--- title: "Add a scoring system" content_type: tutorial url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game/tutorial/add-a-scoring-system?language=en" language: en container_type: pathway container_title: "Game Development" container_url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development.md?language=en&version=6.3" unit_title: "Create a basic 2D game" unit_url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game?language=en&version=6.3" standalone_markdown_url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/add-a-scoring-system.md?language=en&version=6.3" previous_title: "Steer the player" previous_url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game/tutorial/steer-the-player?language=en&version=6.3" previous_markdown_url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game/tutorial/steer-the-player.md?language=en&version=6.3" next_title: "Restart the game with a bang" next_url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game/tutorial/restart-the-game-with-a-bang?language=en&version=6.3" next_markdown_url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game/tutorial/restart-the-game-with-a-bang.md?language=en&version=6.3" difficulty: beginner duration_minutes: 30 unity_version: - "6.0" - "6.3" supported_unity_versions: - name: "6.0" url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/add-a-scoring-system.md?language=en&version=6.0" - name: "6.3" url: "https://learn.unity.com/pathway/game-development/unit/create-a-basic-2d-game/tutorial/add-a-scoring-system.md?language=en&version=6.3" last_updated: "2026-08-04T14:24:34.000Z" --- # Add a scoring system Add a survival-time scoring system and display the score onscreen using Unity’s UI Toolkit. In many games, scoring helps provide feedback and motivation to players. In this tutorial, you'll add a basic scoring system to your game that tracks how long the player survives and displays their score on the screen using Unity's **UI Toolkit** system. ## 1. Overview In many games, scoring helps provide feedback and motivation to players. In this tutorial, you'll add a basic scoring system to your game that tracks how long the player survives and displays their score on the screen using Unity's **UI Toolkit** system. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/b2529683-a368-4074-b016-374193137351_5.1_-_Overview.mp4) ## 2. Track elapsed time To begin calculating a score, you first need to measure how long the player has been alive. Unity provides a helpful built-in value called **Time.deltaTime**, which returns the time in seconds since the last frame. By adding this value to a running total each frame, we can track how long the player has survived — regardless of frame rate. In this step, you’ll implement this timer inside your **PlayerController** script. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/45d8c9c5-7a7c-45e6-afa4-5d2377e7dab7_5.2_-_Track_elapsed_time.mp4) **1. Declare a variable to store elapsed time:** - Open your **PlayerController** script. - Near the top of the class (after your other variable declarations), add the following line of code: ```csharp private float elapsedTime = 0f; ``` **Note:** Writing **private** is not required — Unity automatically treats variables as private if you don’t specify them as private or public. Still, it’s a good habit to include **private** explicitly. This makes your code easier to understand by clearly showing which variables are private and which are public. **2. Increment elapsed time using Time.deltaTime:** - Inside the **Update()** method, add the following line of code at the top: ```csharp elapsedTime += Time.deltaTime; ``` **Explanation:** - **+=** is a shorthand for "add to this variable." - **elapsedTime += Time.deltaTime;** is the same as writing: **elapsedTime** **=** **elapsedTime** **+ Time.deltaTime;** - **Time.deltaTime** is the time (in seconds) since the last frame. - If you add that small number every frame, it adds up over time. The result is a running total of how much time has passed since the game started — this works no matter what the frame rate is. **3. Log the result in the Console window:** - Below the line you just added, add the following line of code: ```csharp Debug.Log("Elapsed time: " + elapsedTime); ``` **4. Test and observe the Console window:** - Save the script, return to Unity, and enter Play mode to test. - Watch the **Console** window to see the timer increase over time. - Let the **Player** GameObject collide with an obstacle and notice that the log stops. This script is attached to the **Player** GameObject, so when it gets destroyed — the timer stops because the script is no longer in the scene. Your game now tracks how long the player survives using **Time.deltaTime**. ## 3. Add a score multiplier Now that you’re tracking how long the player has survived, it’s time to turn that into a score. It wouldn’t be very interesting if the score just went up by 1.0 every second. In this step, you’ll create two new variables: one to hold the final score and one to define a score multiplier. Then, you’ll display that score using **Debug.Log**. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/023c5a7f-9752-479e-b534-665d99c12502_5.3_-_Add_a_score_multiplier.mp4) **1. Declare the score and multiplier variables:** - In the **PlayerController** script, add the following lines of code near your other variables: ```csharp private float score = 0f; public float scoreMultiplier = 10f; ``` **Note:** You might want the score multiplier to be public if you want to adjust it in the **Inspector** window later. **2. Calculate the score in Update():** - Just below where you update **elapsedTime**, add the following line of code: ```csharp score = elapsedTime * scoreMultiplier; ``` **3. Log the score to the Console window:** - Replace the existing **Debug.Log** line with the following line of code: ```csharp Debug.Log("Score: " + score); ``` **Explanation:** - This **Debug.Log** line will display the score instead of the elapsed time. **4. Test and observe the console:** - Save the script, return to Unity, and enter Play mode to test. - Watch the **Console** window to see the score increase over time. Because both values are **floats**, your result will include decimal points (for example, **Score: 17.32647**). Don’t worry — you’ll round that value to an integer in the next step. ## 4. Round the score to an int Right now, the score displays as a long decimal number, which can be hard to read and doesn’t feel very game-like. Most games use whole numbers for score displays. In this step, you’ll use **Mathf.FloorToInt()**, a Unity function that rounds a decimal number down to the nearest whole number. You’ll also learn what an **int** is and why you’d use it instead of a float when displaying clean numbers. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/cfa96f3c-9980-4fb2-80f2-394ba14da24c_5.4_-_Round_the_score_to_an_int.mp4) **1. Round the score using Mathf.FloorToInt():** - Replace the line where you calculate the score with the following line of code: ```csharp score = Mathf.FloorToInt(elapsedTime * scoreMultiplier); ``` **Explanation:** - An **int** is a whole number (like 0, 1, 25). It doesn’t store decimal places. - **Mathf.FloorToInt()** takes a decimal (float) and returns the largest whole number less than or equal to that value. - For example: **Mathf.FloorToInt(3.7f)** gives **3**. - This ensures the score only increases after full seconds have passed — which is useful if, for example, you want the player to earn 1 point per second of survival. - Without flooring, a score like **3.7** would round up to **4**, giving credit before the full second has actually passed. **2. Test and observe the Console window:** - Save the script, return to Unity, and enter Play mode to test. - Watch the **Console** window to see the score increase over time. The **Console** window should display clean whole numbers like **Score: 47**, instead of **Score: 47.39214**. ## 5. Set up a UI document Now that the score is being calculated correctly, it’s time to display it on the screen. In Unity, you can create user interfaces using the **UI Toolkit**, which uses assets called **UI Documents** written in **UXML** (a markup language similar to HTML). This step walks you through creating a UI Document and connecting it to your scene so you can begin building a heads-up display (HUD) for your score. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/7e136a2f-b14d-40e1-a394-fbb4cc75937d_5.5_-_Set_up_a_UI_document.mp4) **1. Create a UI Document GameObject in the scene:** - Right-click in the **Hierarchy** window and select **UI Toolkit** > **UI Document.** - Rename the new GameObject “GameUI”. **2. Create a new UI Document asset:** - In the **Project** window, right-click the **Assets** folder, select **Create** > **Folder**, and name the new folder “UI”. - Right-click the **UI** folder and select **Create** > **UI Toolkit** > **UI Document.** - Name this new asset “UILayout”. **3. Link the asset to the scene's UI Document:** - Select the **GameUI** GameObject in the **Hierarchy** window. - Select the **Source Asset** picker (**⊙**) and select the **UILayout** asset. **Explanation:** - A **UI Document** GameObject in the scene is what actually displays the interface during gameplay. - A **UXML asset** (like the **UILayout** asset you just created) defines the structure and layout of the UI. You won’t actually see any UI elements on the screen yet; you’ve just created the UI container that will hold your score display. ## 6. Add the score label With the UI container set up in your scene, the next step is to design the actual interface that’ll display your score. You’ll do this using the **UI Builder** window, a drag-and-drop editor for creating UI layouts visually. In this step, you’ll add a **Label**, give it a clear name, and set some placeholder text. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/a88c6e3d-43d1-4302-93ca-cde20c3f6c46_5.6_-_Add_the_score_label.mp4) **1. Open the UILayout asset in UI Builder:** - In the **Project** window, double-click the **UILayout** asset you created earlier. - This opens the **UI Builder** window, which contains a live **Viewport** window (similar to the **Scene** view), a **Library** window (similar to the **Project** window), a **Hierarchy** window, and an **Inspector** window, just like the Unity Editor. **2. Add a Label to the UI:** - From the **Library** window (usually on the left), drag a **Label** element into the **Hierarchy** window. - You’ll now see a text label appear in the **Viewport** window that says **Label** by default. **3. Rename the Label to ScoreLabel:** - In the **Hierarchy** window of the **UI** **Builder** window, select the new **Label** element. - In the **Inspector** window (on the right), rename the **Label** element by setting its name at the very top of the **Inspector** panel to “ScoreLabel”. - Spelling is important here — you’ll use this name in your script to reference the label later. - In the **Attributes** section, in the **Text** box, change the placeholder text to “Score: 0”. **4. Save and preview your changes:** - Press **Ctrl**+**S** (macOS: **Cmd**+**S**) to save the **UILayout** asset. - You can now close or minimize the **UI** **Builder** window. Back in the Unity Editor, you will see the “Score: 0” text appear in the upper left corner of the screen, though it may be hard to see against a dark background — you’ll fix that next. ## 7. Style the label By default, UI elements added in UI Builder are small, plain, and usually tucked in the upper-left corner. In this step, you’ll center the label horizontally and give it some visual breathing room using **inlined styles** — direct style settings applied to individual UI elements. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/56ebeda9-aa31-4cc1-9fac-0dc3f4029912_5.7_-_Style_the_label.mp4) **1. Reopen the UILayout in UI Builder (if closed):** - In the **Project** window, double-click the **UILayout** asset to reopen it in the **UI Builder** window. **Tip:** If the **Viewport** window looks zoomed or misaligned, select **Fit Viewport** at the top of the window to recenter it. **2. Select the ScoreLabel in the UI Hierarchy panel:** - In the **Hierarchy** window, select the **ScoreLabel** element you created earlier. **3. Apply basic layout styling:** - In the **Inspector** window on the right side, expand the **Inlined Styles** section. - Under **Position**, set the **Top Offset** to around **20px** (pixels). This will move the score down a bit so it’s not overlapping the top border wall. - Under **Align** > **Align Self**, select **Center** to center the label horizontally. **4. Adjust the font and text color:** - In the **Text** section of the **Inlined** **Styles** section, try the following changes: - Set **Font Size** to something like **20**. - Select a **Color** that contrasts well with your background. - Optionally, add **Font Style** like **Bold** if you want the score to stand out. - Press **Ctrl**+**S** (macOS: **Cmd**+**S**) to save the **UILayout** asset and return to the Unity Editor to preview your score UI formatting. After this step, the **ScoreLabel** should be clearly visible, centered near the top of the screen, and easy to read. ## 8. Get a reference to the UI document Before your script can update the score label, it needs to access the UI that’s visible in the scene. To do that, you’ll get a reference to the **UI Document** component attached to your **GameUI** GameObject. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/617c4dd1-cf73-4643-b4e0-16550ecac788_5.8_-_Get_reference_to_the_UI_document.mp4) **1. Add a variable for the UI Document:** - Open your **PlayerController** script. - Near your other variable declarations, add the following line of code: ```csharp public UIDocument uiDocument; ``` **Note:** Declaring this as **public** makes the variable appear in the Unity **Inspector** window, where you can assign it manually without writing extra code. This is a common and beginner-friendly way to connect scene references. **2. Fix the missing reference error:** - If **UIDocument** is underlined or causes an error, add the following line of code to the top of your script: ```csharp using UnityEngine.UIElements; ``` **Note:** This line gives your script access to Unity’s **UI Toolkit** classes. If you're using autocomplete in your IDE, it may have already added this line for you automatically. **3. Assign the UI Document in the Inspector window:** - Save your script and return to the Unity Editor. - With the **Player** GameObject selected, in the **Inspector** window, locate the **UI Document** property that now appears in the **PlayerController** component. - Drag the **GameUI** GameObject from the **Hierarchy** window into the **UI** **Document** box. **Note:** You must assign the **GameObject** from the scene, not the **UILayout** UXML asset from the **Project** window. After this step, your script has access to the UI and is ready to find and modify specific elements inside it. ## 9. Set the score text with true score Now that your script can access the UI document in the scene, the next step is to find the score label inside it and update its text. [Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20250520/videos/00030a5b-cf11-4c65-a20d-1ac66db477e6_5.9_-_Set_the_score_text_with_true_score.mp4) **1. Add a variable to reference the label:** - In your **PlayerController** script, add the following line of code with your other variables: ```csharp private Label scoreText; ``` **Note:** A **Label** is the specific UI Toolkit class used for displaying text. This line prepares a variable to hold the reference to the **ScoreLabel** UI element. **2. Initialize the reference in Start():** - Inside your **Start()** method, add the following line of code to initialize the variable: ```csharp scoreText = uiDocument.rootVisualElement.Q