Input System Starter Kit — Start Here
This kit teaches Unity's Input System (the "new" input system) by building three playable demos, each one click away:
- 2D Platformer — run, jump, coyote time, variable jump height
- 3D First-Person — WASD + mouse look, sprint, jump, hitscan fire, weapon switching (scroll wheel or 1/2/3)
- Puzzle — mouse/touch drag-and-drop with snap slots, plus keyboard/gamepad selection cycling
Every demo works with keyboard/mouse AND gamepad out of the box — that's the whole point of the Input System, and you get it for free from one shared actions asset.
What you need
- Unity 6 (any 6.x). New Unity 6 template projects already include the Input System package.
- The Input System package (
com.unity.inputsystem) — install steps in 02 - Install and Project Settings. - This starter kit imported.
What's in the kit
| Path | What it is |
|---|---|
Input/StarterKitControls.inputactions | One actions asset, three maps: Player2D, Player3D, Puzzle |
Scripts/Platformer2D/PlayerController2D.cs | 2D movement + game feel |
Scripts/FirstPerson/FirstPersonController.cs | FPS move/look/jump/sprint |
Scripts/FirstPerson/WeaponSwitcher.cs | Weapon slots, scroll switching, hitscan fire |
Scripts/Puzzle/DragAndDropController.cs | Pointer drag-and-drop with snapping |
Scripts/Puzzle/SelectionCycler.cs | Cycle selection via keys/shoulder buttons |
Scripts/Puzzle/Draggable.cs, SnapSlot.cs | Small helper components |
Scripts/Editor/InputKitSetup.cs | One-click demo rig builder (Tools menu) |
Tutorial/ | These lessons |
Fastest possible start (2 minutes)
- Make sure the Input System package is active (02 - Install and Project Settings — new Unity 6 projects: it already is).
- Open an empty scene.
- Tools → Input System Starter Kit → Create 2D Platformer Demo (or First-Person / Puzzle).
- Press Play. Plug in a gamepad and try it too — no code changes needed.
The demos build themselves from colored primitives; the kit contains zero art, so nothing distracts from the input code.
Lesson path
- 01 - Input System Concepts — actions, maps, bindings, control schemes
- 02 - Install and Project Settings — package install + the settings that trip everyone up
- 03 - The Input Actions Asset — tour the kit's asset; make your own
- 04 - Reading Input in C Sharp — polling vs callbacks, PlayerInput component
- 05 - 2D Platformer Movement — walkthrough of the platformer demo
- 06 - First-Person and Weapon Switching — walkthrough of the FPS demo
- 07 - Puzzle Selection and Drag & Drop — walkthrough of the puzzle demo
- 08 - Going Further — rebinding, local multiplayer, action map switching, VR notes
Reference library
Official:
- Input System package manual — bookmark this
- Workflow: Actions — the workflow this kit uses
- Unity 6 Input System video tutorial series (official)
- Warriors sample project — official Input System demo
- Unity Manual: Input overview
Community favorites: