Building Your First Game in Unity: Step-by-Step Guide

So, you want to build your first game—but the Unity game engine just greeted you with a whole lot of… nothing. No characters, no landscapes, no lasers or lava. Just a blank scene and a blinking cursor. If you’re wondering, “Where the heck do I even start?”—you’re in the right place.

This guide is your no-nonsense, beginner-friendly walkthrough for game development with Unity for beginners. Whether you’re starting with no prior coding knowledge or are just new to game engines, we’ll break down each step: from installing Unity and setting up your first project, to designing gameplay mechanics, polishing visuals, and running your first test play.

By the end, you won’t just learn the Unity game engine—you’ll have something you can actually play. Ready to turn that blank scene into your first game world?
Let’s get building.

Before You Start: What You’ll Need

Before diving into Unity, get your development environment set up:

• Unity Hub – Download and install from unity.com
• Latest LTS (Long Term Support) version of Unity
• Code Editor – Visual Studio is bundled with Unity installations
• Basic familiarity with C# (don’t worry, we’ll keep it light)
• A notebook (trust us, you’ll want to sketch ideas)

If you’re following a Unity Course, your instructor may also provide a starter project and sample assets.

Step 1: Create a New Project

Open Unity Hub and click “New Project.”

• Template: Choose 2D Core if you want a basic side-scroller or puzzle game. Choose 3D Core for something like a top-down shooter.
• Name: e.g., “MyFirstUnityGame”
• Location: Choose a folder you’ll remember

Once you hit “Create,” Unity opens the editor, and your development journey begins.

Step 2: Understand the Scene Layout

Here’s a quick tour of the Unity Editor:

• Hierarchy – Lists all objects in your scene
• Scene View – Visual layout of your level
• Game View – Preview of what the player will see
• Inspector – Lets you edit properties of selected objects
• Project Panel – Where your assets live (sprites, audio, scripts)

Think of it like this: Hierarchy = cast list, Scene = stage, Inspector = costume/behavior panel, Project Panel = prop room.

Step 3: Add Your First GameObject

Right-click in the Hierarchy > 2D Object > Sprite or 3D Object > Cube.

• Name it “Player”
• Add a Rigidbody2D (for physics) and a BoxCollider2D (for collision)

This is your player character. It’s just a box for now—but that’s all you need to start testing movement.

Step 4: Add Basic Player Movement (Script Time!)

In the Project window:

• Right-click > Create > C# Script → Name it “PlayerMovement”
• Drag the script onto your Player object

Double-click to open it and paste this simple code:

public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour

{

    public float speed = 5f;

    void Update()

    {

        float moveX = Input.GetAxis(“Horizontal”);

        transform.Translate(Vector2.right * moveX * speed * Time.deltaTime);

    }

}

You just coded movement! Hit “Play” and use the arrow keys to move.

Step 5: Build the Environment

Add platforms and obstacles:

• Right-click in Hierarchy → 2D Object > Sprite → Rename to “Ground”
• Add BoxCollider2D + Rigidbody2D (set Rigidbody to Static)
• Duplicate and move around to form a simple level

Optional: Add background and foreground layers to test depth.

Step 6: Add Gameplay Logic

Let’s add a win condition.

• Create an empty GameObject → Rename “Goal”
• Add a collider and set it to “Is Trigger”
• Create a new script called GoalScript:

public class GoalScript : MonoBehaviour

{

    void OnTriggerEnter2D(Collider2D other)

    {

        if (other.CompareTag(“Player”))

        {

            Debug.Log(“You Win!”);

        }

    }

}

Make sure your Player GameObject has the tag “Player.”

Step 7: Add Sound and Feedback (Optional but Fun)

• Drag an audio file (e.g., jump sound) into Assets
• Add AudioSource component to the Player
• Trigger it in the script like this:

GetComponent<AudioSource>().Play();

Sound gives your game life, and it’s a great way to start learning events.

Step 8: Test, Break, Fix, Repeat

Playtest often. Unity lets you tweak values (like speed or gravity) in real-time while the game is running. Just remember to reapply them after stopping the game.

Bug checklist:

• Character falling through platforms?
• Collision not working?
• Movement too fast/slow?

Debugging is where the real learning happens.

Step 9: Build and Export

Ready to share your game?

• Go to File > Build Settings
• Choose your platform (e.g., Windows, Android)
• Click Build, name your executable, and select a folder

Voila! You now have a shareable game file.

Where to Go from Here

You’ve built a basic prototype—and that’s HUGE. Now you can:

• Add enemies
• Implement health and score systems
• Explore Unity’s Animation and Tilemap tools
• Try particle effects or Unity’s Visual Scripting system

Remember: the best way to learn Unity is by building games, no matter how simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will it take to build a simple game in Unity?

If you’re following this Unity beginner’s guide, then this answer will vary depending on the complexity of your game and your own ability to learn, but a simple game can be created in a matter of a few hours to a couple of days.

2. Do I need to have an understanding of advanced math or physics?

Nope! Unity has its own built-in physics engine that does heavy lifting for you. You will be exposed to basic ideas while developing – vectors and forces – but no calculus is needed.

3. Can I follow the same process to build mobile games?

Yes, but with a few key differences. You must make changes to your UI size and input controls, and change your export settings. Unity – and Unity’s Mobile Build Support – makes this simple.

4. What is the easiest type of game for beginners?

2D games like platformers or Endless Runners are great beginner games. You can prototype them very quickly, and they teach the basic foundations of input, physics, and collision.

5. Should I learn Unity or wait for AI-based game tools?

You should learn Unity. AI-based game tools can help you, but Unity will teach you logic and design fundamentals that AI can’t replace. And Unity is itself integrating an AI workflow to make your life easier.

Learn Unity the Right Way at MAGES

Want to take your skills from “I made a game!” to “I built a portfolio-worthy project”?

At MAGES Institute, our Game Design and Development program is designed for beginners who want to turn their ideas into fully playable experiences, with structured guidance, real-world projects, and industry mentorship.

Start building smarter, faster, and better—with Unity as your launchpad.

Explore Courses at MAGES