Phaser Examples

The standalone experiment pages go deeper into each Phaser system. These smaller examples keep the core framework workflow visible in the article: load Phaser through WP Lazy Lib, create a scene, and test one practical game-system idea at a time.

const { Phaser } = await window.wpLazyLib.load('phaser');
class DemoScene extends Phaser.Scene {
  create() {
    this.player = this.physics.add.sprite(80, 180, 'player');
    this.player.setCollideWorldBounds(true);

    this.walls = this.physics.add.staticGroup();
    this.physics.add.collider(this.player, this.walls);
  }

  update() {
    this.player.setVelocityX(120);
  }
}

const { Phaser } = await window.wpLazyLib.load('phaser');
this.gems = this.physics.add.staticGroup();
this.score = 0;

this.physics.add.overlap(this.player, this.gems, (_player, gem) => {
  gem.disableBody(true, true);
  this.score += 1;
  this.scoreText.setText('Score: ' + this.score);
});

const { Phaser } = await window.wpLazyLib.load('phaser');
class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
  create() {
    this.input.once('pointerdown', () => this.scene.start('Game'));
  }
}

class GameOverScene extends Phaser.Scene {
  init(data) {
    this.finalScore = data.score;
  }
}

Phaser Experiments

• Phaser Movement And Collision Playground
• Phaser Collect Items And Score Experiment
• Phaser Platformer Jump And Gravity Experiment
• Phaser Enemy Patrol And Damage Experiment
• Phaser Camera Follow And Larger Level Experiment
• Phaser Multi-Scene Game Flow Experiment

Phaser For Browser Games

Phaser is one of the most practical JavaScript frameworks for building 2D games that run directly in the browser. It is made for HTML5 games and supports both desktop and mobile web browsers. Phaser also supports WebGL and Canvas rendering, which makes it a strong fit for fast 2D browser games, arcade prototypes, and interactive game experiments. The official Phaser documentation describes it as an open-source HTML5 game framework for desktop and mobile browsers with WebGL and Canvas rendering support.

For BadGames, Phaser has two important roles.

First, we use Phaser as a framework for real browser games. It gives us the structure needed for playable 2D games: scenes, sprites, input, physics, collision, cameras, scoring, restarts, menus, and game-over flow.

Second, we use Phaser for playable experiments. These experiments isolate one game-development idea at a time so we can understand it, test it, explain it, and later reuse it in a bigger game.

That is why Phaser matters to us. It gives us a path from small experiments to actual playable games without changing technology too early.

What Is Phaser?

Phaser is a 2D game framework for JavaScript and HTML5. A Phaser game usually runs inside a browser canvas and can be played directly on the web.

A typical Phaser project can include:

• scenes
• sprites
• images
• text
• animations
• input
• physics
• collision
• cameras
• sound
• game state
• score
• menus
• restart flow

That makes Phaser more than a drawing tool. It is not only about putting graphics on a screen. It helps organize the systems that make a game behave like a game.

A rendering library can help draw objects. Phaser helps build gameplay.

That distinction is important.

If a project only needs fast 2D visuals, particles, filters, or custom canvas effects, a rendering library such as PixiJS may be enough. But when the project needs movement, collision, physics, levels, enemies, scoring, camera follow, or scene transitions, Phaser becomes a better fit.

Why Phaser Is Useful

Phaser is useful because it gives us many of the common systems that 2D games need.

A very small Phaser game might only have one scene, one player, and one movement mechanic. But the same framework can also support a larger game with menus, multiple levels, enemies, collectibles, sound effects, game-over screens, and restarts.

This makes Phaser good for both learning and production.

We can start with a tiny mechanic:

Move a player around the screen.

Then we can build on it:

Add walls.
Add collision.
Add coins.
Add score.
Add enemies.
Add damage.
Add camera follow.
Add a menu.
Add game over.
Add restart.

That progression is exactly how many browser games begin. A game rarely appears fully formed. It grows by combining small systems.

Phaser is useful because it lets those systems stay connected.

Phaser As A Game Framework

The biggest reason to use Phaser is that it is a game framework, not just a graphics library.

It includes concepts that map directly to how games are usually structured.

Scenes

Scenes are one of Phaser’s most important ideas.

A scene can represent one part of the game:

• a loading scene
• a main menu
• a gameplay scene
• a pause scene
• a level
• a shop
• a game-over screen
• a high-score screen

This makes it easier to separate the different states of a game.

Without scenes, everything can end up mixed together in one large file: loading assets, starting the game, playing the game, checking for game over, restarting, and showing scores. That may work for a tiny prototype, but it quickly becomes confusing.

Scenes give the game structure.

For BadGames, this matters because we use Phaser both for small experiments and real games. A small experiment may only need one gameplay scene. A complete game may need a preload scene, menu scene, gameplay scene, and game-over scene.

The same concept works at both sizes.

Physics And Collision

Many 2D games need objects to move, collide, fall, jump, overlap, or bounce. Phaser includes physics systems that help with this.

For beginner-friendly arcade games, Phaser’s Arcade Physics is especially useful. It can handle common 2D game behavior such as velocity, gravity, collision, overlap checks, and basic movement.

This is useful for:

• platformers
• top-down games
• collectable games
• arcade games
• simple shooters
• maze games
• enemy patrols
• jump-and-run prototypes

Arcade Physics is not meant to be a perfect real-world simulation. That is part of the point. Most arcade games need movement that feels responsive and predictable, not physically perfect.

For many browser games, that is exactly what we want.

Input

Games need input. Phaser gives us systems for keyboard, mouse, pointer, and touch interaction.

For small games and experiments, this usually starts simple:

• arrow keys or WASD to move
• space to jump
• click or tap to press a button
• pointer input for menus
• one action button for a simple mechanic

Input is one of the fastest ways to make an experiment feel alive. When the player presses a key and the game reacts immediately, the project stops being a static demo and starts becoming a game.

Cameras

A game world can be larger than the screen.

This is one of the most important ideas in game development. The canvas is not always the whole game world. It may only be the visible part of a larger level.

Phaser’s camera system lets us build worlds that extend beyond the visible screen. The camera can follow the player, stay inside level bounds, or show a specific part of the world.

This is important for:

• platformers
• side-scrollers
• top-down adventure games
• tilemap games
• RPG-style maps
• large arcade levels

A camera-follow experiment teaches a powerful idea:

The screen is not the world. The screen is a view into the world.

That idea helps beginners understand how real game levels work.

Game State

A game needs state.

State is the information that changes while the game is running:

• score
• health
• lives
• level number
• collected items
• remaining time
• enemy count
• win or lose state
• current scene
• restart status

Phaser gives us a structure where state can connect to what the player sees and does.

For example:

The player collects a coin.
The coin disappears.
The score increases.
The score text updates.
When enough coins are collected, the player wins.

That is a small loop, but it is real gameplay.

This is why Phaser is useful for BadGames. It lets us explain the relationship between player action, game rules, and visual feedback.

Why We Use Phaser On BadGames

BadGames uses Phaser for two connected purposes: games and experiments.

The games are the playable things we want people to enjoy. They may be small browser games, arcade games, prototypes that grow into full games, or simple mechanics polished into something fun.

The experiments are how we explore, explain, and test the systems behind those games.

This is important because experiments should not be throwaway demos. A good experiment teaches one idea that can later become part of a real game.

A movement experiment can become the foundation for a platformer.
A collect-and-score experiment can become the core of an arcade game.
An enemy patrol experiment can become the start of a level system.
A camera-follow experiment can become the foundation for larger worlds.
A multi-scene experiment can become the structure for menus, gameplay, game over, and restart flow.

That is the power of using the same framework for both experiments and games.

The experiment teaches the idea.
The game uses the idea.

From Experiment To Game

One of the main reasons we use Phaser is that it supports a natural path from small prototype to playable game.

A Phaser project can start as a tiny experiment:

Can we move a player and collide with a wall?

Then it can grow:

Can we collect items?
Can we add score?
Can we add enemies?
Can we add health?
Can we add a bigger level?
Can we add a menu and restart flow?

Eventually, the experiment becomes a game system.

This is a good way to build browser games because it avoids trying to design everything at once. Instead, each part can be tested and understood on its own.

That also makes the learning process better. A reader can focus on one mechanic, run the code, change it, and see what happens.

Small experiments are not a limitation. They are a method.

Phaser Compared With PixiJS

Phaser and PixiJS are both useful for browser-based interactive work, but they solve different problems.

PixiJS is mainly a high-performance 2D rendering library. It is excellent when the project is about drawing and controlling visual elements: sprites, layers, particles, filters, shader-like effects, and custom canvas interactions.

Phaser is a game framework. It is better when the project needs gameplay systems: scenes, physics, collisions, score, enemies, cameras, restarts, menus, and game flow.

A simple way to think about it:

Use PixiJS when the question is:

How do we render this?

Use Phaser when the question is:

How do we make this playable?

That does not mean one is better than the other. They are useful for different kinds of work.

PixiJS is great for rendering experiments and custom interactive visuals. Phaser is great for 2D games and gameplay experiments.

For BadGames, both matter.

PixiJS helps us understand rendering and interaction. Phaser helps us build playable systems and games.

Phaser Compared With Three.js

Three.js is different again.

Three.js is mainly used for 3D graphics in the browser. It is useful for scenes with 3D models, cameras, lighting, materials, depth, and spatial interaction.

Phaser is focused on 2D games.

Use Phaser when the project needs:

• sprites
• 2D movement
• 2D collision
• arcade physics
• platformers
• top-down games
• scoring
• menus
• game flow

Use Three.js when the project needs:

• 3D models
• 3D cameras
• lighting
• materials
• 3D worlds
• spatial effects
• WebGL-based 3D interaction

A simple rule:

• PixiJS is best when we are experimenting with 2D rendering.
• Phaser is best when we are building or experimenting with 2D gameplay.
• Three.js is best when we are working with 3D.

What Phaser Is Good For

Phaser is a strong choice for many kinds of 2D browser games.

It fits especially well for:

• arcade games
• platformers
• top-down games
• puzzle games
• collectable games
• simple shooters
• educational games
• game prototypes
• playable tutorials
• game mechanic experiments
• browser-first indie games

It is also useful when the game should be easy to embed on a website. A Phaser game can live inside a web page, which fits the BadGames approach well.

We can publish an article, show the game or experiment, include the source code, explain the idea, and let readers try it directly in the browser.

What Phaser Is Not Best For

Phaser is not the best tool for every project.

It is usually not the first choice for:

• normal website interfaces
• static page animations
• simple decorative canvas effects
• complex 3D worlds
• large 3D games
• cinematic 3D scenes
• Unity-style visual editor workflows
• heavy native game production pipelines

If the project is mostly website UI, use normal web tools.
If the project is mostly 2D visual rendering, consider PixiJS.
If the project is mostly 3D, consider Three.js.
If the project needs a full editor-driven production pipeline, a larger game engine may be better.

Phaser’s strength is focused 2D browser game development.

The BadGames Phaser Experiment Path

Our Phaser experiments are designed to teach real game systems one step at a time.

They are not random demos. They are a learning path that also gives us reusable building blocks for future games.

1. Phaser Movement And Collision Playground

This experiment teaches the foundation: moving a player and colliding with objects.

It introduces:

• scene setup
• keyboard input
• player velocity
• Arcade Physics bodies
• static obstacles
• collision response
• world bounds

This is the first step because most games begin with movement. Before a game can be fun, the player needs to control something.

2. Phaser Collect Items And Score Experiment

This experiment adds a simple gameplay loop.

The player collects items. The items disappear. The score increases.

It introduces:

• overlap detection
• collectibles
• score state
• UI text
• object groups
• simple win conditions

This is where the prototype starts to feel like a game. There is now a goal, a reward, and feedback.

3. Phaser Platformer Jump And Gravity Experiment

This experiment introduces gravity and jumping.

The player can stand on platforms, jump, fall, and land.

It introduces:

• gravity
• jump velocity
• platform collision
• ground checks
• basic platformer movement
• simple level layout

This is useful because platformer movement is one of the classic 2D game systems. It also shows how much game feel depends on small movement values.

4. Phaser Enemy Patrol And Damage Experiment

This experiment adds danger.

An enemy patrols back and forth. If the player touches it, the player takes damage, loses health, or restarts.

It introduces:

• simple enemy behavior
• patrol movement
• collision or overlap with enemies
• health state
• damage cooldown
• reset logic

This is an important step because the game world starts reacting against the player. Objects are no longer just platforms or collectibles. They have behavior.

5. Phaser Camera Follow And Larger Level Experiment

This experiment makes the world larger than the visible screen.

The player moves through a wider or taller level, and the camera follows.

It introduces:

• world size
• camera follow
• camera bounds
• screen coordinates
• world coordinates
• fixed UI

This teaches one of the most important mental models in game development: the screen is only a view into the game world.

6. Phaser Multi-Scene Game Flow Experiment

This experiment connects the project into a more complete game structure.

It can include:

• preload scene
• main menu scene
• gameplay scene
• game-over scene
• restart flow

It introduces:

• scene transitions
• passing score between scenes
• separating game states
• restart logic
• menu buttons
• project organization

This experiment is important because real games need flow. A playable game is not only the moment when the player moves around. It also needs loading, starting, failing, restarting, and sometimes winning.

Final Thought

Phaser is valuable because it helps browser projects become playable.

It gives us the structure needed for real 2D game behavior: scenes, physics, input, cameras, scoring, restarts, and game flow.

For BadGames, Phaser is not only a way to make experiments. It is also one of the tools we use to make games.

That is the important connection.

Start with one mechanic.
Turn it into an experiment.
Understand it.
Improve it.
Combine it with other systems.
Build a game.

That is why Phaser fits BadGames.

Official project site: phaser.io.

Related Tool

Try the Phaser Arcade Physics Tuner as a practical companion to this article.

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