Genre Templates

Template Bootstrap (MANDATORY)

Before writing gameplay scripts for any template:

1. •Call godot_generate_asset_pack with the closest preset and style.
2. •Verify generated files in res://assets/sprites/.
3. •Wire entities to generated sprites first, then layered procedural fallback.
4. •Do not use plain ColorRect entity visuals in full-game builds.

Top-Down Shooter

File Manifest

Node Hierarchy (built by main.gd)

Main (Node2D + main.gd)
├── Background (Sprite2D using bg_arena + optional gradient shader)
├── Player (CharacterBody2D + player.gd)
│   ├── CollisionShape2D (rect 32x32)
│   └── Visual (Sprite2D: player + glow/outline shader)
├── SpawnTimer (Timer, 1.5s)
├── Camera2D (follows player)
└── UI (CanvasLayer)
    ├── HudPanel (TextureRect/Sprite2D from ui_hud_panel)
    ├── ScoreLabel (+ icon_score)
    └── HealthBar (+ icon_heart)

Key Mechanics

• •Player: WASD movement (220 speed), mouse aiming, click to shoot
• •Bullets: Area2D, layer 2, mask 4, speed 450, 3s lifetime
• •Enemies: CharacterBody2D, layer 4, chase player (90 speed), damage on contact
• •Score: +100 per kill, displayed in HUD
• •Health: 100 HP, -10 per enemy contact, game over at 0
• •Spawning: every 1.5s, random position 500px from player, max 15
• •Asset baseline: generate and use player, enemy_chaser, enemy_ranged, enemy_charger, bullet_player, pickup_health, icon_heart, icon_score, bg_arena, ui_hud_panel

Platformer

File Manifest

Node Hierarchy

Main (Node2D + main.gd)
├── Level (Node2D + level_builder.gd)
│   ├── [StaticBody2D platforms, generated]
│   ├── [Coin Area2Ds, generated]
│   └── [Spike Area2Ds, generated]
├── Player (CharacterBody2D + player.gd)
│   ├── CollisionShape2D (capsule)
│   ├── Visual (Sprite2D: player_runner or layered procedural fallback)
│   └── Camera2D
└── UI (CanvasLayer)
    ├── CoinLabel (+ icon_life or coin icon)
    └── LivesLabel

Level Builder Pattern

# level_builder.gd
const TILE = 64
var level_data = [
    ".....................",
    ".....................",
    "...C..........C.....",
    "...####....####.....",
    ".....................",
    "........C...........",
    "......#####.........",
    ".....S......S.......",
    "#####################",
]
# P=player start, #=platform, C=coin, S=spike, .=empty

func build():
    for y in range(level_data.size()):
        for x in range(level_data[y].length()):
            var ch = level_data[y][x]
            var pos = Vector2(x * TILE, y * TILE)
            match ch:
                "#": _make_platform(pos)
                "C": _make_coin(pos)
                "S": _make_spike(pos)

Key Mechanics

• •Gravity: 800, Jump: -350, Speed: 200
• •Coyote time: 0.1s, Jump buffer: 0.1s
• •Coins: Area2D layer 7, body_entered → collect
• •Spikes: Area2D layer 8, body_entered → respawn
• •Camera follows player with smoothing
• •Asset baseline: player_runner, enemy_patrol, enemy_flyer, pickup_coin, tile_ground, tile_platform, tile_hazard, bg_platform_sky

Puzzle Game (Match-3 / Grid)

File Manifest

Node Hierarchy

Main (Node2D + main.gd)
├── Board (Node2D + board.gd)
│   └── [Piece nodes, grid of NxM]
└── UI (CanvasLayer)
    ├── ScoreLabel
    └── MovesLabel

Key Mechanics

• •Grid stored as Array[Array] (model)
• •Pieces are visual nodes positioned on grid
• •Click to select, click adjacent to swap
• •After swap: check matches (3+ in row/column)
• •Matched pieces removed, gravity drops pieces down
• •New pieces spawned at top
• •Score: +10 per matched piece, combos multiply

RPG / Top-Down Adventure

File Manifest

Key Mechanics

• •Player: 4-direction movement (no diagonal), grid-snapped or smooth
• •NPCs: Area2D trigger, show dialog on interact
• •Dialog: CanvasLayer with text box, advance with Space/Click
• •Inventory: Array of item dictionaries, UI grid display
• •Transitions: Fade to black between areas

Tower Defense

File Manifest

Key Mechanics

• •Enemies follow Path2D/PathFollow2D
• •Towers: Area2D detection range, target nearest enemy
• •Tower bullets: homing (lerp toward target)
• •Economy: start with gold, earn per kill, spend to place towers
• •Waves: increasing enemy count and speed
• •Lives: enemies reaching end cost lives

Template Selection Logic

Given user prompt, pick template:

1. •Contains "shoot", "gun", "bullet", "top-down" → Top-Down Shooter
2. •Contains "jump", "platform", "side", "mario" → Platformer
3. •Contains "puzzle", "match", "grid", "swap", "tile" → Puzzle
4. •Contains "RPG", "adventure", "dialog", "quest", "inventory" → RPG
5. •Contains "tower", "defense", "wave", "path" → Tower Defense
6. •Contains "sandbox", "build", "craft" → Start with Top-Down Shooter base, add building
7. •Unclear → Top-Down Shooter (best default, most satisfying prototype)