7 Steps To Make A Platformer Game On Scratch

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Making a platformer game on Scratch is an exciting project that can help you develop your programming skills and creativity. Platformer games are a classic genre that involves navigating a character through a series of obstacles, enemies, and challenges to reach a goal. With Scratch, a free online coding platform developed by MIT, you can bring your platformer game ideas to life without extensive programming knowledge. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Setting Up Your Game Environment

When you open Scratch, you'll see a blank project screen with a cat sprite in the middle. You can delete the cat sprite by right-clicking on it and selecting "delete." Create a new sprite by clicking on the "paint" button in the top left corner and drawing your game character. Name your sprite something descriptive, like "Player."

Choosing a Background

Next, create a background for your game by clicking on the "paint" button and selecting "background." You can draw or upload an image to use as your background. For a platformer game, you might want to create a landscape with platforms, obstacles, and a horizon.

Step 2: Adding Movement Controls

To make your game interactive, you need to add movement controls. In Scratch, you can do this using the " Events" and "Motion" blocks. Create a new script by clicking on the "scripts" tab and selecting "Player" from the dropdown menu.

Use the following blocks to create basic movement controls:

• When flag clicked
• Forever
• If [key pressed] then
• Change x by [number]
• Change y by [number]

You can customize the movement controls by adjusting the numbers and adding more conditions.

Adding Jumping Mechanics

To add jumping mechanics, you'll need to create a new variable called "gravity" and set it to a negative number. This will make your player sprite fall when it's not on a platform. Use the following blocks to create a basic jumping mechanic:

• When flag clicked
• Set gravity to [number]
• Forever
• If [space key pressed] then
• Change y by [number]

You can adjust the gravity and jumping values to make the game more challenging or realistic.

Step 3: Creating Platforms and Obstacles

Platforms and obstacles are essential elements in a platformer game. You can create platforms and obstacles using the "paint" button or by uploading images. Make sure to name each platform and obstacle sprite something descriptive, like "Platform 1" or "Enemy 1."

Use the "set size" block to adjust the size of each platform and obstacle. You can also add movement controls to platforms and obstacles using the "motion" blocks.

Adding Collision Detection

Collision detection is crucial in a platformer game, as it determines when the player collides with platforms, obstacles, or enemies. Use the "touching" block to detect collisions between sprites. For example, you can create a script that says:

• When Player touches Platform 1
• Then change y by [number]

This script will make the player jump or stop falling when it touches a platform.

Step 4: Adding Enemies and Power-Ups

Enemies and power-ups can add an extra layer of excitement to your platformer game. You can create enemy sprites using the "paint" button or by uploading images. Add movement controls and collision detection to make enemies more challenging.

Power-ups can be created using the "paint" button or by uploading images. Use the "touching" block to detect collisions between the player and power-ups. For example, you can create a script that says:

• When Player touches Power-Up 1
• Then increase score by [number]

Adding a Score System

A score system can make your game more engaging and challenging. Use the "variables" block to create a score variable and set it to 0. You can increase the score when the player collects power-ups or reaches certain milestones.

Step 5: Adding a Game Over Screen

A game over screen can add a professional touch to your game. Use the "paint" button to create a game over screen background and add text or images to display the player's score.

Use the "broadcast" block to send a message to the game over screen when the player's health reaches 0. You can also add a restart button to allow the player to start the game again.

Adding a Start Screen

A start screen can introduce the player to the game and provide instructions on how to play. Use the "paint" button to create a start screen background and add text or images to display the game's title and instructions.

Use the "broadcast" block to send a message to the start screen when the game starts. You can also add a start button to allow the player to begin the game.

Step 6: Testing and Debugging

Testing and debugging are crucial steps in game development. Playtest your game to identify bugs and areas for improvement. Use the "debug" block to identify errors and fix them.

Make sure to test your game on different devices and browsers to ensure compatibility.

Step 7: Sharing and Publishing

Once you've completed and tested your game, you can share it with the Scratch community. Use the "share" button to share your game on the Scratch website.

You can also publish your game on other platforms, such as itch.io or GameJolt. Make sure to follow the publishing guidelines for each platform.

Now that you've completed these 7 steps, you have a fully functional platformer game on Scratch! Share your game with friends and family, and don't be afraid to experiment and add new features.