Start with Roblox Studio, the free tool built into the platform
To create something on Roblox, you download and open Roblox Studio, which is free software that runs on Windows and Mac. Studio is where you build the actual game — it's the editor where you place objects, write code, and test everything before publishing. You do not need to own Robux (Roblox's paid currency) to build or publish a game; you only need a free Roblox account.
When you first open Studio, you choose a template — Baseplate (a flat starting world), Obby (an obstacle course), or Blank (nothing at all). Most new creators start with Baseplate because it gives you a simple environment to learn in. You can delete everything later and build from scratch if you want.
The Studio interface has three main sections: the 3D viewport in the center where you see your game world, the Explorer panel on the left showing all the objects in your game, and the Properties panel on the right where you change how those objects behave. Learning to move between these three panels is the first real skill you need.
Key Takeaways
- Roblox Studio is free, built into your Roblox account, and available on Windows and Mac — download it from the official Roblox website.
- You build games by placing parts (cubes, spheres, wedges) in the 3D world, grouping them into models, and connecting them with scripts written in Lua.
- Testing happens inside Studio with the Play button; you can test solo or with multiple players before publishing to the public.
- Publishing is free and happens through the File menu, but your game will not appear in search results until other players visit it and spend time there.
- Most new creators spend weeks on their first game and learn by following tutorials specific to what they want to build, not by reading general guides.
Place parts in the 3D world to build the physical structure
In Studio, you build by inserting parts — basic shapes like blocks, spheres, cylinders, and wedges. You find the Insert menu at the top, click Part, and choose the shape you want. A new part appears in the center of your viewport. You can move it by clicking and dragging, rotate it with the rotation tool, or resize it by dragging its edges.
Most games are built from many small parts grouped together. If you want to build a house, you might create a cube for the main structure, smaller cubes for walls, a wedge for the roof, and more cubes for windows and doors. Each part has properties you can change — its color, material (plastic, wood, metal), whether it's solid or transparent, and whether gravity affects it.
As you add more parts, you organize them in the Explorer panel by grouping related parts into models. A model is just a folder that holds multiple parts together. This keeps your game organized and makes it easier to move or delete whole sections at once. If you build a chair out of five parts, you group those five parts into a model called "Chair" so you can treat them as one object.
Write scripts in Lua to make things happen when players interact
Parts alone create a static world. To make things happen — doors that open, coins that disappear when touched, platforms that move — you write scripts in a language called Lua. A script is a small program attached to a part that tells Roblox what to do when certain events occur.
To add a script, right-click a part in the Explorer panel, choose Insert Object, and select Script. A code editor opens. The simplest script might be: when a player touches this part, remove it from the game. A more complex script might track how many coins a player has collected and display that number on the screen.
Most new creators do not write scripts from memory. Instead, they search for tutorials on YouTube or the Roblox Developer Forum that show how to write the specific thing they want — "how to make a door open in Roblox" or "how to give a player points when they touch something." Lua has a learning curve, but the Roblox community publishes thousands of example scripts you can study and adapt.
Test your game inside Studio before publishing
Studio has a Play button at the top of the screen. Click it and your game starts running — you can walk around, interact with objects, and see if your scripts work the way you intended. You spawn as a player character and can test everything from the player's perspective. If something breaks, click Stop and go back to editing.
You can also test with multiple players at once by clicking the three-player icon next to Play. This starts several player characters in your game simultaneously, which is useful if you're building something that requires teamwork or competition. Testing multiplayer this way helps you catch problems that only show up when multiple people are in the game together.
Most creators spend more time testing than building. You build a small feature, test it, find what's broken, fix it, and test again. This cycle repeats dozens of times before a game is ready to show other people.
Publish your game through the File menu
When you're ready to let other players see your game, go to File > Publish to Roblox. A dialog box asks you to name your game and write a description. You choose whether the game is public (anyone can find it) or private (only people you invite can play). Publishing is free.
Your game gets a unique URL that you can share with friends. However, your game will not automatically appear in Roblox search results or on the front page. Games move up in visibility when other players spend time playing them and when the Roblox algorithm notices activity. A brand-new game with no players will stay invisible until you share the link directly with people.
After publishing, you can keep editing. Any changes you make in Studio and save will update the live game the next time players join. You do not need to republish each time you make a small fix.
Learn by building something specific, not by reading general tutorials
The fastest way to learn Roblox is to decide what you want to build — a simple obstacle course, a tycoon game where players earn money, a racing game, a roleplay world — and then search for tutorials on that specific thing. YouTube channels like Alvinblox, PeasFactory, and DevKing publish step-by-step videos showing how to build common game types from start to finish.
Following a tutorial while building alongside it teaches you more than reading about Roblox in general. You learn where buttons are, how scripts connect to parts, what mistakes look like, and how to fix them. After you finish one tutorial game, you'll have enough foundation to start experimenting and building your own ideas.
The Roblox Developer Forum and the official Roblox documentation are useful when you get stuck on a specific problem, but they're reference materials, not learning materials. Use them to look up how a particular function works, not to learn Lua from the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay money to create and publish a game on Roblox?
No. Roblox Studio is free, and publishing a game is free. You only spend money if you want to buy Robux to customize your avatar or add cosmetic items to your game. Building and publishing cost nothing.
Can I make money from a game I create on Roblox?
Yes, but only after your game has been played enough. Once your game reaches a certain threshold of activity, you can enable monetization and earn a share of the Robux that players spend in your game. Most new games never reach that threshold. Money is not a realistic goal for your first game.
What if I want to work with other people on a game?
Roblox Studio supports collaboration through Team Create, a feature that lets multiple people edit the same game at the same time. You invite collaborators through the File menu, and they can build alongside you in real time. This is useful for larger projects but adds complexity when you're learning.
How long does it take to build a simple game?
A very basic game — a single room with a few interactive objects — can take a few days if you follow a tutorial closely. A game with multiple levels, custom mechanics, and polished gameplay typically takes weeks or months, depending on your experience and how much time you spend on it each day.
What if my game doesn't work and I don't know how to fix it?
Post your problem in the Roblox Developer Forum with a description of what's broken and what you've already tried. The community is active and usually responds within hours. Include a screenshot or a description of the error message if Studio shows one.