Godot nodes

I will here, give an overview of the core nodes in Godot and how and when to use them.

1. Core Nodes
   • Node – This is used for non-visual data (game manager, inventory system, music manager, load/save system etc.)
   • Node2D – Used for a 2D object, that should be rendered on screen (position, rotation, scale etc.)
   • Node3D – Used when you need a 3D object rendered (position, rotation, scale etc.)
2. 2D Visual Nodes
   • Sprite2D – Use this for displaying a single static 2D texture (player graphics, pickup icon, enemy graphic etc.)
   • TileMap – Used when you do a tile based game i.e. a 2D platformer.
   • ParallaxBackground / ParallaxLayer – Used for multi layered scrolling background graphics.
   • CanvasGroup – Used for grouping (opacity, fading nodes together etc.)
3. 2D Physics Nodes
   • CollisionShape2D / CollisionPolygon2D – Use to define collision for any 2D physics body.
   • Area2D – Use for detecting overlap, entering/leaving zones (Pickup triggers, damage areas, detecting zones etc.)
   • StaticBody2D – Use for solid walls, ground, immovable objects.
   • RigidBody2D – Use with objects affected by real physics simulation (Falling crates, rolling rocks etc.)
   • CharacterBody2D – Use with player or AI characters with kinematic movement. Supports move_and_slide() style movement.
4. 3D Visual Nodes
   • MeshInstance3D – Use when: Displaying a 3D mesh/model.
   • MultiMeshInstance3D – Use when: Rendering many identical objects efficiently (e.g., trees, bullets).
   • Camera3D – Use when: You need a 3D camera.
   • AnimationPlayer / AnimationTree – Use when: Creating cutscenes, model animations, blend trees.
5. 3D PHYSICS NODES
   • CollisionShape3D / CollisionMesh – Defines collisions.
   • Area3D – Trigger zones, detection spheres.
   • StaticBody3D – Immovable walls, floors.
   • RigidBody3D – Real physics simulation objects.
   • CharacterBody3D – 3D counterpart to CharacterBody2D.
     Perfect for 3D player and enemies.
6. UI (Control) NODES – Everything UI-related inherits from Control.
   • Control (base class) – Use when: Making any UI element.
   • Button / TextureButton – Clickable UI elements.
   • Label – Text display.
   • LineEdit / TextEdit – Single-line or multi-line text input.
   • Panel / NinePatchRect – Box backgrounds and panels.
   • MarginContainer / HBoxContainer / VBoxContainer / GridContainer – Use when: You want responsive layout without manual positioning.
   • ScrollContainer – Scrollable content.
   • CanvasLayer – Use for HUDs and UI that must stay fixed to the screen.
   • Window – Popup windows, dialogs, draggable panels.
7. AUDIO NODES
   • AudioStreamPlayer – 2D or UI-sound playback.
   • AudioStreamPlayer2D – Positional audio in 2D.
   • AudioStreamPlayer3D – Positional audio in 3D.
8. UTILITY & LOGIC NODES
   • Timer – Use when you need repeated or delayed actions (cooldowns, spawn intervals, animation delays etc.)
   • AnimationPlayer – Animate properties, movement, UI, sprites.
   • Tween (SceneTreeTween) – Use for smooth property transitions (movement, fade, scale).
   • HTTPRequest – For online APIs, downloads, uploading.
   • NavigationRegion2D / NavigationAgent2D – 2D pathfinding.
   • NavigationRegion3D / NavigationAgent3D – 3D pathfinding.
   • Particles2D / GPUParticles2D – Fire, smoke, snow, sparks in 2D.
   • GPUParticles3D – Same in 3D.
   • RayCast2D / RayCast3D – Line-based detection: visibility, bullets, ground checking.
9. WORKFLOW NODES
   • SceneTree – Not a node you place, but: Use to change scenes, access globals, pause game, find nodes.
   • Marker2D / Marker3D – Invisible transform markers. Use for spawn points, path markers, waypoints.
   • Path2D / PathFollow2D – Moving enemies along curves (enemy paths etc.)
   • Path3D / PathFollow3D – Same in 3D.

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Which nodes you should ALWAYS know (the top 20)

If you know these, you can make almost any game:

2D Game Essentials

» Node2D – 2D objects.

» Sprite2D / AnimatedSprite2D – 2D textures.

» CharacterBody2D – move_and_slide() style movement.

» CollisionShape2D – Define collision.

» Area2D – Overlap detection.

» Timer – Intervals and delays.

» AnimationPlayer – Animation.

» RayCast2D – Line-based detection.

» TileMap – Tile based games.

» Camera2D – Camera.

UI Essentials

Logic Essentials

» Node – Non visible systems.

» Tween – Smooth transitions.

» AudioStreamPlayer – Sound.

» SceneTree – Change scenes etc.