You know what? I still remember the first time I opened Roblox Studio. I was completely overwhelmed – all those buttons, menus, and honestly, I had no clue where to even start. But here’s the thing: creating your first Roblox game is way more approachable than it looks. Trust me on this one.
If you’ve been playing Roblox games and thinking “I wish I could make something like this,” well… you absolutely can! And I’m going to walk you through it step by step, sharing all the little tricks I’ve picked up along the way.
Step 1: Getting Roblox Studio Set Up (The Foundation)
Alright, first things first – you’ll need to get everything installed. It’s pretty straightforward, but there are a few things I wish someone had told me when I started:
- Head over to roblox.com and create your free account if you haven’t already (I know, I know, you probably already have one)
- Navigate to the “Create” page and hit that “Start Creating” button – this’ll download Roblox Studio for you
- Here’s something interesting I learned the hard way: Roblox Studio only works on Windows 10/11 and macOS 10.13 or later. If you’re on Linux like my friend Jake, you can actually get it running through Wine, though it’s a bit finicky. Mobile users? Sorry, you’ll need to borrow someone’s computer for the actual development part
- Once it’s installed, fire it up and log in with your Roblox credentials
I’ve got to say, Roblox Studio has come a long way since I first started using it. It’s genuinely beginner-friendly now, which is refreshing because… well, let’s just say it wasn’t always that way!
Step 2: Picking Your Game Template (Don’t Overthink This!)
When you open Studio, you’ll see the “New” tab with all these templates staring at you. Honestly? Don’t stress too much about this choice – you can always start over if you change your mind.
Here’s what I’ve learned about each template type:
- Obby (Obstacle Course): Perfect if you love platforming. I made my first successful game using this template – there’s something satisfying about watching players struggle through your carefully crafted jumps
- Tycoon: Great for business simulation fans. Fair warning, though – these can get complex quickly
- Simulator: These are everywhere on Roblox right now. Simple concept, but they can be surprisingly addictive
- Racing: Vehicle-based fun. Pro tip: the physics can be tricky to get right
- RPG/Adventure: Story-driven games. These are my personal favorites, but they’re definitely more work
- Tower Defense: Strategic gameplay that never gets old
Actually, let me give you some real advice here: if this is your very first game, go with either “Baseplate” or “Flat Terrain.” I know it seems scary to start from nothing, but you’ll learn so much more this way. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about building everything from scratch.
Step 3: Making It Yours (This Is Where the Magic Happens)
Okay, this is where things get fun. You’ve got your workspace, now let’s make something unique!
The toolbar is your best friend here – those move, scale, and rotate tools will become second nature pretty quickly. I spent way too much time in my early days just moving blocks around and changing their colors. Don’t judge me, it’s oddly therapeutic!
Here’s what I always do when personalizing a game:
- Start by selecting parts and playing with the “Home” tab to change colors and materials
- Add obstacles, platforms, or decorations based on your game type
- Don’t forget to rename your game and add a description in “Game Settings” – I can’t tell you how many times I forgot this step
You know what’s interesting? Some of my most popular games started with me just randomly experimenting. That weird purple tower I built because I was bored? It became the centerpiece of my most successful obby.
Step 4: Diving Into Scripts (Don’t Panic!)
Alright, here’s where some people get scared off, but honestly? You don’t need to be a coding wizard to make cool stuff happen.
Roblox uses something called Lua scripting. To get started, just right-click any part and select Insert Object → Script. Boom, you’re scripting!
Let me break down the script types for you:
- Server Scripts: These handle stuff that affects everyone playing your game
- Local Scripts: These run on each player’s device individually – great for UI stuff
- Module Scripts: Think of these as your code library – reusable bits you can use anywhere
Here are some beginner scripts I wish I’d known about earlier:
- Teleporting players:
player.Character.HumanoidRootPart.CFrame = workspace.TeleportPart.CFrame - Collecting coins (with satisfying sound effects!)
- Interactive doors and buttons
- Basic health systems
Actually, let me be honest with you – I learned most of my scripting from YouTube. Channels like AlvinBlox are absolute goldmines. The Roblox Creator Hub at create.roblox.com is also fantastic, and the Developer Forum at devforum.roblox.com has saved me countless times when I was stuck.
Don’t be afraid to copy and modify existing scripts when you’re learning. We all started that way!
Step 5: Testing Your Creation (The Moment of Truth)
This part always makes me a little nervous, even now. You hit that green Play button and… will it work? Will players fall through the floor? (Spoiler alert: they probably will at first, and that’s totally normal!)
Use both “Play Here” and “Run” to test different aspects of your game. I can’t stress this enough – test early and test often. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way more times than I care to admit.
Keep iterating until you’re happy with how it feels. And remember, “good enough” is actually good enough for your first game!
Step 6: Sharing Your Masterpiece
When you’re ready (and you’ll know when you are), go to File → Publish to Roblox As…
Here’s where you get to write your game’s title and description. Take your time with this – a good description can make or break whether people try your game. You can choose to keep it private at first if you want to test with friends, or go public right away if you’re feeling confident.
I always recommend starting with friends and family. Their feedback is usually more honest and constructive than random internet strangers!
Step 7: Making Some Robux (The Fun Part!)
Okay, so this is optional, but once your game starts getting some players, you might want to think about monetization. I didn’t even consider this until my third game, but it’s worth knowing about:
Your options include:
- Game Passes: One-time purchases for special abilities or cosmetics
- Developer Products: Things players can buy over and over (like extra lives)
- Private Servers: Let players rent their own game instances
Just remember, you need to be 13+ with a verified email, and you’ll need to earn at least 100,000 Robux before you can cash out. But honestly? Focus on making a fun game first. The money stuff can come later.
My Top Tips for New Developers
Look, I’ve made plenty of mistakes over the years, so let me save you some headaches:
- Start ridiculously small. I mean it. My first “game” was literally just a box you could walk around in. And you know what? I was proud of that box!
- Use those tutorials. The Roblox community is incredibly helpful, and there are tons of free resources out there. Don’t try to figure everything out on your own.
- Be patient with yourself. Game development is hard, and you’re going to get frustrated. I still do! But every mistake teaches you something new.
- Most importantly – have fun! The best games come from developers who genuinely enjoyed making them.
Resources That Actually Help
Let me share some resources that have been lifesavers for me:
Official stuff:
- Roblox Creator Hub (create.roblox.com) – This is your bible
- Roblox Developer Forum (devforum.roblox.com) – Real developers helping real developers
- The Creator Roadmap – Stay updated on what’s changing
Community gold mines:
- YouTube channels: AlvinBlox, TheDevKing, PeasFactory (these guys are legends)
- Discord communities like Roblox OSS Community and Hidden Developers
- Reddit’s r/robloxgamedev – surprisingly helpful community
For assets:
- Roblox Toolbox for free stuff
- Roblox Creator Store for official assets
- Be careful with third-party sites – always double-check they’re legit
Making Your Game Run Smoothly
Here’s something I learned after my first game was basically unplayable due to lag:
Build smart:
- Use fewer, bigger parts instead of tons of tiny ones
- Union and Negate tools are powerful, but don’t get too excited with them
- Try to keep your part count under 10,000 (I know, it sounds like a lot, but you’d be surprised)
Script efficiently:
- Never, ever create infinite loops without wait() statements (trust me on this one)
- Use local variables when you can
- Clean up after yourself – unused objects and connections will slow things down
The Developer Console (press F9) is your friend for checking performance. I wish I’d discovered this sooner!
FAQs
Do I really need to learn programming?
Honestly? Not right away. I built my first three games using mostly templates and visual tools. You can always learn Lua scripting as you go – that’s exactly what I did.
How long will this take?
Well, that depends. A simple game using templates? Maybe a few hours. Something more complex? It could be weeks or months. I’m still working on a project I started last year! Start small and build up.
Can I work with friends on this?
Absolutely! Team Create is amazing for collaboration. Just be prepared for some chaos when multiple people are building at once – it can get pretty hectic!
What kind of computer do I need?
Nothing too fancy – Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.13+, at least 4GB of RAM, and a graphics card that supports DirectX 10. Oh, and you’ll need internet for publishing and collaboration.
How do I get people to actually play my game?
This is the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Focus on making eye-catching thumbnails, write clear descriptions, and update regularly. Social media helps, and don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. Sometimes collaborating with other developers or content creators can give you that initial boost.
Look, I’m not going to lie to you – creating games can be challenging. There will be moments when nothing works the way you want it to, when your scripts break for no apparent reason, or when you accidentally delete hours of work (save frequently, people!).
But you know what? There’s nothing quite like watching someone play something you created and seeing them have fun. That feeling never gets old.
So go ahead, download Roblox Studio, and start building. Your first game doesn’t have to be perfect – it just has to be yours. And who knows? Maybe I’ll be playing it soon!
Happy creating! 🎮