Platform: Mobile

Touch-first input, safe area handling, and battery optimization define mobile development.

Available Scripts

mobile_safe_area_handler.gd

Expert safe area handling for notched screens using anchored margins.

NEVER Do in Mobile Development

• NEVER use mouse events for touch — InputEventMouseButton on mobile? Unreliable. Use InputEventScreenTouch + InputEventScreenDrag for touch.
• NEVER ignore safe areas — UI behind iPhone notch = unusable. Call DisplayServer.get_display_safe_area(), offset UI by top/bottom insets.
• NEVER keep 60 FPS when backgrounded — App in background @ 60 FPS = battery drain + store rejection. Set Engine.max_fps = 0 on NOTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FOCUS_OUT.
• NEVER use desktop UI sizes — 12pt font on phone = unreadable. Minimum 16-18pt for mobile. Use get_viewport().size to scale dynamically.
• NEVER forget VRAM compression — Uncompressed textures on mobile = out of memory crash. Enable rendering/textures/vram_compression/import_etc2_astc=true in project.godot.
• NEVER block main thread for saves — Saving large file on touch = freeze = ANR (Application Not Responding). Use FileAccess on worker thread.
• NEVER ignore orientation changes — Game locked to portrait but device rotates? Jarring. Handle size_changed signal or specify window/handheld/orientation in project.godot.

# Replace mouse/keyboard with touch
func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
    if event is InputEventScreenTouch:
        if event.pressed:
            on_touch_start(event.position)
        else:
            on_touch_end(event.position)
    
    elif event is InputEventScreenDrag:
        on_touch_drag(event.position, event.relative)

Virtual Joystick

# virtual_joystick.gd
extends Control

signal joystick_moved(direction: Vector2)

var is_pressed := false
var center: Vector2
var touch_index := -1

func _gui_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
    if event is InputEventScreenTouch:
        if event.pressed:
            is_pressed = true
            center = event.position
            touch_index = event.index
        elif event.index == touch_index:
            is_pressed = false
            joystick_moved.emit(Vector2.ZERO)
    
    elif event is InputEventScreenDrag and event.index == touch_index:
        var direction := (event.position - center).normalized()
        joystick_moved.emit(direction)

Responsive UI

# Adapt to screen size
func _ready() -> void:
    get_viewport().size_changed.connect(_on_viewport_resized)
    _on_viewport_resized()

func _on_viewport_resized() -> void:
    var viewport_size := get_viewport().get_visible_rect().size
    var aspect := viewport_size.x / viewport_size.y
    
    if aspect < 1.5:  # Tall screen
        $UI.layout_mode = VBoxContainer.LAYOUT_MODE_VERTICAL
    else:  # Wide screen
        $UI.layout_mode = HBoxContainer.LAYOUT_MODE_HORIZONTAL

Battery Optimization

# Lower frame rate when inactive
func _notification(what: int) -> void:
    match what:
        NOTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FOCUS_OUT:
            Engine.max_fps = 30
        NOTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FOCUS_IN:
            Engine.max_fps = 60

Safe Areas (Notches)

func apply_safe_area() -> void:
    var safe_area := DisplayServer.get_display_safe_area()
    
    # Adjust UI margins
    $UI.offset_top = safe_area.position.y
    $UI.offset_left = safe_area.position.x

Performance Settings

# project.godot mobile settings
[rendering]
renderer/rendering_method="mobile"
textures/vram_compression/import_etc2_astc=true

[display]
window/handheld/orientation="landscape"

App Store Metadata

• Icons: 512x512 (Android), 1024x1024 (iOS)
• Screenshots: Multiple resolutions
• Privacy policy required
• Age rating

Best Practices

1. Touch-First - Design for fingers, not mouse
2. Performance - Target 60 FPS on mid-range
3. Battery - Reduce FPS when backgrounded
4. Permissions - Request only what you need

Reference

• Related: godot-export-builds, godot-ui-containers

Related

• Master Skill: godot-master