# godot4-isometric-tilemap

Sets up 2:1 isometric rendering in Godot 4 with TileMapLayer and Y-sort, so draw order and picking stop fighting you.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 41
- Author: 0xheycat
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/0xheycat/isometric-game-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-12
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap

## What it does

Reach for this skill when an isometric scene in Godot 4 draws wrong: a character slips in front of a tile that should hide it, tiles overlap, or a mouse click lands on the wrong cell. The skill walks through six steps and calls out the excuses that keep you from doing it properly.

It starts at the TileSet: Tile Shape = Isometric, Tile Layout = Diamond Down, tile size matching your 2:1 footprint such as 64x32. Ground goes on a `TileMapLayer`, and Y Sort Enabled is turned on for that layer and its parent node. Every movable sprite gets its `y_sort_origin` at the feet, not the top. Coordinate conversion goes through the built-in `local_to_map()` and `map_to_local()` rather than hand-rolled math, which breaks once zoom or sorting changes.

One tile size and one anchor convention across all layers and scenes — that is the rule. Mix them and sorting drifts, and nudging sprite offsets will not save it. The skill targets Godot 4.3+ and `TileMapLayer`.

## Requirements
- Works with: Godot

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add 0xheycat/isometric-game-skills --skill godot4-isometric-tilemap -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add 0xheycat/isometric-game-skills --skill godot4-isometric-tilemap -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add 0xheycat/isometric-game-skills --skill godot4-isometric-tilemap -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install 0xheycat/isometric-game-skills godot4-isometric-tilemap
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add 0xheycat/isometric-game-skills --skill godot4-isometric-tilemap -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/0xheycat/isometric-game-skills --path skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add 0xheycat/isometric-game-skills --skill godot4-isometric-tilemap -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/0xheycat/isometric-game-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- fix a character drawing in front of tall objects
- set up a TileSet for 2:1 isometric on the first try
- drop manual pixel offsets on sprites
- pick the cell under the cursor accurately
- keep one tile size and anchor across layers

## Example prompts
- Set up an isometric TileSet in Godot 4: Diamond Down, 64x32 tiles
- My character draws over a tile that should occlude it — fix it with Y-sort and `y_sort_origin`
- Add cell highlighting under the cursor using `local_to_map()` and `map_to_local()`

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

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BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE dcaa23a14698f284
````text
---
name: godot4-isometric-tilemap
description: Use when setting up correct 2:1 isometric rendering in Godot 4 with TileMapLayer + Y-sort, mapping this repo's engine-agnostic grid math and depth rules onto Godot's native APIs.
license: MIT
---

# Godot 4 Isometric TileMap

## Overview

Godot 4 supports isometric natively, but the defaults fight you: wrong tile shape, broken draw order, and magic pixel offsets that look fine until something moves. This skill maps the repo's tested concepts (grid math, depth sorting) onto Godot's `TileMapLayer` + Y-sort so it is correct the first time.

## When to Use

- Starting an isometric scene in Godot 4 (4.3+, `TileMapLayer`).
- Characters draw in front of / behind tiles they should not.
- Tiles overlap, or mouse picking selects the wrong cell.

## Process

1. TileSet: set Tile Shape = **Isometric**, Tile Layout = **Diamond Down**, and Tile Size to your 2:1 footprint (e.g. 64x32).
2. Put ground on a `TileMapLayer`. For anything that must sort against characters, enable **Y Sort Enabled** on the layer and its parent node.
3. Set each movable sprite's `y_sort_origin` to the tile's feet/anchor (not its top). This is Godot's version of the `depth = col + row` rule (see depth-sorting-occlusion).
4. Convert coordinates with the built-ins `local_to_map()` / `map_to_local()` instead of hand-rolled offsets (mirrors isometric-grid-math).
5. Mouse picking: `local_to_map(get_local_mouse_position())` to get the cell, then `map_to_local()` to snap a highlight (see tile-picking-interaction).
6. Keep ONE tile size and anchor convention across every layer and scene.

```gdscript
# grid <-> world: let Godot do the iso math
var cell: Vector2i = ground.local_to_map(ground.get_local_mouse_position())
var world: Vector2 = ground.map_to_local(cell)  # center of that tile
```

## Rationalizations (Stop Lying to Yourself)

| Excuse | Reality |
|---|---|
| "I'll nudge sprite offsets until it lines up" | Manual offsets break under Y-sort and zoom. Set `y_sort_origin` to the anchor. |
| "I'll write the iso math myself" | `local_to_map` / `map_to_local` are exact and tested. Use them. |

## Red Flags - STOP if you catch yourself:

- Y Sort disabled, or `y_sort_origin` left at the default (0,0).
- Hand-written screen<->grid math instead of the `TileMapLayer` API.
- Mixed tile sizes or anchors across layers.

## Verification

You are NOT done until every box is checked:

- [ ] TileSet shape = Isometric, layout = Diamond Down, 2:1 tile size.
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE dcaa23a14698f284

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First 2491 of 2710 bytes. © 0xheycat · MIT · https://github.com/0xheycat/isometric-game-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/godot4-isometric-tilemap/SKILL.md

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