tilemaps

name	tilemaps
description	Use this skill when working with tilemaps in Phaser 4. Covers loading Tiled JSON maps, creating tilemap layers, tile collision, dynamic tiles, tile properties, and tilemap camera culling. Triggers on: Tilemap, Tiled, tilemap layer, tile collision, tile properties.

Tilemaps

Phaser Tilemaps render tile-based levels from Tiled JSON, CSV, or raw 2D arrays. A Tilemap holds parsed map data and provides methods to add tilesets, create layers, set collision, and query tiles. Layers (TilemapLayer or TilemapGPULayer) are the Game Objects that actually render tiles. Phaser supports orthogonal, isometric, hexagonal, and staggered maps.

Key source paths: src/tilemaps/Tilemap.js, src/tilemaps/TilemapLayer.js, src/tilemaps/TilemapGPULayer.js, src/tilemaps/TilemapLayerBase.js, src/tilemaps/Tile.js, src/tilemaps/Tileset.js, src/tilemaps/TilemapFactory.js, src/tilemaps/components/, src/tilemaps/parsers/tiled/ Related skills: ../loading-assets/SKILL.md, ../sprites-and-images/SKILL.md

Quick Start

class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
    preload() {
        // Load the Tiled JSON and the tileset image
        this.load.tilemapTiledJSON('map', 'assets/level1.json');
        this.load.image('tiles', 'assets/tilesheet.png');
    }

    create() {
        // Create the tilemap from cached JSON
        const map = this.add.tilemap('map');

        // Link the tileset image to the tileset name used in Tiled
        const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('tilesheet', 'tiles');

        // Create a layer - layerID must match the layer name in Tiled
        const ground = map.createLayer('Ground', tileset);

        // Enable collision on specific tile indexes
        ground.setCollision([1, 2, 3]);
    }
}

The flow is always: load JSON + image, create tilemap, add tileset image, create layer(s), set collision.

Core Concepts

Tilemap vs Layer

A Tilemap is a data container, not a display object. It stores parsed map data (layers, tilesets, objects) and provides methods that operate on them. A TilemapLayer or TilemapGPULayer is the actual Game Object added to the display list that renders tiles.

const map = this.add.tilemap('map');    // Data container (not rendered)
const layer = map.createLayer('Ground', tileset);  // Game Object (rendered)

this.add.tilemap(key) is a factory registered on GameObjectFactory. It delegates to ParseToTilemap which reads from the cache and returns a Tilemap instance.

Tilesets

A Tileset (src/tilemaps/Tileset.js) links a tileset name (from Tiled) to a loaded texture. It stores firstgid, tile dimensions, margin, and spacing.

// tilesetName: the name in Tiled's tileset panel
// key: the Phaser texture key (defaults to tilesetName if omitted)
const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('tilesetName', 'textureKey');

// Override tile dimensions, margin, and spacing if needed
const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('name', 'key', 16, 16, 1, 2);

addTilesetImage(tilesetName, key, tileWidth, tileHeight, tileMargin, tileSpacing, gid, tileOffset) - If the tileset name already exists in the parsed map data, it updates the existing Tileset object with the texture. If not (non-Tiled maps), it creates a new Tileset.

Important: The Phaser Tiled parser does not support "Collection of Images" tilesets. All tiles must be in a single tileset image per tileset.

The Tile Class

Each cell in a layer is a Tile object (src/tilemaps/Tile.js). Key properties:

• index - tile index in the tileset (-1 for empty)
• x, y - tile coordinates (in tiles, not pixels)
• pixelX, pixelY - pixel position relative to layer origin
• width, height - tile size in pixels
• properties - custom properties from Tiled (object)
• collideLeft, collideRight, collideUp, collideDown - per-edge collision flags
• faceLeft, faceRight, faceTop, faceBottom - interesting face flags for collision optimization
• collisionCallback - per-tile collision callback function
• tint - tint color value (default 0xffffff)
• tintMode - tint blend mode (default TintModes.MULTIPLY)
• rotation - rotation angle
• physics - object for physics-engine-specific data (e.g. bodies)
• alpha, visible, flipX, flipY - inherited from mixins

TilemapGPULayer (v4.0.0)

TilemapGPULayer is a high-performance WebGL-only alternative to TilemapLayer. It renders the entire layer as a single quad using a shader, making it almost entirely GPU-bound.

// Pass gpu: true as the 5th argument to createLayer
const layer = map.createLayer('Ground', tileset, 0, 0, true);

Capabilities:

• Single tileset per layer only (no multi-tileset)
• Max tilemap size: 4096x4096 tiles
• Max unique tile IDs: 2^23 (8,388,608)
• Supports tile flip and tile animation
• Orthographic maps only (no iso/hex/staggered)
• Smooth tile borders with LINEAR filtering (no seams)
• Sharp pixels with NEAREST filtering

Restrictions:

• Layer edits do not display automatically. Call generateLayerDataTexture() after modifying tiles.
• WebGL renderer only (no Canvas fallback)
• Cannot use multiple tilesets on a single layer

// If you edit tiles on a GPU layer, regenerate the data texture:
gpuLayer.putTileAt(5, 10, 10);
gpuLayer.generateLayerDataTexture();

TilemapLayerBase

Both TilemapLayer and TilemapGPULayer extend TilemapLayerBase (src/tilemaps/TilemapLayerBase.js), which extends GameObject. The base class provides all tile query, manipulation, and collision methods. It includes these component mixins: Alpha, BlendMode, ComputedSize, Depth, ElapseTimer, Flip, GetBounds, Lighting, Mask, Origin, RenderNodes, Transform, Visible, ScrollFactor, and Arcade Physics Collision.

Common Patterns

Creating from Tiled JSON

preload() {
    this.load.tilemapTiledJSON('map', 'assets/map.json');
    this.load.image('tiles', 'assets/tileset.png');
}

create() {
    const map = this.add.tilemap('map');
    const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('TilesetNameInTiled', 'tiles');
    const layer = map.createLayer('LayerNameInTiled', tileset);
}

The layerID passed to createLayer must match the layer name in Tiled exactly. Group layer children are flattened with a 'ParentGroup/Layer' naming convention.

Multiple Layers

const map = this.add.tilemap('map');
const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('terrain', 'terrain-img');

const background = map.createLayer('Background', tileset);
const ground = map.createLayer('Ground', tileset);
const foreground = map.createLayer('Foreground', tileset);

// Layers are rendered in creation order. Use depth for finer control:
foreground.setDepth(10);

A layer can use multiple tilesets (CPU layer only):

const tiles1 = map.addTilesetImage('terrain', 'terrain-img');
const tiles2 = map.addTilesetImage('objects', 'objects-img');
const layer = map.createLayer('Ground', [tiles1, tiles2]);

Creating a Blank Layer

const map = this.add.tilemap('map');
const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('terrain', 'terrain-img');

// createBlankLayer(name, tileset, x, y, width, height, tileWidth, tileHeight)
const layer = map.createBlankLayer('dynamic', tileset, 0, 0, 50, 50, 32, 32);

// Fill it with tiles
layer.fill(1);  // Fill entire layer with tile index 1
layer.putTileAt(5, 10, 10);  // Place tile index 5 at tile coord (10, 10)

Collision Setup

There are several ways to enable tile collision for Arcade Physics:

// By specific tile indexes
layer.setCollision([1, 2, 3]);

// By range (inclusive)
layer.setCollisionBetween(1, 50);

// By tile property (set in Tiled's tileset editor)
layer.setCollisionByProperty({ collides: true });
// Supports arrays: { type: ['stone', 'lava'] }

// By exclusion - collide on ALL tiles except these
layer.setCollisionByExclusion([-1, 0]);  // -1 is empty, 0 is often background

// From Tiled collision editor shapes
layer.setCollisionFromCollisionGroup();

All collision methods on TilemapLayerBase mirror methods on Tilemap but don't require a layer parameter. On the Tilemap, you can pass a layer reference or use the "current layer":

map.setLayer('Ground');
map.setCollision([1, 2, 3]);  // Applies to current layer
// Or specify a layer explicitly:
map.setCollision([1, 2, 3], true, true, 'Ground');

Physics Integration (Arcade)

// Enable collisions between a sprite and a tilemap layer
this.physics.add.collider(player, groundLayer);

// With a callback
this.physics.add.collider(player, groundLayer, (sprite, tile) => {
    if (tile.index === 5) {
        // Hit a special tile
    }
});

// Overlap detection instead of collision
this.physics.add.overlap(player, groundLayer, (sprite, tile) => {
    // Player is overlapping this tile
});

The layer must have collision set on its tiles (via setCollision* methods) for physics to detect them. The layer itself has collisionCategory and collisionMask properties for collision filtering.

Tile Properties

Tiles can have custom properties set in Tiled's tileset editor:

// Access tile properties
const tile = layer.getTileAt(10, 5);
console.log(tile.properties.damage);    // Custom property from Tiled
console.log(tile.properties.type);      // Custom property from Tiled

// Set collision based on custom properties
layer.setCollisionByProperty({ collides: true });
layer.setCollisionByProperty({ type: ['wall', 'rock'] });

Tile Callbacks

// Callback by tile index - fires when physics body overlaps these tiles
map.setTileIndexCallback([5, 6, 7], (sprite, tile) => {
    // Called for tiles with index 5, 6, or 7
    console.log('Hit tile', tile.index, 'at', tile.x, tile.y);
}, this);

// Callback by tile location - fires for tiles in a rectangular area
map.setTileLocationCallback(10, 10, 5, 5, (sprite, tile) => {
    // Called for any tile in the 5x5 region starting at (10, 10)
}, this);

// Per-tile callback
const tile = layer.getTileAt(10, 5);
tile.collisionCallback = (sprite, tile) => {
    // Custom logic for this specific tile
};

Tile callbacks require an active physics collider/overlap between the body and the layer.

Querying Tiles

const tile = layer.getTileAt(10, 5);               // By tile coords (or null)
const tile = layer.getTileAt(10, 5, true);          // nonNull: Tile with index -1 instead of null
const tile = layer.getTileAtWorldXY(worldX, worldY); // By world coords
const exists = layer.hasTileAt(10, 5);              // Boolean check

// Region queries
const tiles = layer.getTilesWithin(0, 0, 10, 10);            // Tile coord region
const tiles = layer.getTilesWithinWorldXY(x, y, w, h);       // World coord region
const tiles = layer.getTilesWithinShape(circle);              // Shape overlap

// Functional queries
const water = layer.filterTiles(t => t.properties.type === 'water');
const spawn = layer.findTile(t => t.properties.isSpawn);
layer.forEachTile(t => { /* iterate all tiles */ });

Modifying Tiles at Runtime

layer.putTileAt(5, 10, 10);                      // Place tile index 5 at (10, 10)
layer.putTileAtWorldXY(5, worldX, worldY);        // Place by world coords
layer.putTilesAt([[1, 2], [3, 4]], 10, 10);       // Place a 2x2 grid
layer.removeTileAt(10, 10);                       // Remove tile
layer.fill(1, 0, 0, 10, 10);                     // Fill 10x10 region with index 1
layer.replaceByIndex(5, 10);                      // Replace all index-5 with index-10
layer.copy(0, 0, 5, 5, 20, 20);                  // Copy 5x5 from (0,0) to (20,20)
layer.randomize(0, 0, 10, 10, [1, 2, 3, 4]);     // Random tiles in region
layer.weightedRandomize([{ index: 1, weight: 4 }, { index: 2, weight: 1 }], 0, 0, 10, 10);
layer.shuffle(0, 0, 10, 10);                     // Shuffle tiles in region

Coordinate Conversion

const tileXY = layer.worldToTileXY(worldX, worldY);   // World -> tile coords
const worldXY = layer.tileToWorldXY(tileX, tileY);    // Tile -> world coords

// Reuse a vector to avoid allocation
const vec = new Phaser.Math.Vector2();
layer.worldToTileXY(worldX, worldY, true, vec);  // snapToFloor = true

Object Layers (Tiled)

Tiled object layers define points, rectangles, and sprite placement. Use createFromObjects on the Tilemap:

// Create sprites from all objects on the 'Enemies' object layer
const enemies = map.createFromObjects('Enemies', {
    gid: 26,          // Match by tile GID
    classType: Enemy   // Custom class extending Sprite
});

// Match by name
const coins = map.createFromObjects('Items', {
    name: 'coin',
    key: 'coin-texture',
    frame: 0
});

// Match by type
const spawns = map.createFromObjects('Spawns', {
    type: 'player-spawn'
});

// Access raw object layer data
const objectLayer = map.getObjectLayer('Enemies');
objectLayer.objects.forEach(obj => {
    console.log(obj.name, obj.x, obj.y, obj.properties);
});

createFromObjects(layerName, config, useTileset) config options: id, gid, name, type, classType (default Sprite), scene, container, key, frame, ignoreTileset.

Animated Tiles

Tile animations are defined in Tiled's tileset editor and parsed automatically. Both TilemapLayer and TilemapGPULayer support animated tiles. The TilemapLayerBase uses ElapseTimer to track animation time via preUpdate.

Isometric, Hexagonal, and Staggered Maps

// Isometric map
const map = this.add.tilemap('iso-map');
const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('iso-tiles', 'iso-img');
const layer = map.createLayer('Ground', tileset);

// Get tile at world coords in isometric space
const tile = layer.getIsoTileAtWorldXY(worldX, worldY);

// TilemapGPULayer does NOT support iso/hex/staggered - use TilemapLayer

The map orientation property is set from Tiled data. Coordinate conversion functions are automatically selected based on orientation.

API Quick Reference

Tilemap (data container - not rendered)

Method	Description
addTilesetImage(name, key, tw, th, margin, spacing, gid, offset)	Link tileset name to texture
createLayer(layerID, tileset, x, y, gpu)	Create layer (gpu=true for GPU layer)
createBlankLayer(name, tileset, x, y, w, h, tw, th)	Create empty layer for procedural maps
createFromObjects(layerName, config, useTileset)	Convert Tiled objects to Sprites
getObjectLayer(name)	Get raw object layer data
setLayer(layer)	Set current active layer for shorthand methods

Most tile query/collision/manipulation methods exist on both Tilemap (with extra layer param) and TilemapLayerBase (without). Prefer calling on the layer directly.

TilemapLayerBase (rendered layer - CPU and GPU)

Collision: setCollision(indexes), setCollisionBetween(start, stop), setCollisionByProperty(props), setCollisionByExclusion(indexes), setCollisionFromCollisionGroup(), setTileIndexCallback(indexes, cb, ctx), setTileLocationCallback(x, y, w, h, cb, ctx)

Tile queries: getTileAt(x, y, nonNull), getTileAtWorldXY(wx, wy, nonNull, cam), getTilesWithin(x, y, w, h, opts), getTilesWithinWorldXY(wx, wy, w, h, opts, cam), getTilesWithinShape(shape, opts, cam), hasTileAt(x, y), hasTileAtWorldXY(wx, wy, cam), filterTiles(cb), findTile(cb), forEachTile(cb)

Tile manipulation: putTileAt(tile, x, y), putTileAtWorldXY(tile, wx, wy), putTilesAt(arr, x, y), removeTileAt(x, y), fill(index, x, y, w, h), copy(sx, sy, w, h, dx, dy), randomize(x, y, w, h, indexes), weightedRandomize(weights, x, y, w, h), shuffle(x, y, w, h), swapByIndex(a, b), replaceByIndex(find, replace), createFromTiles(indexes, replacements, config)

Coordinates: worldToTileXY(wx, wy, snap, vec, cam), tileToWorldXY(tx, ty, vec, cam)

TilemapGPULayer (additional)

Method	Description
generateLayerDataTexture()	Regenerate GPU texture after tile edits

Tile Properties

index (number, -1=empty), x/y (tile coords), pixelX/pixelY (pixel pos relative to layer), width/height, properties (object from Tiled), collideLeft/Right/Up/Down (boolean), collisionCallback (function), tint (number), rotation (number), alpha, flipX/flipY, physics (object for engine data)

Gotchas

1. Tileset name must match Tiled exactly. The first argument to addTilesetImage is the tileset name as defined in Tiled, not the Phaser texture key. If they don't match, you get null back and a console warning.

2. Layer name must match Tiled exactly. createLayer takes the layer name from Tiled (or layer index). Group layer children are prefixed with 'GroupName/LayerName'.

3. Each layer can only be created once. Calling createLayer with the same layer ID twice returns null with a warning. The layer data can only be associated with one layer Game Object.

4. setCollision must be called before physics colliders work. Without marking tiles as collidable, this.physics.add.collider() will pass through all tiles.

5. TilemapGPULayer is orthographic only. It does not support isometric, hexagonal, or staggered maps. It also only supports a single tileset per layer.

6. TilemapGPULayer requires manual texture regeneration. After calling putTileAt or other edit methods, call generateLayerDataTexture() or the changes won't appear.

7. "Collection of Images" tilesets are not supported. The Tiled parser requires all tiles in a tileset to be in a single image. Embedded tilesets in the exported JSON are required.

8. Tile index -1 means empty. Many methods return null for empty tiles by default. Pass nonNull: true to get a Tile object with index === -1 instead.

9. insertNull in tilemap factory. When creating a tilemap, insertNull: true stores null for empty tiles instead of Tile objects with index -1. Saves memory for large sparse maps but prevents dynamic tile placement in empty cells.

10. Tile callbacks only fire with active physics. setTileIndexCallback and setTileLocationCallback require a physics collider or overlap between the body and the layer to trigger.

11. Layer position and Tiled offset. If x and y are not specified in createLayer, they default to the layer offset defined in Tiled, not (0, 0).

Source File Map

File	Purpose
src/tilemaps/Tilemap.js	Main data container with all map-level methods
src/tilemaps/TilemapFactory.js	Registers this.add.tilemap() on GameObjectFactory
src/tilemaps/TilemapLayerBase.js	Shared base for CPU and GPU layers (extends GameObject)
src/tilemaps/TilemapLayer.js	CPU-rendered layer (multi-tileset, all orientations)
src/tilemaps/TilemapGPULayer.js	GPU-accelerated layer (v4, WebGL, orthographic, single tileset)
src/tilemaps/Tile.js	Individual tile data (index, position, collision, properties)
src/tilemaps/Tileset.js	Tileset data (name, firstgid, dimensions, image)
src/tilemaps/components/	Pure functions: SetCollision, GetTileAt, PutTileAt, SetTileIndexCallback, etc.
src/tilemaps/parsers/tiled/	Tiled JSON parsers: ParseJSONTiled, ParseTileLayers, ParseObjectLayers, ParseTilesets, BuildTilesetIndex
src/tilemaps/ParseToTilemap.js	Orchestrates parsing and Tilemap creation
src/tilemaps/mapdata/LayerData.js	Layer data structure