Object Pooling

create() {
    this.projectiles = this.physics.add.group({
        classType: Projectile,
        frameQuantity: 20,
        active: false,
        visible: false
    });
}

fire() {
    const projectile = this.projectiles.getFirstDead(false);
    if (projectile) projectile.fire(x, y);
}

Global Animations

// In Preloader.js create()
this.anims.create({
    key: 'walk',
    frames: this.anims.generateFrameNumbers('player', { start: 0, end: 3 }),
    frameRate: 10,
    repeat: -1
});

JustDown Input

if (Phaser.Input.Keyboard.JustDown(this.spacebar)) {
    this.jump();
}

Navigation Guide

This skill provides access to 18 comprehensive pattern files. Use Read or Grep to access them.

Quick lookup by number:

01 = Scene Architecture
02 = Asset Management
03 = Physics & Collision
04 = Movement Patterns
05 = Animation System
06 = Input Handling
07 = State Management
08 = Object Pooling & Memory
09 = Grid Systems
10 = Custom Game Objects
11 = UI/HUD Patterns
12 = Tween & Visual Effects
13 = Audio Integration
14 = Game Loop Patterns
15 = Algorithm Implementations
16 = Performance Optimization
17 = Code Organization
18 = Development Philosophy

Example usage:

Read knowledgebase/06-input-handling.md
Grep "object pooling" knowledgebase/

1. Scene Architecture

knowledgebase/01-scene-architecture.md Multi-scene flow, parallel scenes for UI overlays, scene transitions with effects, data passing between scenes.

2. Asset Management

knowledgebase/02-asset-management.md Two-stage loading, texture atlases, multi-format audio, font synchronization.

3. Physics & Collision

knowledgebase/03-physics-collision.md Physics configuration, collision vs overlap, dynamic responses, state-gated collision.

4. Movement Patterns

knowledgebase/04-movement-patterns.md Velocity-based, time-based discrete, timer-based, pursuit, direction validation.

5. Animation System

knowledgebase/05-animation-system.md Global animation creation, reverse animations, animation-driven logic.

6. Input Handling

knowledgebase/06-input-handling.md Keyboard, pointer, touch, JustDown pattern, dual input support, input gating.

7. State Management

knowledgebase/07-state-management.md Scene-level state, registry for persistence, localStorage, state machines.

8. Object Pooling & Memory

knowledgebase/08-object-pooling-memory.md Group-based pooling, enable/disable pattern, object reuse.

9. Grid Systems

knowledgebase/09-grid-systems.md Dual coordinates, 2D arrays, adjacency helpers, grid alignment.

10. Custom Game Objects

knowledgebase/10-custom-game-objects.md Extending Sprite/Image, composition pattern, self-registration.

11. UI/HUD Patterns

knowledgebase/11-ui-hud-patterns.md Text styling, positioning, dynamic updates, bitmap fonts.

12. Tween & Visual Effects

knowledgebase/12-tween-visual-effects.md Basic tweens, staggered animations, camera effects, particles.

13. Audio Integration

knowledgebase/13-audio-integration.md Sound management, audio lock handling, centralized audio.

14. Game Loop Patterns

knowledgebase/14-game-loop-patterns.md Standard update, event-driven, preUpdate for custom objects, timers.

15. Algorithm Implementations

knowledgebase/15-algorithm-implementations.md Flood fill, smart random placement, solvable puzzle generation.

16. Performance Optimization

knowledgebase/16-performance-optimization.md Object pooling, texture caching, minimize update logic, static groups.

17. Code Organization

knowledgebase/17-code-organization.md File structure, ES6 modules, constants management.

18. Development Philosophy

knowledgebase/18-development-philosophy.md Architecture principles, when to use physics, scene decisions.

Additional References

references/core-patterns.md - Detailed code examples for scene setup, custom objects, grid systems, collision, input, animation, state
references/common-pitfalls.md - Critical mistakes to avoid

Performance Tips

Object pools for frequently created/destroyed objects
Texture atlases combine sprites into single image
Static groups for immovable platforms/walls
Event-driven over polling in update()
Minimal update logic - only what's necessary each frame
Cache lookups - don't search arrays every frame
Set depth once - don't sort every frame

When to Read Detailed Files

Starting a new game? → 01-scene-architecture.md Performance issues? → 16-performance-optimization.md Grid-based game? → 09-grid-systems.md Complex animations? → 05-animation-system.md and 12-tween-visual-effects.md Input problems? → 06-input-handling.md Memory leaks? → 08-object-pooling-memory.md Implementing algorithms? → 15-algorithm-implementations.md Architecture decisions? → 18-development-philosophy.md

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Scene Flow

Boot → Preloader → MainMenu → Game → GameOver
this.scene.start('NextScene', { score: this.score });
this.scene.launch('GameUI');  // Parallel scene

Physics

this.physics.add.collider(a, b);          // Physical blocking
this.physics.add.overlap(a, b, callback); // Trigger only
sprite.setCollideWorldBounds(true);
sprite.setImmovable(true);

Groups & Pooling

this.items = this.physics.add.group({ frameQuantity: 20 });
const item = this.items.getFirstDead(false);
item.enableBody(true, x, y, true, true);
item.disableBody(true, true);

Input

this.cursors = this.input.keyboard.createCursorKeys();
Phaser.Input.Keyboard.JustDown(key)
this.input.on('pointerdown', callback, this);

Tweens

this.tweens.add({
    targets: sprite,
    x: 400,
    duration: 1000,
    ease: 'Power2',
    onComplete: () => {}
});

Camera

this.cameras.main.shake(duration, intensity);
this.cameras.main.fadeOut(duration);
this.cameras.main.flash(duration, r, g, b);

phaser-gamedev

Phaser 3 Game Development

Quick Start

Most Common Patterns