Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this tutorial, I go through step by step how to make a simple space-invaders inspired game for the Playdate SDK using Lua. If you're a beginner, you should be able to follow along, given you've watched some of my other videos. I go over moving the player, shooting projectiles, collisions, spawning enemies on a timer, displaying a score, resetting the game, and adding screen shake.
Check out my book "The Beginner's Guide to Lua for Game Development" to learn how to program in Lua!
squidgod.itch.io/lua-for-game-development
Source Code: github.com/SquidGodDev/InvadersTutorial
Playlist to watch beforehand if you're a beginner: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlMPQvEA0GZPOuKJyhSr3Ra0vrpCiBTnb
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:30 - Setup
1:47 - Creating the Player
5:10 - Creating a Projectile
7:24 - Creating an Enemy
10:38 - Creating an Enemy Spawning System
12:36 - Creating a Score Display
14:13 - Resetting the Game
15:01 - Adding Screen Shake
Support me on Patreon to help me make more of these videos and get access to my Playdate games/source code!: patreon.com/squidgoddev
Join my Discord (I'm very active!): discord.gg/kDM8RU4aFt
Follow me on Twitter (See what I'm working on early): twitter.com/SquidGodDev
I get my music and sfx from Epidemic Sound. Get 1 month free with my link! share.epidemicsound.com/njknzw
#Playdate #PlaydateSDK #lua
In this tutorial, I go through step by step how to make a simple space-invaders inspired game for the Playdate SDK using Lua. If you're a beginner, you should be able to follow along, given you've watched some of my other videos. I go over moving the player, shooting projectiles, collisions, spawning enemies on a timer, displaying a score, resetting the game, and adding screen shake.
Check out my book "The Beginner's Guide to Lua for Game Development" to learn how to program in Lua!
squidgod.itch.io/lua-for-game-development
Source Code: github.com/SquidGodDev/InvadersTutorial
Playlist to watch beforehand if you're a beginner: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlMPQvEA0GZPOuKJyhSr3Ra0vrpCiBTnb
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:30 - Setup
1:47 - Creating the Player
5:10 - Creating a Projectile
7:24 - Creating an Enemy
10:38 - Creating an Enemy Spawning System
12:36 - Creating a Score Display
14:13 - Resetting the Game
15:01 - Adding Screen Shake
Support me on Patreon to help me make more of these videos and get access to my Playdate games/source code!: patreon.com/squidgoddev
Join my Discord (I'm very active!): discord.gg/kDM8RU4aFt
Follow me on Twitter (See what I'm working on early): twitter.com/SquidGodDev
I get my music and sfx from Epidemic Sound. Get 1 month free with my link! share.epidemicsound.com/njknzw
#Playdate #PlaydateSDK #lua
