Legacy Resource • Kodu Game Lab
Kodu Basics Activities
This preserved Create2Discover resource includes current setup guidance and beginner Kodu Game Lab activities for families who still use Kodu. Our Kodu class program is no longer part of the current live lineup, but the activities remain useful for getting started with game creation and visual coding.
Before you begin: install Kodu Game Lab
Kodu Game Lab is free to use and is designed for Windows PCs. Install Kodu and make sure it opens successfully before beginning the activities below.
Computer requirements
Use a Windows PC
- Kodu’s current download page lists Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. For security, use a Windows version that is still supported on your computer.
- A graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model 2.0 or higher is required.
- .NET Framework 4.0 or higher and XNA Framework 4.0 Redistributable are required.
- A two-button mouse with a scroll wheel is strongly recommended for easier navigation and editing.
Kodu does not have a native macOS or Android version. These Create2Discover directions are written for the Windows version.
Installation
Download, install, and test Kodu
- Open the official Kodu downloads page.
- For most families, install Kodu from the Microsoft Store or download KoduSetup.EXE. The MSI installer is intended for system administrators.
- If you use KoduSetup.EXE, the required XNA 4.0 component is included with the installer.
- Launch Kodu after installation.
- Choose New World and open the blank world to make sure Kodu is working before continuing.
If installation fails, Kodu’s official site lists support at KoduSupport@InfiniteInstant.com.
Watch the Kodu Basics lesson
This lesson walks students through starting a new world, navigating in Kodu, adding terrain, placing characters and objects, and saving their work.
A note about this video: This is an older Create2Discover lesson that we preserved because the instruction is still useful. The recording quality and presentation are not as polished as our current videos, and some screens may look a little different today, but the core Kodu skills demonstrated in the lesson are still valuable. For downloading and installing Kodu, use the current setup directions above rather than relying on older installation instructions.
Open the Kodu Basics video in a new tab →
Printable Kodu Basics activity sheets
Prefer to work from a printable guide? The original Create2Discover activity PDF walks students through starting a world, navigating, changing terrain, adding objects and characters, and saving their game.
Activity 1: Start a new world and practice navigation
- Open Kodu Game Lab.
- Choose New World from the main menu.
- Select the first world option to begin with an empty world.
- Practice moving around the land with the hand/navigation tool:
- Left-click and drag to move around the land.
- Right-click and drag to change the viewing angle.
- Use the mouse wheel, if available, to zoom in and out.
Tip: Kodu displays navigation controls in the upper-left area of the screen if you need a reminder.
Activity 2: Add and remove land
Use the land/terrain brush to change the shape of your world.
- Left-click to add land.
- Right-click to remove land.
- Hold the left mouse button and drag to paint a larger area of terrain.
After learning the controls, experiment with hills, paths, islands, or other terrain instead of stopping at a flat world.
Activity 3: Add objects and characters
- Select the object tool.
- Move the pointer to the place where you want an object or character.
- Left-click and choose an item from the object wheel.
- Add several objects or characters and decide how they should fit into the world you are designing.
Activity 4: Save your world
- Select the Home control at the bottom of the Kodu interface.
- Choose the option to save the world.
- Name your game or world and save it.
Ready for the next step?
Try basic coding in Kodu
Continue with our separate Apples and Kodus resource to learn WHEN/DO logic, loops, movement, and a beginner coding challenge.
Looking for Create2Discover’s current programs?
Our current live learning focuses on Roblox Studio and Minecraft Modding, where students build, code, test ideas, and create their own digital projects.