Build Your First Flutter Endless Runner Game: A Beginner’s Guide

New to coding? Let’s create a fun Flutter endless runner game called Star Runner! This beginner-friendly tutorial is perfect for anyone with zero coding experience. You’ll build a mobile game with tap controls, star collection, and a cosmic vibe. Follow along to make something awesome!

🚀 Before You Start: What You Need

No coding experience? No problem! You just need a computer and two free tools:

• ✔ Flutter: A tool to make apps for phones and computers. Download it here.
• ✔ Android Studio: A program to write and test your game. Get it here.

Beginner Tip: Follow the Flutter setup guide on their website. It’s like a recipe to install everything step-by-step.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Build Your Game

1. Set Up Your Flutter Project

Open Android Studio and start a new Flutter project—it’s like creating a blank notebook for your game. Select ‘All Devices’ so your game works on phones, tablets, and more. Choose Kotlin for Android and name your project “star_runner”.

Beginner Tip: Use Flutter 3.x for the best results. Android Studio will show you a wizard—just click “Next” until your project is ready!

Run this command in Android Studio’s terminal (look for a text box at the bottom):

    flutter create star_runner
  

2. Add Dependencies

Your game needs extra tools (called dependencies) to make animations and physics work. First, download the ZIP file below—it contains the pubspec.yaml file and game code you’ll need. Open the ZIP, find the pubspec.yaml file, and copy its contents into your project’s pubspec.yaml (in the main folder). Then, run this command in the terminal:

    flutter pub get
  

These dependencies make your Flutter endless runner game smooth (like the splash screen fade-in) and fun (like obstacles moving realistically).

Beginner Tip: If you see errors, double-check that pubspec.yaml matches the ZIP file exactly. A tiny mistake can cause issues!

3. Add the Game Code

Using the ZIP you downloaded in Step 2, find the lib/ folder and copy its Dart files into your project’s lib/ folder. Key files to know:

• ✔ main.dart: Sets up the game’s look with a dark theme and a cool gradient background.
• ✔ game_screen.dart: Handles gameplay—jumping, gliding, dodging, and collecting stars.

Make sure your pubspec.yaml is correct, or the game might not run.

Beginner Tip: Think of Dart files as instructions for your game. You don’t need to understand them yet—just copy them from the ZIP!

4. Run & Test Your Game

In Android Studio, choose a device to test your game. You can use an emulator (a virtual phone on your computer) or plug in a real phone. Click the green “Run” button. When the game starts, try these:

• ✔ Tap the screen to jump.
• ✔ Hold the screen to jump higher.
• ✔ Double-tap in the air to glide.
• ✔ Collect stars and avoid obstacles like spikes, blocks, and meteors.

Beginner Tip: Use a real phone for testing if possible—it makes playing feel more exciting!

✨ Why Star Runner is Awesome

Your Flutter endless runner game will impress everyone with these features:

• ★ Smooth scrolling background: A starry space world that moves as you run.
• ★ Dynamic difficulty: The game gets faster as you score more.
• ★ Star collection with sparkles: Grab stars and see cool visual effects.
• ★ Easy tap-and-hold controls: Simple for anyone to play.
• ★ Invincibility power-up: Collect five stars to become unstoppable!
• ★ Near-miss effects: The screen flashes when you narrowly dodge obstacles.
• ★ Stylish gradient UI: A purple-blue look that feels professional.