You can make a platformer game with AI by describing how the character moves and jumps, what the platforms and hazards do, and how a level ends. A hosted AI game maker then builds a playable browser version you can tune by chat. The two details that decide whether it feels like a platformer are the jump and the fail state, so put both in your first prompt.
This guide gives you a prompt structure, copyable platformer prompts, the follow-ups that fix "floaty" jumps, and how to build and share one on Fifth Door.
What should a platformer prompt include?
A thin prompt ("make a jumping game") gets a character sliding on a floor. Name the parts that make a platformer work:
| Part | Weak | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | "a character that moves" | "left and right arrows run, space jumps" |
| Jump | "it can jump" | "hold jump longer to jump higher; fall faster than you rise" |
| Platforms | "some platforms" | "ledges at different heights, two that slide side to side" |
| Hazards | (missing) | "spikes send you back to the last checkpoint" |
| Goal | (missing) | "reach the flag to finish the level" |
| Scope | (missing) | "three short levels, each under 30 seconds" |
Add one line about feel ("chunky pixel art, bouncy landings") and one about controls for the device you care about.
Platformer prompts you can copy
Paste one into create, play it, then iterate. Results vary; these are starting shapes.
- Classic side-scroller: "Side-scrolling platformer. Arrows move, space jumps, hold to jump higher. Coins to collect, spikes that reset you to the last checkpoint, a flag at the end. Three short levels that get harder. Bright pixel art."
- Vertical climber: "Vertical platformer where platforms scroll down and you jump upward. Fall off the bottom and it ends. Score is height reached. Gets faster every 15 seconds. One-thumb controls: tap left or right half of the screen to move, character jumps automatically."
- One-screen puzzle platformer: "Single-screen platformer with a key and a locked door. Grab the key, reach the door. One moving platform and one switch that opens a gate. Calm colors, no timer."
- Speedrun micro levels: "Five tiny platformer levels, each under 20 seconds. Show a timer and best time. Instant restart on death. Crisp minimal style."
- Endless runner: "Auto-running platformer. Tap to jump, double tap for a double jump. Gaps and low barriers. Speed ramps every 10 seconds. Score is distance."
For the general prompt formula, see best prompts for an AI game generator.
How do you fix a floaty or unfair jump?
The jump is the most common thing creators fix first. Change one thing per follow-up, then play again:
- "Make the jump snappier: faster rise, faster fall, less hang time at the top."
- "Let a short tap make a small hop and holding jump make a full jump."
- "Allow a jump for a split second after walking off a ledge." (Designers call this coyote time.)
- "If I press jump just before landing, jump as soon as I land." (Jump buffering.)
- "Make the hitbox on spikes a little smaller than the art so near misses feel fair."
- "Make the camera follow the player smoothly and show a little more of what is ahead."
Then check difficulty: "Make the first level impossible to fail for the first ten seconds so new players learn the controls."
Keyboard or touch?
Decide early, because controls shape the level design.
- Desktop: arrows or WASD plus space is familiar. Mention it in the prompt.
- Phone: classic run-and-jump needs on-screen buttons, which cover the screen. Auto-runners and vertical climbers with one-tap controls usually feel better on a phone.
If you publish from your own editor to Fifth Door, you pick a play target (mobile, mobile_landscape, desktop, or everywhere) and the host sizes the game to it. A landscape phone target suits side-scrollers with on-screen buttons.
How do you make a platformer on Fifth Door?
- Open create. Paste a platformer prompt into "Describe your game idea…", or start from the Arcade template and ask for a platformer.
- Play the first version immediately.
- Fix the jump with one follow-up at a time.
- Add a second level only after the first one feels good.
- Share it from the game page with Share / Copy link and ask one friend, "Where did you die first, and did it feel fair?"
- Browse Discover for other games, then make the next one.
If you build in Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex instead, the Fifth Door MCP server can generate a character from every facing and animate it (walk, run, jump, idle, hurt) into your project, plus backgrounds and tileable ground textures. Then publish with one request. Steps are in how to publish a vibe-coded game.
When should you use a game engine instead?
A hosted AI game maker is the fast path for short browser platformers you want to play and share today. If you want a long campaign, a level editor, precise physics tooling, or a Steam release, an engine fits better. See AI game maker vs game engine.
Common mistakes
- Asking for ten levels before one level is fun
- No fail state, so there is no tension
- Hazards that kill on contact with the edge of the art
- Phone controls that cover the platforms
- Never letting someone else play it
FAQ
Can I make a platformer with AI without coding?
Yes. Describe movement, jump, platforms, hazards, and the goal in plain language. The AI builds a playable version, and you tune it with follow-ups like "make the jump snappier."
What is the best first platformer to make with AI?
A single screen or a very short level with one hazard type and a clear finish. Auto-runners are the easiest for phones.
Why does my AI platformer feel floaty?
Usually the rise and fall are too slow and there is too much hang time. Ask for a faster fall, variable jump height, and coyote time.
Can my platformer be multiplayer?
It can, but start solo. A shared leaderboard on best time is the easiest social layer. For rooms and invites, see how to make a multiplayer game with AI.
Can I export my platformer to Steam?
Fifth Door is built for browser play and sharing, not Steam export. Use an engine for store builds.
Build your platformer now
Open Fifth Door create, paste prompt 1 or 2 above, fix the jump with one follow-up, and send the link to a friend. Then see what other creators made on Discover.