If you're tired of players constantly asking how to play your game in the chat, setting up a roblox help script is probably the best move you can make right now. Nothing kills the vibe of a growing game faster than a bunch of confused players who can't figure out the basic controls. You want them playing, not wandering around aimlessly until they get bored and leave.
Creating a help system isn't just about putting a block of text on the screen; it's about making sure your players feel supported from the second they spawn in. Whether you want a simple chat command or a fancy pop-up menu, there are a few different ways to go about it. Let's break down how to build something that actually helps without being annoying.
Why You Shouldn't Skip This Step
It's easy to think that your game mechanics are obvious. You built it, after all. But for someone seeing your world for the first time, it might as well be a maze. A solid roblox help script acts like a silent moderator. It handles the "How do I get money?" or "What does this button do?" questions so you don't have to.
When players get stuck, they usually give up within about thirty seconds. If they have a "Help" button or a command they can type, they're much more likely to stick around and actually enjoy the content you worked so hard on. It's basically the difference between a high bounce rate and a dedicated player base.
The Chat Command Approach
One of the simplest ways to implement this is through a chat-based system. It's old school, but it works surprisingly well for power users. Basically, when a player types something like "!help" or "/info" into the chat, the script catches it and sends back a message.
To do this, you'll need a regular Script inside ServerScriptService. You listen for the PlayerAdded event, and then for each player, you listen for the Chatted event. It sounds more complicated than it is. When the script sees the specific keyword you've chosen, you can have it fire a message back to that specific player using StarterGui:SetCore("ChatMakeSystemMessage", ).
The cool thing about chat commands is they don't take up any screen real estate. The downside? Newer or younger players might not even know the command exists. That's why I usually recommend combining this with a visual element.
Building a Simple Help GUI
Most of the time, you're going to want a button. Since so many Roblox players are on mobile, having a visible "?" or "Help" button on the side of the screen is a lifesaver. This involves a bit of UI work and a LocalScript.
First, you'll head over to StarterGui and create a ScreenGui. Inside that, you'll need a TextButton and a Frame. The frame is what will hold all your actual instructions. You'll want to set the frame's Visible property to false by default, otherwise, it'll be blocking the screen as soon as the game loads.
Writing the Toggle Script
Inside your button, you'll drop a LocalScript. This is the core of your roblox help script's UI logic. It's pretty straightforward—you're just toggling the visibility of the frame.
When the button is clicked (the MouseButton1Click event), you just check if the frame is visible. If it is, turn it off. If it isn't, turn it on. You can even get fancy and add some tweening so the menu slides in from the side instead of just popping into existence. It makes the game feel way more polished.
What to Actually Put in the Help Menu
I've seen a lot of developers make the mistake of writing a whole novel in their help menu. Don't do that. Nobody wants to read a wall of text when they're trying to play a game.
Break it down into bullet points: * Controls: What keys do what? (E to interact, Shift to sprint, etc.) * The Goal: What are they supposed to be doing? "Collect 100 coins to level up." * FAQs: Just the top three things people always ask. * Links: If you have a group or a community server, put that info here.
Keep it punchy. Use bold text for key terms. If your game has a lot of complex systems, maybe use tabs within the help frame so players can click through "Combat," "Economy," and "Building" separately.
Making the Script Contextual
If you want to go the extra mile, your roblox help script doesn't have to be static. You can make it "smart." For example, if a player is standing near a specific shop for the first time, you could have a small hint pop up that says, "Press E to buy items!"
This is usually done using ProximityPrompts or Touch events on invisible parts. While it's technically a bit different from a standard help menu, it serves the same purpose. It guides the player without them having to go looking for answers.
Another great trick is using BillboardGuis. These are the UI elements that float over objects in the 3D world. If a player looks lost, seeing a floating "Tutorial Start" sign can be a huge help.
Dealing with Common Errors
When you're writing your roblox help script, things will probably break at some point. It's just part of the process. The most common issue is trying to change UI elements from a server-side Script instead of a LocalScript.
Remember: Anything that happens on the player's screen (like opening a menu) needs to be handled by a LocalScript. If you try to do it from the server, it either won't work or it'll open the menu for every single person in the game at the same time—which is a nightmare.
Also, make sure you're using WaitForChild() when referencing your UI elements. Sometimes the script runs before the UI has fully loaded into the player's game, and the script will throw an error because it can't find the button yet. Using WaitForChild tells the script to be patient for a second.
Keeping it Updated
As you update your game, don't forget to update your help script! There's nothing more frustrating for a player than reading a help menu that says "Press Q to fly" when you changed the fly key to "G" three updates ago.
I find it's easiest to keep all my help text in a single ModuleScript. That way, if I need to change a description or a control, I only have to change it in one spot, and every part of the game that uses that info stays synced up. It's a huge time-saver in the long run.
Final Thoughts on UX
At the end of the day, a roblox help script is all about user experience. You want to be helpful, not intrusive. If a player has to close five different pop-ups just to see the map, they're going to get annoyed.
Keep your help buttons small and tucked away in a corner. Use colors that stand out but don't clash with your game's aesthetic. Maybe even add a setting to "Disable Tutorials" for the veteran players who already know what they're doing.
If you put a little bit of thought into how players interact with your instructions, you'll notice a massive difference in how long people stay in your game. It's one of those "behind the scenes" things that separates the hobbyist projects from the top-tier experiences. So, get into Studio, mess around with some UI, and make sure your players actually know how to have fun in your world!