Particle Systems

GPU-accelerated rendering, material-based configuration, and sub-emitters define performant VFX.

Available Scripts

vfx_shader_manager.gd

Expert custom shader integration for advanced particle VFX.

particle_burst_emitter.gd

One-shot particle bursts with auto-cleanup - essential for VFX systems.

NEVER Do in Particle Systems

• NEVER use CPUParticles2D for performance-critical effects — 100+ particles with CPU = lag spike. Use GPUParticles2D unless targeting mobile with no GPU support.
• NEVER forget to set emitting = false for one-shot particles — Explosion scene with emitting = true by default = particles emit immediately on instantiate(), before positioning. Set false, position, THEN emit.
• NEVER use high amount without testing on target platform — 1000 particles = fine on desktop, mobile melts. Test early,scale amount based on OS.get_name().
• NEVER forget to queue_free() one-shot particles — Explosion lasts 1 second but node stays in tree forever = memory leak. await create_timer(lifetime).timeout then queue_free().
• NEVER use emission_shape = POINT for explosions — All particles spawn at same position = looks flat. Use EMISSION_SHAPE_SPHERE with radius for 3D spread.
• NEVER forget alpha in color gradients — Particles fade suddenly at end = harsh. Add gradient point at 1.0 with Color(r, g, b, 0.0) for smooth fadeout.

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Basic Setup

# Add GPUParticles2D node
# Set Amount: 32
# Set Lifetime: 1.0
# Set One Shot: true (for explosions)

Particle Material

# Create ParticleProcessMaterial
var material := ParticleProcessMaterial.new()

# Emission shape
material.emission_shape = ParticleProcessMaterial.EMISSION_SHAPE_SPHERE
material.emission_sphere_radius = 10.0

# Gravity
material.gravity = Vector3(0, 98, 0)

# Velocity
material.initial_velocity_min = 50.0
material.initial_velocity_max = 100.0

# Color
material.color = Color.ORANGE_RED

# Apply to particles
$GPUParticles2D.process_material = material

Common Effects

Explosion

extends GPUParticles2D

func _ready() -> void:
    one_shot = true
    amount = 64
    lifetime = 0.8
    explosiveness = 0.9
    
    var mat := ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
    mat.emission_shape = ParticleProcessMaterial.EMISSION_SHAPE_SPHERE
    mat.emission_sphere_radius = 5.0
    mat.initial_velocity_min = 100.0
    mat.initial_velocity_max = 200.0
    mat.gravity = Vector3(0, 200, 0)
    mat.scale_min = 0.5
    mat.scale_max = 1.5
    
    process_material = mat
    emitting = true

Smoke Trail

extends GPUParticles2D

func _ready() -> void:
    amount = 16
    lifetime = 2.0
    
    var mat := ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
    mat.direction = Vector3(0, -1, 0)
    mat.initial_velocity_min = 20.0
    mat.initial_velocity_max = 40.0
    mat.scale_min = 0.5
    mat.scale_max = 1.0
    mat.color = Color(0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
    
    process_material = mat

Sparkles/Stars

var mat := ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
mat.emission_shape = ParticleProcessMaterial.EMISSION_SHAPE_BOX
mat.emission_box_extents = Vector3(100, 100, 0)
mat.gravity = Vector3.ZERO
mat.angular_velocity_min = -180
mat.angular_velocity_max = 180
mat.scale_min = 0.1
mat.scale_max = 0.5

# Use star texture
$GPUParticles2D.texture = load("res://textures/star.png")
$GPUParticles2D.process_material = mat

Spawn Particles on Demand

# player.gd
const EXPLOSION_EFFECT := preload("res://effects/explosion.tscn")

func die() -> void:
    var explosion := EXPLOSION_EFFECT.instantiate()
    get_parent().add_child(explosion)
    explosion.global_position = global_position
    explosion.emitting = true
    queue_free()

3D Particles

extends GPUParticles3D

func _ready() -> void:
    amount = 100
    lifetime = 3.0
    
    var mat := ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
    mat.emission_shape = ParticleProcessMaterial.EMISSION_SHAPE_BOX
    mat.emission_box_extents = Vector3(10, 0.1, 10)
    mat.direction = Vector3.UP
    mat.initial_velocity_min = 2.0
    mat.initial_velocity_max = 5.0
    mat.gravity = Vector3(0, -9.8, 0)
    
    process_material = mat

Color Gradients

var mat := ParticleProcessMaterial.new()

# Create gradient
var gradient := Gradient.new()
gradient.add_point(0.0, Color.YELLOW)
gradient.add_point(0.5, Color.ORANGE)
gradient.add_point(1.0, Color(0.5, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0))  # Fade to transparent red

var gradient_texture := GradientTexture1D.new()
gradient_texture.gradient = gradient

mat.color_ramp = gradient_texture

Sub-Emitters

# Particles that spawn particles (fireworks)
$ParentParticles.sub_emitter = $ChildParticles.get_path()
$ParentParticles.sub_emitter_mode = GPUParticles2D.SUB_EMITTER_AT_END

Best Practices

1. Use Texture for Shapes

# Add texture to particles
$GPUParticles2D.texture = load("res://textures/particle.png")

2. Lifetime Management

# Auto-delete one-shot particles
if one_shot:
    await get_tree().create_timer(lifetime).timeout
    queue_free()

3. Performance

# Reduce amount for mobile
if OS.get_name() == "Android":
    amount = amount / 2

Reference

• Godot Docs: Particles