Honest reviews, real pros & cons, and a clear learning path — no fluff, just what you need to know before buying
Why Most Beginners Quit Game Dev in Week One
You want to make games. You’ve watched a couple of YouTube videos. You download Godot, open it up — and immediately feel lost. Nodes, scenes, GDScript, signals… what does any of it mean? You search “best Godot 4 course” and get a wall of options with no real guidance on which one actually fits where you are right now.
This is the exact problem this blog solves. Below, we cover every beginner-level Godot 4 course on GameDev.tv, what problems each one is designed to fix, what you’ll genuinely learn, honest pros and cons, and who each course is actually for.
Table of Contents
Course #1 — Free Starter Course
Get Started with Godot – FREE Course
This is GameDev.tv’s completely free taster course. It’s the smartest first step for anyone who wants to try Godot 4 without spending a penny. Think of it as a test drive — you get a genuine feel for the engine, the teaching style, and whether game development is something you actually enjoy before committing to anything paid.
🔍 Problem This Solves
“I don’t know if I’ll enjoy Godot or game development. I don’t want to spend $20 and find out I hate it after two hours.” — This course is made exactly for that fear.
What You’ll Learn
- Installing Godot 4 correctly
- Navigating the Godot editor UI
- Understanding nodes and scenes
- Basic GDScript syntax
- Creating your first game scene
- Running and testing your project
👍 Pros
- Completely free — no risk
- Perfect starting point, zero assumptions
- Teaches real engine setup, not just theory
- Builds confidence before spending money
- You get access to GameDev.tv community
👎 Cons
- Only 3–5 hours — you won’t finish a full game
- Doesn’t go deep into GDScript
- No full project to put in a portfolio
- Acts as a gateway to paid courses
💡Our Take: Do this course before anything else. It’s free, it’s fast, and it genuinely answers the question “Is Godot right for me?” in 3 hours. If you enjoy it — which you probably will — move straight to the Complete 2D or 3D course.
Course #2 — The Flagship 2D Course
Complete Godot 4 2D: Code Your Own 2D Games In Godot 4!
💰 $19.99 🟢 Absolute Beginne ⏱ 30–40 Hours
This is the course that GameDev.tv built their reputation on. You go from complete beginner to someone who has shipped three real 2D games — a top-down shooter, a side-scrolling platformer, and a physics-based game. Every concept is taught by building something, not by reading documentation.
It’s so comprehensive it actually appears twice in GameDev.tv’s catalogue under slightly different names. Don’t let that confuse you — the curriculum is essentially the same. Check both listings for any active bundle deals when you’re buying.
🔍 Problem This Solves
“I’ve watched tutorials but I can’t build anything on my own. I don’t understand GDScript. I don’t know how physics, collisions, or game UI work in Godot.” — This course systematically fixes every one of those gaps.
What You’ll Learn
- Godot 4 editor, nodes & scene system
- GDScript from scratch (vars, loops, functions)
- 2D physics and collision detection
- Player movement & controls
- Building a complete top-down shooter
- Building a full side-scrolling platformer
- Tilemaps and level design basics
- Sound effects and background music
- Game UI (health bars, menus, score)
- Exporting your finished game
👍 Pros
- 3 complete games — real portfolio pieces
- Covers GDScript deeply, not just surface-level
- Project-first teaching: you always know WHY
- Teaching assistant support included
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Lifetime access — revisit anytime
- Excellent value at $19.99 (sale: ~$15)
👎 Cons
- 30–40 hrs is a big time commitment
- 2D only — no 3D content here
- Requires discipline to finish solo
- Some sections can feel repetitive
💡Our Take:
This is the best starting point for anyone who wants to make 2D games. The sheer breadth of what you cover in 30–40 hours is outstanding for the price. After this course, you will have three portfolio games and the knowledge to start building your own projects independently.
Course #3 — The Complete 3D Course
Complete Godot 4 3D: Code Your Own 3D Games In Godot 4!
💰 $19.99 🟢 Beginner-Friendly ⏱ 30–40 Hours
The 3D equivalent of the flagship course above. If your dream has always been to make a 3D game — a platformer, a shooter, a physics sandbox — this is where you start. It uses GDScript just like the 2D course, but teaches you the fundamentals of 3D spaces, 3D physics, lighting, cameras, and more.
Note: This is rated slightly less beginner-friendly than the 2D course. simply because 3D introduces more complexity. But it’s still genuinely achievable for anyone starting from zero. so As a beginner you should focus on making 2D games first.
🔍 Problem This Solves
“I want to make 3D games but have no idea where to start. 3D feels overwhelming — cameras, lighting, 3D physics. How do any of these things work in Godot?” — This course walks you through all of it with real projects.
What You’ll Learn
- Godot 4 3D editor & scene setup
- 3D physics: CharacterBody3D, RigidBody3D
- 3D camera systems (follow cam, orbit cam)
- Lighting, environment, and sky setup
- Building a rocket / physics game (Project Boost)
- Tower defence mechanics
- Third-person character controller
- Exporting and sharing 3D games
👍 Pros
- 3 varied 3D game projects
- Covers lighting & environment — often skipped elsewhere
- Builds the same depth as the 2D course
- Great for people coming from Unity 3D
- Lifetime access + 30-day guarantee
- Same affordable price as 2D course
👎 Cons
- Slightly harder than the 2D equivalent
- 3D is more complex to debug for beginners
- No Blender modelling — relies on pre-made assets
- Fewer community resources than the 2D course
💡Our Take:
If 3D is your goal, don’t waste time doing the 2D course first. Jump straight here. It’s well-paced, uses real projects, and by the end you’ll have a third-person shooter and a tower defence game to show for it. That said, if you’re completely unsure what direction to go — start with 2D. It teaches the fundamentals faster.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Not sure which beginner course to pick? Here’s the clearest summary:
| Factor | Free Starter | complete 2D | Complete 3D |
| Price | FREE | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| Duration | 3 – 5 hrs | 30-40 hrs | 30-40 hrs |
| Game Build | 1 scene | 3 full games | 3 full games |
| Test for | Testing the Waters | 2D game goals | 3D games goals |
| Difficulty | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The Perfect Beginner Learning Path
Follow this order and you’ll go from “I’ve never opened Godot” to “I have three finished games” in a matter of weeks — not years.
🗺️ Your Beginner Roadmap
- Free Starter Course (3–5 hrs)Install Godot, build your first scene, confirm you enjoy it. Zero cost.
- Complete Godot 4 2D OR 3D Course (~30–40 hrs) Pick based on your game goal. Build 3 real games, learn GDScript properly.
- Build a personal mini-project (1–2 weeks) Apply what you’ve learned to your own idea — even if it’s small and rough.
- Move to Intermediate courses Action-Adventure, Mobile, or C# RPG — based on where you want to go next.
Common Questions Answered
Do I need any programming experience?
No. GDScript is one of the most beginner-friendly scripting languages available. The Complete 2D course teaches it from absolute zero — variables, loops, functions — with no prior coding assumed. Plenty of people with no background in programming have completed it successfully.
Should I do 2D or 3D first?
If you genuinely want to make 3D games, go straight to the 3D course. If you’re unsure, start with 2D — it teaches the same engine fundamentals faster, and you can jump to 3D after. The skills transfer. Don’t feel obligated to do both before moving forward.
Is $19.99 worth it for a beginner?
Absolutely. For context: that’s less than a single lunch. You get 30–40 hours of structured content, lifetime access, three complete game projects, teaching assistant support, and community access. GameDev.tv also runs sales frequently — you can often get it for $15. And there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if it’s not for you.
What if I get stuck mid-course?
Every course includes access to GameDev.tv’s community Q&A forums and teaching assistant support. You’re not going to be left hanging with a bug at 11pm. The community is one of the most active in the game dev learning space.