Building a Simple Game

Learn how to create a 3D platformer game with character controls and physics.

In this tutorial, we'll build the following simple 3D platformer game using @react-three/viverse with:

Character movement (WASD + mouse look)
Jumping mechanics
Physics-based collision detection
A simple level with platforms to jump on
Respawn system when falling off the map

Here's a preview of what we will build in this tutorial:

import { Suspense } from "react"
import { Canvas } from '@react-three/fiber'
import { Viverse } from '@react-three/viverse'
import { Scene } from "./Scene"

export default function App() {
return (
  <Canvas
    style={{ position: "absolute", inset: "0", touchAction: "none" }}
    camera={{ fov: 90, position: [0, 2, 2] }}
    shadows
  >
    <Suspense fallback={null}>
      <Viverse>
        <Scene />
      </Viverse>
    </Suspense>
  </Canvas>
)
}

Open Sandbox

Step 0: Prerequisites

Make sure you have the required dependencies installed:

npm install three @react-three/fiber @react-three/viverse @react-three/drei

Step 1: Setting Up the Canvas

First, let's create the basic Canvas setup with shadows and proper camera settings:

import { Canvas } from '@react-three/fiber'
import { Viverse } from '@react-three/viverse'
import { Suspense } from 'react'

export function App() {
  return (
    <Canvas
      style={{ position: "absolute", inset: "0", touchAction: "none" }}
      camera={{ fov: 90, position: [0, 2, 2] }}
      shadows
    >
      <Suspense fallback={null}>
        <Viverse>
          <Scene />
        </Viverse>
      </Suspense>
    </Canvas>
  )
}

Step 2: Adding the Scene and creating the Sky

Let's create another component called Scene and add the sky and basic lighting. Add the Sky import from @react-three/drei:

import { Sky } from '@react-three/drei'

export function Scene() {
  return (
    <>
      {/* Environment */}
      <Sky />
      
      {/* Basic lighting */}
      <directionalLight
        intensity={1.2}
        position={[5, 10, 10]}
        castShadow
      />
      <ambientLight intensity={1} />
    </>
  )
}

At this point, you should see a beautiful sky gradient in your scene!

Step 3: Building the Level

Now add the level geometry. Import FixedBvhPhysicsBody and PrototypeBox from @react-three/viverse, and expand the directional light with shadow properties:

import { Sky } from '@react-three/drei'
import { FixedBvhPhysicsBody, PrototypeBox } from '@react-three/viverse'

export function Scene() {
  return (
    <>
      {/* Environment */}
      <Sky />
      
      {/* Lighting - expanded with shadow settings */}
      <directionalLight
        intensity={1.2}
        position={[5, 10, 10]}
        castShadow
      />
      <ambientLight intensity={1} />
      
      <FixedBvhPhysicsBody>
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#ffffff" 
          scale={[10, 0.5, 10]} 
          position={[0, -2, 0]} 
        />
        
        {/* Platforms */}
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#cccccc" 
          scale={[2, 1, 3]} 
          position={[4, 0, 0]} 
        />
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#ffccff" 
          scale={[3, 1, 3]} 
          position={[3, 1.5, -1]} 
        />
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#ccffff" 
          scale={[2, 0.5, 3]} 
          position={[2, 2.5, -3]} 
        />
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#ffccff" 
          scale={[2, 1, 3]} 
          position={[-3, 0, -2]} 
        />
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#ccffff" 
          scale={[1, 1, 4]} 
          position={[0, -1, 0]} 
        />
        <PrototypeBox 
          color="#ffffcc" 
          scale={[4, 1, 1]} 
          position={[0, 3.5, 0]} 
        />
      </FixedBvhPhysicsBody>
    </>
  )
}

Now you should see a colorful platformer level with various platforms at different heights!

Step 4: Adding the Character

Next we will add the character. Import SimpleCharacter from @react-three/viverse:

import { Sky } from '@react-three/drei'
import { SimpleCharacter, FixedBvhPhysicsBody, PrototypeBox } from '@react-three/viverse'
import { useRef } from 'react'

export function Scene() {

  return (
    <>
      {/* Environment */}
      <Sky />
      
      {/* Lighting */}
      <directionalLight
        intensity={1.2}
        position={[5, 10, 10]}
        castShadow
      />
      <ambientLight intensity={1} />
      
      <SimpleCharacter/>
      
      {/* Level Geometry */}
      <FixedBvhPhysicsBody>
        {/* ... platforms remain the same ... */}
      </FixedBvhPhysicsBody>
    </>
  )
}

Great! Now you can move around with WASD keys, look around with the mouse, and jump with the spacebar. Try jumping between the platforms!

Step 5: Adding Respawn Logic

Finally, we will add the respawn system. Import useRef from react and useFrame from @react-three/fiber and add the respawn logic:

import { Sky } from '@react-three/drei'
import { SimpleCharacter, FixedBvhPhysicsBody, PrototypeBox } from '@react-three/viverse'
import { useRef } from 'react'
import { Group } from 'three'
import { useFrame } from '@react-three/fiber' // NEW

export function Scene() {
  const characterRef = useRef<Group>(null)
  
  // Respawn logic - NEW
  useFrame(() => {
    if (characterRef.current == null) {
      return
    }
    if (characterRef.current.position.y < -10) {
      characterRef.current.position.set(0, 0, 0)
    }
  })

  return (
    <>
      <SimpleCharacter ref={characterRef}/>

      {/* ... rest remains the same ... */}
    </>
  )
}

Perfect! Now if you fall off the map (below y = -10), you'll automatically respawn at the starting position (0, 0, 0).

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