Learning Game Development with Godot

Written by: Tan Kai Wen Declan (4A2, 2026)

Sabbatical Week is one of the defining features of the Hwa Chong experience. Held twice a year, it gives students the opportunity to step away from the usual hectic and stressful academic routine and immerse ourselves in enriching experiences. From exploring unfamiliar topics to making new friends, this week encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and fully embrace learning. This time, I had the privilege of attending the GameDev with Godot sabbatical.

What made this sabbatical interesting and unique was that it was fully organised and run by Computing Talent Programme students. The experience was even more enriching with the presence of students from Clementi Town Secondary School, who joined us for the last three days to learn and collaborate with us.

During the first two days, we got to know one another better before being introduced to the fundamentals of game development. We learnt how to design our own sprites using Pixilart and explored how AI tools could assist in creating music and sprite assets for games. In addition, we were taught the basic principles behind creating fun and engaging games, including what makes a game interesting, what separates one game from another, the different elements of games, and the thought process involved in game design and ideation.

For the next three days, students from Clementi Town Secondary School joined us for the programme. We began with a series of icebreakers, which allowed us to get to know the students we would be collaborating with over the course of the week. Following that, we were introduced to the basics of the Godot game engine before beginning the ideation process for our own games.

Throughout the day, we were also given breaks, during which we had the opportunity to interact more with the Clementi Town students through casual conversations, working through similar problems, and even playing sports together. These moments made the experience more lively and enjoyable, allowing us to form new friendships beyond the classroom setting.

After gaining a better understanding of the fundamentals of Godot, we began developing our games based on the central theme of “Chain Reactions”. We brainstormed creative ways to incorporate this concept into our gameplay and mechanics. My group ended up creating a pinball-like game, where the ball could hit multipliers and debuffs that would trigger chain reactions along the way.

Throughout the process, the student trainers were extremely helpful, approachable, and knowledgeable. Whenever we encountered difficulties or needed assistance, they would promptly come over to guide us through the problem and provide clear explanations. Their support ensured that we were able to overcome challenges efficiently and continue making progress in our projects.

Overall, I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this sabbatical. Beyond learning the technical aspects of game development, I was able to work closely with others, collaborate with students from a different school, and form new friendships along the way. This experience not only deepened my understanding of game design, something that I may never have learnt otherwise, but also reminded me of the importance of teamwork, communication, and stepping out of my comfort zone to fully embrace new opportunities.