Creating 2D games on Unity: a complete development guide

Our team, led by experienced expert Yevhen Kasyanenko, will provide you with practical instructions on how to create a 2D game in Unity from scratch. We will tell you where pitfalls may arise and when it is beneficial to call in professionals.

Why Unity is the best platform for creating 2D games

Unity is the engine that will allow you to start creating a 2D game without unnecessary complications. That’s why we at KISS Software most often choose it for 2D projects. Especially when it’s important to save time, resources, and nerves.

Let’s highlight a few clear advantages of creating a 2D game on Unity:

• You can start today. You download Unity Hub, open a template, and in a couple of hours you’ll have your first moving character on the screen. No need for licenses costing thousands of dollars or endless installation instructions.
• One project – immediately for Android, iOS, PC, and browser. Unity compiles the game for different platforms almost automatically. Just check the box and the project will work on the new device. This saves months of refinement.
• The asset store is like a backup artist and layout designer. Need an interface, sounds, particles, enemies? Instead of starting from scratch, you can take something ready-made and adapt it. We often use such packages at the prototyping stage — they speed up the launch by 3-4 times.
• There are thousands of developers, tutorials, and solutions around Unity. Stuck? Open YouTube, Reddit, or Discord — most likely, someone has already gone through the same problem. Community support is a huge advantage.

“Unity removes the barrier to entry – less time is spent on technical setup and more on the essence of the game itself,”says Yevhen Kasyanenko.

The main stages of developing a 2D game on Unity

In my personal experience, chaotic 2D game development  almost always leads to rework. Structure and a concrete plan save weeks of time. Our team adheres to a clear logic: first, we build the technical foundation, then we connect the art and mechanics, test, and only then do we think about publication.

Preparing the development environment

At this stage, we tidy up the working environment. Without the right configuration, nothing will work, and that’s no exaggeration. We install Unity Hub, which helps manage engine versions and projects. Along with it, we add Android Build Support so that we don’t have to search for SDK, NDK, and JDK from different links later. We choose a convenient editor: Visual Studio, Rider, or even VS Code with a C# debugger.

“If the scene opens, the Play button works, and the build runs without errors, you’ve passed the first milestone,”comments Yevhen.

Basic concepts for creating a 2D game in Unity

Now it’s time to take the first real step in developing 2D games in Unity. We create a project based on a 2D template—it is already tailored for the required camera, lighting, and working with sprites.

Let’s get acquainted with the three key Unity windows:

• Hierarchy—everything that is on the scene.
• Scene—a visual representation of the project.
• Inspector—settings for any game object.

We enable Tile Palette if we plan to draw levels. This tool saves hours, especially during the map building stage.

Graphics and animation

To bring the scene to life, we need GameObject and a little code. We add a hero and attach the PlayerController.cs script to it—this is where all the movement logic will be.

We use triggers for items: bonuses, coins, and rewards are processed through the OnTriggerEnter2D event. This allows us to create basic mechanics without complex scripts.

“Even if the prototype looks like a gray rectangle, the player can already run, jump, and collect things. This is the beginning of the game — not just a rough draft,” emphasizes our specialist.

Physics and object interaction

To ensure that the game is not just a picture, it is important to set the physics. We connect the Rigidbody 2D component—the object begins to fall and react to collisions. Colliders (Box, Circle, Polygon) set the exact shape, and physical materials add realism: ice slides, rubber bounces, etc.

Character control and game logic

Now we move on to the most interesting part—programming character control using C#. We start with the basics: left-right movement, jumping, and, of course, character animation so that the hero doesn’t just slide across the screen, but lives, breathes, waves his arms, and lands beautifully.

Once we’ve figured that out, we’ll add interactivity. The hero should not just run, but interact with the world: collect items, attack enemies, open chests, talk to NPCs. Every keystroke now brings your world to life—and it already feels like a real game.

And the final touch—the interface. You can’t do without it. We display points, add a timer, item icons, tooltips, a pause screen, and the main menu. These are all elements that connect the player to the game and make it complete.

This is how, step by step, your own game world is born. All with your own hands, in C#, in Unity. A game that you can actually play.

Optimization and testing of 2D games

When the visuals are ready and the logic is working, you really want to press “play” right away. But we at KISS Software advise you not to rush — debugging and optimization at this stage determine how long the player will stay in your game. Especially when it comes to 2D games on Android: here, literally everything affects smoothness — from textures to sound format.

So let’s hold off on diving into the gameplay for a bit and move on to optimizing the project.

Graphics optimization

To create a 2D game on Unity and make it a success, the images in it must be both clear and lightweight. The main thing is to assemble and configure them correctly:

• We combine images into a Sprite Atlas – this way the engine uses fewer resources when rendering.
• For the UI and small elements, we use PNG, and compress the level textures to ETC2 or ASTC format – with almost no loss in quality, but saving megabytes.
• In the Import Settings, we turn off everything unnecessary: MipMaps, high resolution, extra alpha channels—all of which affect speed, especially on weaker devices.

“We always strive for balance—so that the game runs fast but doesn’t look like it’s from 2010,” comments Yevhen Kasyanenko.

Reducing memory consumption

It’s hard to believe, but during testing, we repeatedly encountered projects that contained dozens of unused assets, and sounds stored in WAV format weighing under 5 MB.

What we do:

• We check and delete unused scenes, materials, and textures.
• We immediately recode audio to Vorbis, which saves memory and speeds up loading.
• We optimize animations through Animation Clips, getting rid of repeats and unnecessary keys.

This is especially important for creating 2D games on Android, where even a difference of 50 MB can influence the decision to delete or keep.

Profiling and debugging

When everything seems to be ready, we run tests. Here, we can’t do without tools:

• Unity Profiler shows where memory is leaking, where FPS is dropping, and what is slowing down the frame.
• With Frame Debugger, we can see how each element is rendered and disable unnecessary ones.
• We enable Deep Profiling on a specific scene if we suspect a complex script or heavy animation.

We always start with the weakest device. If it runs without lag, then the game will run on top-of-the-line models.

“Don’t skimp on testing. You can make the perfect level, but the player will never get to it because the game freezes on the splash screen. It’s better to spend a day debugging than to lose users and get one-star reviews,” says our expert.

How to publish a 2D game on Android, iOS, and PC

When the game is ready and everything is working like clockwork, it seems like you can breathe a sigh of relief. But don’t rush! After completing the development of a 2D game on Unity, an equally important stage begins—preparation for release. This is where the real adventure begins: from configuring Build Settings for each platform (Android, iOS, PC, etc.) to meeting all the requirements of stores such as Google Play or the App Store.

You need to thoroughly test the build to make sure that nothing crashes, everything loads quickly, the interface doesn’t fall apart, and the sound doesn’t disappear into space. At the same time, it’s worth thinking about marketing: make bright screenshots, record a trailer, come up with a name that people will want to Google, and, of course, prepare a description that will hook the player.

This is the final push in 2D game development, which determines whether the world will see your game or whether it will get lost among thousands of others. But with Unity and a little perseverance, anything is possible.

Configuring Build Settings for different platforms

Unity is great because it allows you to release the same game on different devices. But before that, you need to configure the build settings correctly — they are different for each platform:

1. Android. We select it in Build Settings, activate IL2CPP support, set the required API Level, and connect the release key. Without it, Google Play will not allow your game to be released.
2. iOS. This platform requires special attention: you need a unique Bundle Identifier, Metal API enabled, and Xcode project export. Through it, we already compile an IPA file for the App Store.
3. PC (Windows/macOS/Linux). If you plan to release on desktops, select the desired system, configure the resolution, scaling, and controller support. You can also integrate auto-update if you are distributing the game through Steam or itch.io.

Generating APK/IPA files and testing them

Everything works in the editor? Great. But only a real build will show how the game behaves in combat conditions. We run the project on at least three types of devices, from weak to flagship, to avoid surprises for users.

• Android. We create an APK and install it via ADB. We check the download, FPS, and response to clicks.
• iOS. We upload the build to App Store Connect and test it via TestFlight.
• PC. We check the stability of the game on Windows and macOS, including on systems with minimum configurations.

If the game supports progress synchronization, for example, via Firebase or PlayFab, we also test this mechanic. Progress should be correctly synchronized between platforms.

“We always advise that if a project is going to Android, start testing on it earlier. This platform is more stringent in terms of optimization,” emphasizes Yevhen Kasyanenko.

What to consider after creating a 2D game for Android with Unity before release: marketing, monetization, ASO

The game can be perfectly assembled, but without marketing and proper design, it will simply get lost. That’s why we always go through the checklist before release:

• ASO (App Store Optimization). Descriptions, titles, screenshots, and keywords—everything must be optimized for search. If a player enters “2D adventure,” your game should be among the first results.
• A bright icon, at least four screenshots, and a video preview. Users make decisions in 5 seconds.
• Privacy policy. Without it, Google and Apple will not approve the project. We prepare a template, adapt it to the mechanics of the game, and place it on a separate page.
• Monetization. The integration of advertising, subscriptions, or in-game purchases should not interfere with gameplay. We always strike a balance between revenue and player comfort.
• Age rating and content verification. No profanity, unmarked aggression, or prohibited tracks.

Why it is important to work with professionals

Creating a 2D game on Unity is, of course, about creativity, ideas, and inspiration. But if you look at it soberly, it’s also a huge amount of technical work, in which it’s easy to get bogged down without experience. Incorrectly configured physics, errors in the code, performance drops, endless debugging… All of this can not only slow down the process, but literally kill the project before release. Therefore, the decision to seek help from the professionals at KISS Software can be extremely rational and correct.

What problems do beginners encounter when creating 2D games on Unity from scratch

Developing from scratch is always a process of trial and error. This is where beginners most often get stuck:

• The game slows down or crashes. The reasons can vary—from excessive graphics to scripts that overload the system. We find bottlenecks, rework the architecture, and adapt the game for weaker devices.
• The build does not pass moderation. Either there is no policy, or permissions are not specified, or the file is too heavy. We know exactly what the platforms require and get the release to publication without any rejections.
• Monetization isn’t working. Ads have been built into the game, but players are unhappy, or IAPs are there but aren’t paying off. We set up monetization without overloading – taking into account the genre, sessions, and audience behavior.

“Why didn’t the game take off?” our clients ask. After analysis, we see: bugs, lack of optimization, unsuccessful monetization. All of this can be solved with a plan and experience,” comments Yevhen Kasyanenko.

How the KISS team can help with 2D game development

We don’t just fix bugs. We enhance the product. Depending on the stage, we connect to:

• Technical audit. We check the architecture, identify bottlenecks, and propose solutions – right down to rewriting scripts for weak hardware.
• Gameplay development. Sometimes the mechanics look beautiful, but the player loses interest after 2 minutes. We help track, test, and improve this.
• Publication optimization. We prepare the build, ASO, privacy policy, and design the page on Google Play or the App Store. You simply receive a ready-made release page.

If you don’t want to spend weeks fixing bugs or are afraid of getting stuck at the release stage, just write to us. We can join the project at any stage: from creating the idea and prototype to the almost finished release.

Conclusion

Creating a 2D game on Unity means going through the entire cycle: from the idea and first sprites to testing, optimization, and mass release. Thanks to this article, you already know where to start, what mistakes to avoid, and how to prepare your project for publication. The main thing left is to put it all into practice. If you want to speed up the process, the KISS Software team, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, is always there to help at any stage. Submit a request for a free consultation right now, and we will discuss your project!