I've decided to start learning Unity but I have zero programming background. I've seen tons of unity beginner tutorials online but I'm not sure which ones are actually good for complete beginners. Some tutorials seem to move too fast or skip important game development basics.
I'm looking for tutorials that really break things down step by step. I want to understand not just how to copy code but why things work the way they do. Has anyone gone through this journey recently? What resources helped you the most when you were starting with Unity? I'm particularly interested in 2d game development tutorials since that seems like a good starting point.
I was exactly where you are three months ago! Zero programming experience, wanting to learn Unity. What worked for me was starting with two specific resources that complement each other perfectly.
First, Unity's own Junior Programmer" pathway on their Learn platform. It's designed for complete beginners and introduces concepts slowly. The exercises are small and manageable, which helps build confidence.
Second, Codecademy's free "Learn C#" course. It's not game-specific, but it teaches the programming fundamentals you need. Spending just 30 minutes a day on this for a couple weeks gave me enough foundation to understand what the Unity tutorials were actually teaching.
The combination of learning programming basics separately from game development basics was key for me. Once I had those fundamentals, the unity beginner tutorials started making sense instead of feeling like magic.
I've taught several friends how to start with Unity, and here's the approach that has worked best:
Start with visual scripting instead of traditional coding. Unity's Bolt system (now called Visual Scripting) lets you create game logic by connecting nodes instead of writing code. This helps you understand game development basics like variables, conditions, and events without getting bogged down in syntax errors.
Once you're comfortable with the concepts through visual scripting, transitioning to C# is much easier because you already understand what the code needs to accomplish.
For specific 2d game development tutorials, I highly recommend Blackthornprod's YouTube channel. His tutorials are incredibly beginner-friendly and he explains not just the how" but the "why" behind everything. He has a complete series on making your first 2D game that's perfect for absolute beginners.
Remember, the goal of your first few unity beginner tutorials shouldn't be to make an amazing game, but to understand the workflow and build confidence.
As a fellow student, I found the most helpful approach was to join a study group. There are Discord servers dedicated to people learning Unity from scratch, and having that community support made a huge difference.
For actual tutorials, I'd recommend avoiding the super popular ones that everyone suggests at first. They often move too fast for complete beginners. Instead, look for tutorials specifically labeled for absolute beginners" or "no programming experience required."
One resource that doesn't get mentioned enough is the Unity Learn platform's "Creative Core" pathway. It's designed for artists and designers who want to learn Unity without becoming programmers. The pace is much more gradual, and it focuses on understanding the editor and basic concepts before diving into code.
Also, don't be afraid to watch the same tutorial multiple times. I often watch once to get the overview, then a second time while following along, and sometimes a third time to really understand the concepts.
I know this is a Unity thread, but I want to offer a different perspective since I started with Unity and later switched to Godot. If you have zero programming experience, you might want to consider starting with an engine that uses a simpler scripting language.
Unity uses C#, which is a great language but can be intimidating for complete beginners. Godot uses GDScript, which is Python-like and much easier to read and write when you're starting out. The syntax is cleaner and there's less boilerplate code to worry about.
That said, if you're committed to Unity, I'd recommend supplementing your learning with general programming tutorials. The Microsoft C# documentation has excellent beginner tutorials that explain concepts clearly. Understanding programming fundamentals separately from game development will make the unity beginner tutorials much more accessible.
Also, start with 2D! 2d game development tutorials are simpler because you don't have to worry about 3D space, cameras, lighting, etc. You can focus on the game programming fundamentals without extra complexity.