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Roblox Studio for Kids: How to Make Your First Game

Published: 03.08.2026·Updated: 03.08.2026

Andrés Peralta

Coding Curriculum Team, Algonova

Roblox Studio for Kids: How to Make Your First Game

Updated: October 2026

Roblox Studio is Roblox's free program for making games. It runs on Windows or Mac computers, not on phones or tablets, and with a template an 8 or 9 year old can finish a first game in a few afternoons.

Does your child play Roblox for hours and just asked how to make their own game? They can, it's free, and getting started is easier than most parents think.

This guide walks through six steps, from an empty project to a game someone else can play. It's written so a child can follow it alone and so you understand what they're doing, including the part where most kids give up.

What Is Roblox Studio

Roblox Studio is Roblox's official program for building games, not playing them. In it, a child builds a world (map), places objects, then brings them to life with scripts.

Three things to know before starting:

It's free. Roblox Studio can be downloaded and used at no cost. Making a game doesn't require buying Robux: Robux is spent by players, not builders.
It only runs on a computer. A Windows PC or a Mac. Phones and tablets can't be used to build, and we explain why below.
The language is Lua. Specifically Luau, the version of Lua that Roblox developed. It's a real text language, not blocks, but a first game needs only a few lines.

Is Roblox Studio Safe for Kids?

Yes, the editor itself is safe: a child builds alone or with people they invite. The risks are in chat and online play, and those are controlled from the account.

Here is what Roblox announced about its platform between 2024 and 2026:

Chat only after an age check. Since January 2026 Roblox requires an age check to use chat in every country where chat is available. Each user is then placed in one of six groups (under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21 or older) and by default can only chat with neighboring groups.
Default limits for under 13s. They can't send messages outside of games, and direct messages are off by default. Parents can change this in Parental Controls.
Controls from the parent's phone. After linking their account, a parent can see the friends list and set spending and screen time limits without touching the child's device.

Chat isn't needed to learn how to build games. If your child is under 13, you can leave it off while they learn to build, and review the game together before publishing.

What Age Is Roblox Studio Recommended For?

Ages 8 to 9 for building maps with templates, and 10 to 12 for writing Lua scripts on a regular basis.

By 8, a child handles a mouse well and follows multi-step instructions. Scripts ask for more: reading an error, finding the broken line, and trying again. That usually comes around 10. Under 8, starting with blocks makes more sense.

Age	Where to start	What comes next
6 to 7	Block coding in Scratch or ScratchJr	Move to Roblox Studio with a template around 8
8 to 9	Obby template: move, scale and color blocks	A first short script, explained line by line
10 to 12	Lua scripts: events, variables and functions	An original game with levels, points and friends testing it
13 to 14	Several connected scripts and player interface	Python or bigger game projects

Can You Use Roblox Studio on a Phone or Tablet?

No. Roblox Studio only installs on Windows or Mac computers. Games made with it can be played on phones and tablets, but not built there.

Requirements from Roblox's official creator page:

System: Windows 10 or macOS 10.14 at minimum. Roblox recommends Windows 11 or macOS 14 and newer.
Memory: 3 GB of RAM minimum, 8 GB recommended.
Screen: a resolution of 1600×900 or higher.

If the family only has a phone or tablet, a child can practice logic with Scratch in the browser until they get access to a computer, for example at school. A game built on a computer can then be tested on a phone with the same account.

Six Steps to a First Game

1. Install Roblox Studio

Sign in to a Roblox account on the computer, open the Create page and download Roblox Studio. It installs like any regular app. Then log in with the same Roblox account.

2. Pick a template, don't start from empty

When opening a new project, Roblox Studio offers ready-made templates: Baseplate (empty board), Obby (obstacle course), Racing and more.

For a first game, pick Obby. The basic structure is already there, and the child sees something running right away instead of a blank screen. Starting from Baseplate is the number one reason kids quit on day one.

3. Build the map

This is the most fun part. The child places Parts (blocks), resizes them, rotates them, colors them via the Properties panel and arranges the obstacles.

Two tools to master first: Move and Scale. Everything else can be learned along the way.

Practical tip: build just five obstacles for the first game. Not fifty. A short finished game teaches far more than a big one that never gets done.

4. Add the first script

Right-click a Part → Insert Object → Script. The simplest script with a visible effect is a block that disappears when touched:

local part = script.Parent

part.Touched:Connect(function()
    part.Transparency = 1
    part.CanCollide = false
    task.wait(2)
    part.Transparency = 0
    part.CanCollide = true
end)

These ten lines hold four concepts at once: a variable (local part), an event (Touched), a function, and sequence. It's the same foundation used in Python and any other language, only the syntax differs.

5. Test and fix

Hit Play and try it. Something almost certainly won't work: a block doesn't disappear, the character falls through the floor, or the script errors.

This isn't failure, it's the job. Open the Output window: that's where Roblox Studio writes the error message along with its line number. Reading and fixing errors is the real skill being trained here, far more important than memorizing syntax.

6. Publish

File → Publish to Roblox. Give it a name, set it to public, and the game instantly gets a link to share with friends.

This moment matters: the child shifts from player to creator and has something of their own to show. If you're wondering whether Roblox or Minecraft is better for learning, we compare them in Minecraft vs Roblox for learning to code.

Three Mistakes That Most Often Stop Kids

1. Starting with a project that's too big. "I want to make a game like Brookhaven." A game like that takes a team years to build. Kids who start there usually quit within a week.

2. Copying scripts without understanding them. Copy-pasting from YouTube gives fast results, but the moment something breaks the child is stuck, because they don't know which part does what.

3. Stopping at the first error. Errors are a normal part of the process, but they feel like a verdict when no one explains that this is how every programmer works, every day.

The third mistake ends the story most often, and it's the easiest to fix once someone explains it.

If Your Child Gets Stuck

Some kids figure it out with YouTube, and that's great. Others stop at step four or five, not because they can't do it, but because no one answered "why is my script erroring" right when it mattered.

In Algonova's coding classes, a child works directly with a teacher: designing the game, writing scripts and fixing what doesn't work until the game is finished and playable. For ages 10 to 14, private one-on-one, mini-group and group formats are available.

The first class is free: 60 minutes with a teacher, the child builds something that runs, and you see for yourself whether the format fits. No obligation to continue.

In Short

Roblox Studio is free, runs on a computer, and a first game can be finished in a few afternoons. The key isn't talent: start with a template, finish something small all the way, and don't stop at the first error.

Sources

Roblox Creator Hub, Roblox Studio setup: system requirements and supported platforms.
Roblox Newsroom, Roblox age checks required to chat, January 2026: age checks and chat groups.
Roblox Newsroom, Major updates to our safety systems and parental controls, November 2024: limits for under 13s and remote parental controls.

Roblox Studio for Kids: FAQ

Is Roblox Studio free?

Yes. Roblox Studio is a free download from Roblox's official creator page and runs on Windows or Mac computers. All it takes to install is a Roblox account, the same one the child already uses to play. Building a map, writing Lua scripts, testing the game and publishing it costs nothing, and there's no need to buy Robux at any point. Robux is the currency players spend inside games, and a beginner builder doesn't need it. Some items in the Roblox store, such as models or plugins, can be paid, but for a first Obby game the basic parts that come with the program are more than enough. If spending worries you, Roblox Parental Controls let you set a monthly spending limit on your child's account, so nothing gets bought by accident while they explore.

Can you make a Roblox game on a phone or tablet?

No. Roblox Studio only installs on Windows or Mac computers, and Roblox's official page offers no phone or tablet version. On those devices you can play games other people made, including the one your child builds, but you can't build them. The reason is practical: making a map means moving, rotating and scaling pieces precisely, keeping several panels open at once and typing code, and that needs a wide screen, a keyboard and a mouse. Roblox asks for at least Windows 10 or macOS 10.14, 3 GB of RAM and a 1600×900 resolution. If the family only has a phone, a child can practice logic with Scratch in the browser and move to Roblox Studio once they have access to a computer, for example at school or at a relative's house.

Is Roblox Studio safe for kids?

The editor is safe: in Roblox Studio a child builds their game alone or with people they invite to edit. The risks on Roblox are in chat and in playing online with strangers, and that part is controlled from the account. Since January 2026 Roblox requires an age check to use chat. After it, each user is placed in an age group and by default can only chat with nearby groups. Children under 13 can't send messages outside of games and have direct messages turned off by default. If you link your parent account, you can review the friends list and set spending and screen time limits from your own phone. Chat isn't needed to learn how to build games, so it can stay off while your child learns, and you can review the game together before it goes public.

What age is Roblox Studio recommended for?

For building maps with templates, from 8 or 9. At that age a child handles a mouse well, follows multi-step instructions and enjoys seeing their world work. For writing Lua scripts regularly, the usual age is 10 to 12, because by then a child can read an error message, find the line that breaks and try another fix without getting too frustrated. Under 8, it's better to start with block coding, for example in Scratch, where there are no typing errors and the logic is shown with colors. At 13 and 14 many kids combine Roblox with Python or with bigger projects. Age is a guide, not a rule: what matters more is that the child wants to finish a small game, not the exact number of years. A motivated 8 year old often goes further than a bored 12 year old.

Does my child need to know coding to use Roblox Studio?

No. A child can open a template, place blocks, change their color and size and build an obstacle course without writing a single line of code. Many spend their first sessions only building, and that's fine: it's how they learn to find their way in 3D space and use the Move and Scale tools. Code comes in when the child wants something to happen, for example a block that disappears when touched or a points counter. That's when they write their first Lua script, which can be under ten lines long. If they tried block coding in Scratch before, they'll pick up ideas like events, variables and loops faster, because Roblox uses the same ones, only written as text. That step from blocks to text is exactly what makes Roblox Studio valuable for a child who wants to go further.

What programming language does Roblox Studio use?

Roblox Studio uses Luau, a version of Lua developed by Roblox. Tutorials usually just call it Lua, and for a child the difference doesn't matter at first. It's a text language, not blocks, with fairly clean syntax: few punctuation rules and easy English keywords like local, function, if and end. A first game needs very little code, and a block that disappears when touched takes about ten lines. What matters is what the child practices with those lines: variables, events, functions, conditions and the order in which things run. These are the same concepts used in Python, JavaScript and almost every other language, so what a child learns in Roblox carries over later. Only the way of writing it changes, and moving from Luau to Python usually takes a few weeks, not months.

How long does a first Roblox game take?

A simple Obby game with five obstacles and one script can be finished in three or four one-hour afternoons. The first session usually goes to installing Roblox Studio, picking a template and learning to move and scale blocks. In the second and third, the child builds the course and tests their first script. The last one is for fixing errors and publishing. What stretches the process isn't technical difficulty but the size of the idea: a child who wants to build something as big as the most popular Roblox games, which whole teams build over years, usually quits within a week. That's why it helps to agree on a small game from the start and finish it completely. After the first one, the second game comes together much faster, because the tools are already familiar.

What computer does my child need for Roblox Studio?

Almost any laptop or desktop PC from the last few years will do. According to Roblox's official creator page, the minimum is Windows 10 or macOS 10.14, 3 GB of RAM and a screen resolution of 1600×900 or higher. The recommended setup is Windows 11 or macOS 14 and newer with 8 GB of RAM. With that, the program opens faster and doesn't lag as the map grows. Roblox doesn't publish processor or graphics card requirements for Studio. An external mouse is a good idea, because moving and rotating pieces with a laptop touchpad tires and frustrates younger kids. An internet connection is also needed, since the project is saved to the Roblox account. Chromebooks, phones and tablets are not listed among the supported platforms, so check the device before your child sets aside an afternoon.

Why does my child's script keep erroring?

Because that's how programming works: errors are a normal part of the job, even for programmers with years of experience. In Roblox Studio, when a script fails, the message appears in the Output window along with the line number where the problem is. The common causes in a first game are few: a misspelled word, a capital letter in the wrong place, a missing end to close a function, or the script sitting inside the wrong object. Teaching your child to open Output, read the message and check that line is worth more than any shortcut. If they copy code from a video without understanding it, the first error leaves them stuck, because they don't know which part does what. Many kids quit right here, not for lack of ability, but because no one explained that mistakes are part of the process.

What does a child learn by making games in Roblox Studio?

They learn to code for real, in a text language, while making something they care about. Writing scripts means practicing variables, events, functions and conditions, which are the basis of every language. Building the map means working with coordinates, sizes and angles in three dimensions, something that usually stays on paper in math class. They also learn to break a big project into small steps, to test, to find errors and to fix them without giving up. When they publish the game and friends play it, they get real feedback and learn to improve something based on it. For many kids it's the step from player to creator: they stop only consuming games and start understanding how games are made. That change in how they see games usually lasts longer than interest in any single title.

Blog

Keep reading on the blog

Roblox Studio for Kids: How to Make Your First Game

What Is Roblox Studio

Is Roblox Studio Safe for Kids?

What Age Is Roblox Studio Recommended For?

Can You Use Roblox Studio on a Phone or Tablet?

Six Steps to a First Game

1. Install Roblox Studio

2. Pick a template, don't start from empty

3. Build the map

4. Add the first script

5. Test and fix

6. Publish

Three Mistakes That Most Often Stop Kids

If Your Child Gets Stuck

In Short

Sources

Roblox Studio for Kids: FAQ

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Six Steps to a First Game

1. Install Roblox Studio

2. Pick a template, don't start from empty

3. Build the map

4. Add the first script

5. Test and fix

6. Publish

Three Mistakes That Most Often Stop Kids

If Your Child Gets Stuck

In Short

Sources

Roblox Studio for Kids: FAQ

Keep reading on the blog

Online Summer Camps for Kids 2027: Costs, School Dates and How to Choose

ScratchJr for Kids Aged 5 to 7: How to Use the App at Home, a Parent's Guide

Cómo aprender a programar online: guía para padres de niños de 7 a 12 años