How to make a game on Roblox: a kid-friendly step-by-step

Playing Roblox is fun; making a game on it can be better. Roblox Studio is the free tool for building experiences, and a child with a grown-up beside them can create a first simple game in an afternoon. Details change as Roblox updates, so check Roblox's own help pages if something looks different.

Before you start

• Roblox Studio runs on a Windows or Mac computer.
• Your child needs a Roblox account, ideally linked to your parent account. See Roblox parental controls.
• Plan the game on paper first. See game design for kids.

Step 1: Install Roblox Studio

Log in to Roblox on the computer, go to Create, and download Studio. Sign in when it opens.

Step 2: Start with a template

Choose a template such as Baseplate (a flat grey world) for a blank start, or one of the ready-made ones to learn from.

Step 3: Learn the screen

• The viewport is the world you build in.
• The Explorer lists everything in the game.
• The Properties panel changes colour, size and behaviour of whatever is selected.
• The Toolbox holds ready-made models. Use it carefully and check what you add.

Step 4: Build something

Insert a Part (a block) from the Home tab, then move, scale and rotate it. Colour it. Make platforms, walls, a tower or an obstacle course. Press Play to test as you go.

Step 5: Add a goal

A game needs something to do: reach the end, collect coins or avoid lava. Even a simple obstacle course with a finish line is a game. Add a checkpoint or a Spawn location.

Step 6: Add a little code (optional)

Scripts are written in Luau. A first script can make a block change colour or disappear when touched. Many free beginner tutorials exist on Roblox's site.

Step 7: Test with friends

Ask a friend or family member to play and watch silently. Where do they get stuck? What do they enjoy? Fix one thing at a time.

Step 8: Publish

Use File, then Publish to Roblox. Give it a name and description, and choose who can play. Keep it private at first.

Safety

• Do not include personal information in names or descriptions.
• Be careful with assets from the Toolbox, which anyone can upload.
• Keep chat limited for younger players.

Keep it a project

A game is a real project: idea, plan, build, test, share. In Bip's Creator Jobs world, kids learn that same loop by designing a game level on a grid and planning an in-game shop.