GDScript Cheat Sheet. Use syntax reference as a practice companion, not a replacement for tiny scripts.
Quick reference for common Godot operations
# Using $ shorthand (recommended)
var player = $Player
# Using get_node()
var player = get_node("Player")
# Get parent
var parent = get_parent()
# Get root of current scene
var root = get_tree().current_scene# Get all nodes in group "enemies"
var enemies = get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("enemies")
# Add node to group
add_to_group("enemies")
# Check if in group
if is_in_group("enemies"):
print("I'm an enemy!")# Preload at top of script (recommended)
var BulletScene = preload("res://bullet.tscn")
# Or load at runtime
var BulletScene = load("res://bullet.tscn")
# Create instance
var bullet = BulletScene.instantiate()
# Add to scene tree
get_parent().add_child(bullet)
# Set position
bullet.global_position = global_position# Queue for deletion (safe, end of frame)
queue_free()
# Remove another node
enemy.queue_free()
# Remove after delay
await get_tree().create_timer(2.0).timeout
queue_free()func _process(delta):
# Check action (defined in Project > Input Map)
if Input.is_action_pressed("move_right"):
position.x += speed * delta
# Check just pressed (single frame)
if Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump"):
velocity.y = jump_forcefunc _physics_process(delta):
var direction = Input.get_vector(
"move_left", "move_right",
"move_up", "move_down"
)
velocity = direction * speed
move_and_slide()# Change scene by path
get_tree().change_scene_to_file("res://levels/level2.tscn")
# Reload current scene
get_tree().reload_current_scene()
# Quit game
get_tree().quit()# Pause
get_tree().paused = true
# Unpause
get_tree().paused = false
# Make a node ignore pause (e.g., pause menu)
# Set in Inspector: Process Mode = Always# Define signal at top of script
signal health_changed(new_health)
signal died
# Emit signal
func take_damage(amount):
health -= amount
health_changed.emit(health)
if health <= 0:
died.emit()# Connect in code
player.health_changed.connect(_on_health_changed)
player.died.connect(_on_player_died)
# Handler functions
func _on_health_changed(new_health):
health_bar.value = new_health
func _on_player_died():
show_game_over()# 4.6+ adds new GDScript warnings:
# 1. Never-emitted signals
signal unused_signal # Warning: signal is never emitted
# 2. Bad export defaults
@export var speed: float = "not_a_float" # Warning
# 3. Unresolvable node paths
@onready var missing = $NonExistentNode # Warning
# Fix: emit your signals or remove unused ones
signal health_changed(new_health)
func take_damage(amount):
health -= amount
health_changed.emit(health) # Good: signal is emitted# Using await (recommended for simple delays)
await get_tree().create_timer(2.0).timeout
print("2 seconds passed!")
# In a function
func spawn_enemy():
await get_tree().create_timer(1.0).timeout
var enemy = EnemyScene.instantiate()
add_child(enemy)# In _ready(), start the timer
$Timer.start()
# Connect timeout signal in code
$Timer.timeout.connect(_on_timer_timeout)
# Or connect in Editor, then:
func _on_timer_timeout():
spawn_wave()
# One-shot timer (doesn't repeat)
$Timer.one_shot = true# Create a tween
var tween = create_tween()
# Animate position over 1 second
tween.tween_property($Sprite, "position", Vector2(200, 100), 1.0)
# Chain multiple animations
tween.tween_property($Sprite, "modulate:a", 0.0, 0.5)
tween.tween_callback(queue_free) # Delete after fadevar tween = create_tween()
# Set easing for smooth motion
tween.set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
tween.set_trans(Tween.TRANS_ELASTIC)
# Animate with easing
tween.tween_property($Sprite, "scale", Vector2(2, 2), 0.5)
# Parallel animations (run at same time)
tween.set_parallel(true)
tween.tween_property($Sprite, "position:x", 200, 0.5)
tween.tween_property($Sprite, "rotation", PI, 0.5)# Add to group in code
add_to_group("enemies")
add_to_group("damageable")
# Check if in group
if is_in_group("enemies"):
print("I'm an enemy!")
# Remove from group
remove_from_group("enemies")# Get all nodes in group
var enemies = get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("enemies")
for enemy in enemies:
enemy.take_damage(10)
# Call method on all (shorthand)
get_tree().call_group("enemies", "take_damage", 10)
# Notify group (deferred, safer)
get_tree().notify_group("enemies", NOTIFICATION_PAUSED)# Save dictionary to JSON
var save_data = {
"player_name": "Hero",
"score": 1000,
"level": 5
}
var file = FileAccess.open("user://save.json", FileAccess.WRITE)
file.store_string(JSON.stringify(save_data))
file.close()# Load JSON save file
if FileAccess.file_exists("user://save.json"):
var file = FileAccess.open("user://save.json", FileAccess.READ)
var json = JSON.new()
json.parse(file.get_as_text())
var save_data = json.data
player_name = save_data.player_name
score = save_data.score# Lambdas now properly capture outer variables (4.6+)
var multiplier = 3
var scale_func = func(value): return value * multiplier
print(scale_func.call(10)) # 30
# Works in signal connections
var damage = 50
$Area2D.body_entered.connect(
func(body):
if body.has_method("take_damage"):
body.take_damage(damage)
)
# Array operations with lambdas
var enemies = get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("enemies")
var alive = enemies.filter(func(e): return e.health > 0)
var names = enemies.map(func(e): return e.name)# NEW in 4.6: Drag a node from the Scene Tree
# directly into the script editor to auto-create:
@export var player: CharacterBody2D
@export var health_bar: ProgressBar
@export var spawn_point: Marker2D
# Also works with resources from FileSystem:
@export var enemy_scene: PackedScene
@export var hit_sound: AudioStreamBefore jumping to the next page, turn the idea into one tiny scene or script. That is where the Godot habit sticks.
Look up the GDScript shape of familiar C# ideas.
Find the compact code version of common Blueprint flow.
Copy syntax, then rename it into your own gameplay context.
Take one snippet and add an exported tuning value plus a signal.