Creating a Platformer Game on Scratch: Step-by-Step Guide

Do you love playing platformer games but always wondered how they are made? Well, you’re in luck! Making a platformer game on Scratch is not as complicated as it seems. With a little bit of coding knowledge and some creativity, you can create your own platformer game in no time.

Scratch is a block-based visual programming language that allows you to create interactive stories, animations, and games. The platformer game is one of the most popular genres on Scratch, and it’s not hard to see why. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps of creating a platformer game on Scratch in a relaxed and easy-to-understand language. So, let’s jump in!

Planning Your Platformer Game

So, you want to create your own platformer game on Scratch? Congratulations on taking the first step! Before you start coding, it’s important to plan your game carefully. Here are some things to consider:

1. Setting

The setting of your game will determine the background, design elements, and characters of your game. Do you want your game to take place in a fictional world, or a real-world location? What kind of background and props do you need to create to bring that setting to life?

2. Characters

Choose your characters carefully, as they will be the driving force of your game. Decide on the main character and supporting casts, their appearance, characteristics, and their abilities.

3. Game Objective

What is your game objective? What is the main story of the game that you will tell through its levels? Determine the end goals of your game. Is it about rescuing a princess? Finding a treasure? Defeating a boss?

4. Game Mechanics

Think about what kind of gameplay mechanics will make your game fun and challenging. Will you be incorporating power-ups, enemies, or obstacles in your game? What will the core mechanics be and how will it progress the story/plot?

5. Level Progression & Design

Once you have your game objective and mechanics, decide how many levels you want to create and how will you build them. By designing and strategically placing different obstacles, props and enemies, the progress and difficulty can be determined.

6. Designing and Assigning Clues

In some games, you have to collect clues so that you can unlock specific areas or get more information needed to move forward. Plan out the clues and where they will be. How to give hints and how will it impact the story.

7. Creating Background Music and Sound Effects

Background music enhances the gaming experience and can transport your player into the world of your creation. Hence, having the appropriate background music is a very crucial point in game design. Also, considering sound effects such as jumps, coin collections, defeats, etc. can make or break the audience’s concentration and interest.

8. Incorporating Animations

Animations help in expressing the characters and their actions more effectively. It adds a layer to the character’s likes and dislikes. Plan their movements and gestures, and decide what actions will trigger what animation.

9. Testing and Debugging

Before publishing the game, ensure that it has been well tested, and the glitches are removed. User experience feedback can be taken and necessary modifications can be made.

10. Presentation and Publication

After making all the necessary modifications and ensuring that your game is well-tested comes to the fun part– presenting and publishing it. Share it on the Scratch community page, gaming websites, or your blog/website to gain views and feedback.

By following these steps, you can turn your idea into a fully-fledged platformer game with interesting mechanics and a captivating storyline. Good luck with your gamedev journey!

The Basics of Platformer Game Design

Creating a platformer game on Scratch may sound like a daunting task, but it is actually quite simple and straightforward. Before diving into the coding and game mechanics, it is important to understand the basic design elements of a successful platformer game. Here are some key concepts to keep in mind:

1. Character Design

The first step in creating any video game is designing the main character(s). In a platformer game, the character(s) should be easy to control and maneuver, with fluid movements and animations. Choose a fun and unique design that matches the overall tone and theme of the game.

2. Level Design

The levels in a platformer game should be challenging yet fair. This means that each level should have a clear objective, obstacles that the player must overcome, and a rewarding feeling upon completion. Make the levels visually interesting with a variety of background elements, textures, and platforms.

3. Platform Mechanics

The core mechanic of a platformer game is the ability to jump and maneuver around the level. In Scratch, the “jump” block is a crucial component to making your character move. Experiment with different jump heights, lengths, and variations to create a unique and fun experience.

4. Enemy Design

Most platformer games have enemies that the player must defeat or avoid. When designing enemies, consider their movement patterns, attack styles, and weaknesses. Keep in mind that enemies should add to the overall challenge of the game, without feeling too frustrating or impossible to defeat.

5. Power-Ups

Power-ups are a great way to add an extra layer of excitement to your game. These can include items that increase the player’s health, give them special abilities, or make them invincible for a short period of time. Make sure that power-ups are balanced and not overpowered, as it can ruin the overall challenge of the game.

6. Collectibles

Collectibles are another way to add depth and replayability to your game. These can include coins, gems, or other items that the player can collect in each level. Make the collection process rewarding, with a clear incentive for the player to collect as many as possible.

7. Boss Battles

Boss battles are a common feature in many platformer games. These can be epic showdowns with a tough enemy that requires strategy and skill to defeat. Make sure that the boss is challenging but not impossible to beat, and add unique mechanics to make it feel special.

8. Storytelling

While not a crucial element of a platformer game, adding a storyline can make the game more engaging and memorable. Consider creating interesting characters, plot twists, and a satisfying ending that the player can enjoy.

9. Music and Sound Effects

Music and sound effects are crucial to creating a fun and immersive platformer game. Scratch has a wide variety of sound effects and music that you can use, or you can create your own using third-party software. Make sure that the sound effects match the action on the screen, and that the music enhances the overall mood and tone of the game.

10. Testing and Feedback

Finally, before releasing your game, make sure to playtest it thoroughly. Test each level and mechanic multiple times to ensure that it is fair and balanced. Gather feedback from friends and family to see how they enjoy the game, and make necessary adjustments based on their input. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a fun and engaging platformer game on Scratch.

Creating the Game World

Once we have our character and some obstacles ready, it’s time to create the game world. This is the space where our game will take place and it’s responsible for giving our player a sense of progression and achievement as they move through the game. Follow these steps to create your game world on Scratch:

Setting the Stage

The first step in creating your game world is to give your game a background. You can choose any image you like, just make sure it conveys the kind of environment you want for your game. For instance, if you want a game set in a jungle, you could use a lush green background, or if you want a game set in outer space, you can use a dark starry background.

Adding Ground and Platforms

Once you’ve set the stage, it’s time to create the ground and platforms that the player will walk on. To do this, create a new sprite and use the “rectangle” tool to draw platforms in different shapes and sizes. You can change the color of each platform and add textures to make them more interesting.

To make your platforms more game-like, try making them move vertically or horizontally. Use the scratch “Motion” block to move the platforms around your game world.

Adding Enemies and Obstacles

Now that our platforms are ready, it’s time to add enemies and obstacles to make the game challenging. You can create enemies by drawing new sprites, or you can reuse the obstacle sprite that we created earlier.

To create your own enemy sprite, choose any image you like, and use Scratch’s painting tool to draw your enemy. Next, you can add a script to make it move in your game world.

For obstacles, you can make the enemy sprite move back and forth in one place, or you can make them move along a platform. Obstacles can also be created by using spikes or other dangerous items that will harm the player if they make contact.

Adding Power-ups and Points

Power-ups can be used to give the player an advantage in the game, and they can include items like extra lives, speed boosts, or invincibility. You can create a power-up sprite and place it in your game world, or you can add a script to an existing sprite to give it the properties of a power-up.

To add points to your game, you can create a variable called “score” and add a script that increases the score by a set amount each time the player collects a power-up or reaches a designated point in your game world.

Designing the Final Touches

Now that the majority of the game elements are in place, it’s time to add some final touches to make your game look and feel complete. You can add sounds to your game by creating a new sprite and using the “sound” blocks in Scratch to add audio effects.

You can also add camera motions to your game. You can use the “camera” blocks in Scratch to zoom in and out or follow the player around the game world. Finally, test your game and see how it feels to play. Make adjustments and refine your game until it’s great.

Creating a game world is an important part of game design, and it can give the player a sense of immersion and progression. Follow these steps to create your game world in Scratch, and add your own unique twist to make your game stand out. Remember to test your game, refine it, and have fun!

Thank you for reading!

I hope you found this article helpful and enjoyable! Making a platformer on Scratch can be a fun and exciting project, and I encourage you to try it out for yourself. Remember to take your time and experiment with different techniques and elements to make your game truly unique. And don’t forget to share your creations with the Scratch community! Thanks again for reading, and I look forward to seeing you again soon for more Scratch tutorials and inspiration. Happy coding!