🏭 Are you ready to become a platformer factory?

Don't waste time reinventing the wheel. Every hour you spend coding basic features is wasted time you could be creating content like dialogues, quests, and levels!

Skip the 80% work on basic systems and move straight up to the fun part with these 18 reusable platformer systems. The cookbook contains:

Each chapter is packed with common answers before diving into the step-by-step implementation:

• What is the feature
• When you can use it
• Pros and Cons of using it
• How to create the feature
• How to use it with practical examples
• Why does it work (design and engineer insights)

Who is this Cookbook for?

This book intents to help Godot Engine users create a solid code base for their proejcts, ultimately designing their own templates, in this case for platformer games.

It aims for beginners and intermediate Godot Engine users alike that already have some experience with the engine and are moving towards reliable production instead of experimenting and prototyping.

You will get the most out of this book if you already:

• Understand the basics of the Godot Engine editor
• Understand the basics of Godot Engine's Node and Resources philosophy
• Understand the basics of GDScript
• Already have at least 1 project (prototype or fully developed)

How to use this Cookbook?

Whenever you find yourself wondering how to make one of the basics functionalities of a platformer using a scalable, battle-tested, reusable implementation.

This cookbook serves as a reusable learning content that you can come back every time you want to check for insights, pros and cons, and creative usages of Godot Features.

Ideally, in your first read, you create every chapter's feature in isolation as an independent project in Godot Engine. At the end, you integrate them all in a complete project. You can check how to do that reading our devlog about Making a Playable Level with Godot Platformer Essentials. 

After your first read, you can use it as a manual on how to use each feature you have in your hands using the Cooking It section of the How to Make this Recipe? section of the chapter.

Also, you can re-read the Why does this recipe work? chapter to help you troubleshoot issues you're likely to face in your own project. If the issue is tecnical, regarding the implementation details, you can re-read the Engineering-wise section. If you're having trouble achieving the intented design outcome, you can re-read the Design-wise section and optionally the When to use this recipe? chapter to check if you're applying it where it is intented.

It's a full playbook to save you thousands of dollars in courses, assets, plugins, and consultancies.

🍡Free sample

Want to try it out before making a commitment? Totally understandable, I know the promise sounds way above market standards, especially for the price.

First of all, try out he browser demo of the kind of game you'll be able to make after reading and applying each recipe. The demo showcases one self-contained implementation of the respective chapter. You can try every recipe individually, then test the Complete Level where we put everything together.

After understanding the power you'll have in your hands, it's time to check if my teaching approach matches your learning needs, right? Click on the "Download Demo" button or try out a free chapter using the link below:

Click to try the free chapter

💸 Payment issues

It's known that itch.io has been neglecting a major issue regarding payments with PayPal especially for our Brazilian customers. So, if you face any issues, please try out one of the methods below, upon finishing the payment they will redirect you to a page where you can claim ownership of the product here on itch.io.

You can also optionally use Stripes, which for Brazilians also allow payments with Pix.

🙋‍♂️Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Which Godot version does it use? Will it still help if I’m on another version?
  • The recipes are written for Godot 4.5, with the version used linked inside the Notion package under the Tools and Software page. If you are on 3.5, most ideas and patterns still apply, but you will need to adapt syntax and APIs. The focus is on reusable architecture and design decisions, not just copy‑pasting code.
• Is this only about a single character controller, or does it cover other systems too?
  • It goes well beyond a basic controller. The cookbook includes recipes for a moving character, wall jumping, moving platforms, parallax backgrounds, stompable and bumping enemies, interactive areas, portals, switches, checkpoints, a grappling hook, and a boss battle framework. Each chapter is self‑contained so you can pick only what your project needs.

• What format do I get? Can I read it outside Notion (ePub/PDF)?
  • The main version is a Notion workspace page, which you can duplicate into your own Notion to add comments, highlights, and navigate via the built‑in sidebar. If you prefer offline reading, you can export the page as a PDF from Notion and load it into your preferred reader. Some interactive or dynamic content will not carry over to the PDF, but the core text and code do.
• Is there a free sample or demo before I buy?
  • Yes. You can play a browser demo that showcases the kind of platformer you can build with the recipes and try a free chapter to see if the teaching style fits your learning needs. Both are linked in the “Free sample” section of the itch page.
• What if I run into problems implementing a recipe?
  • The structure of each chapter is designed to help you debug. You can revisit the “Engineering‑wise” section for implementation details and the “Design‑wise” and “When to use this recipe?” sections to check if you are using the system in the right context. You can also join the community linked inside the book and on the itch page for discussion and extra help.
• Does it teach general programming from scratch?
  • No. The Cookbook assumes you already know basic GDScript and general programming concepts. It focuses on how to architect reusable gameplay systems for platformers, not on teaching your very first lines of code. Complete beginners will benefit more by pairing it with an introductory Godot course.
• What do I actually get when I purchase?
  • You get access to Platformer Essentials 2.0, the full Notion‑based book, plus the downloadable Platformer Essentials Cookbook file listed on the itch page. Updates are delivered through the same Notion space, and public changes are announced via devlogs on itch.
• Is this only useful for platformers, or can I reuse ideas in other genres?
  • While all examples are framed as 2D platformer content, many systems are engine‑level patterns you can reuse in other genres: input remapping, interaction systems, hit/hurt areas, path‑following entities, resource‑based configuration, and state‑driven behaviors. Action, adventure, and metroidvania projects can all benefit from these patterns.
• Does the book get updated over time?
  • Yes. The project evolved into Platformer Essentials 2.0 hosted in Notion, with a News & Updates section inside the book and devlogs on itch announcing changes. When you see new devlogs about updated recipes or engine changes, the underlying Notion content has been refreshed as well.