravity Scale" to zero, since gravity is not needed in our top-down 2D game.
• Next, add a Box Collider 2D or Circle Collider 2D depending on your sprite size. This allows your player sprite to correctly detect collisions.

To test the physics:

• Press the Play button at the top of the Unity editor to run the game.
• Move the player object around using the arrow keys or the WASD keys.
• Notice how smoothly it moves across the screen.

Step 5: Creating the game environment

Now we need to create an environment for our player. This will require creating more sprites, such as walls or the ground.

To create a playful atmosphere:

• Follow the same steps as you did with the player to create the environment sprite (Hierarchy > 2D Object > Right-click on Sprite).
• Name them accordingly, like "Ground", "Wall" or something similar.
• Add a Box Collider 2D to each environment object as needed to make them solid obstacles within the game.
• Arrange these objects in the scene to create paths, boundaries, or obstacles for gameplay.

You can design the environment creatively or create a simple layout for practice. The idea is to test the player's interaction with movement restrictions and obstacles.

Step 6: Handling user input

In addition to moving the player with basic keys, we may need more complex inputs, such as shooting in a direction or interacting with a game object. Unity's input system allows for customization.

To add new inputs, you can use the Input Manager:

• Go to Edit/Project Settings/ then Input Manager.
• Expand an existing input, such as “Fire1”, or create a new input by increasing the “Size”.
• You can customize its name, sensitivity, and define which key or button it represents.

Here's one way you can implement shooting:

using UnityEngine; public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour { public GameObject bulletPrefab; public Transform bulletSpawn; public float speed = 5.0f; void Update() { float horizontal = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal"); float vertical = Input.GetAxis("Vertical"); Vector3 movement = new Vector3(horizontal, vertical, 0) * speed * Time.deltaTime; transform.position += movement; if (Input.GetButtonDown("Fire1")) { Shoot(); } } void Shoot() { Instantiate(bulletPrefab, bulletSpawn.position, bulletSpawn.rotation); } }

This script allows the player to shoot bullets by pressing “Fire1”, which by default can respond to the Left Ctrl key. Make sure you have set up the bullet prefab and spawn point in Unity for this to work.

Step 7: Polishing and testing

Before we finish, it's important to flash and test the game:

1. Test and change your game frequently, and make sure the logic and physics are working as expected.
2. Make adjustments to variables such as speed or collider size as needed.
3. Consider adding sounds, UI elements, or more detailed graphics.

Testing will help you understand what is working and what may need adjustments. Also, testing on different devices, if possible, can ensure compatibility across different setups.

Step 8: Creating your game

Once you've created and tested your game within Unity, you may want to share it. Unity makes this easy by allowing you to create your game for multiple platforms.

To create your own game:

• Go to File and select "Build Settings".
• Choose the platform you're targeting, such as PC, Web, iOS, or Android.
• Click “Add Open View” to include the current view.
• Press “Build” and choose a location to save your build files.
• Unity will compile your game into an executable format ready for distribution.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have created a basic 2D game in Unity. The game includes a moving player, interactive environment colliders, and user input. While this guide gives you an initial understanding of Unity's capabilities, there is much more you can explore. Advanced features such as animations, UI development, and rich game mechanics await you.

Unity offers significant community support, and its documentation is extensive. As you become more comfortable with simple projects, exploring more complex aspects of Unity can enable you to create well-rounded, professional-quality games. Constant practice, experimentation, and learning will hone your skills in Unity development.

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