What Is Roblox? A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Roblox is an online gaming and creation platform.

It is not one single game.

Instead, Roblox contains millions of different games and interactive experiences made by individual creators, development teams and professional studios. Roblox officially describes itself as both a place to play games and a platform for creating them.

Players can use Roblox to:

• Play games
• Explore virtual worlds
• Customise an avatar
• Play with friends
• Join communities
• Buy virtual items
• Create their own games
• Build and sell digital content

Roblox itself is not one game.

It is a platform that contains many different games, which Roblox often calls experiences.

A Roblox experience could be:

• An obstacle course
• A racing game
• A roleplaying game
• A simulator
• A tycoon game
• A horror game
• A sports game
• An educational experience
• A social hangout
• A large multiplayer world

These experiences are created by the Roblox community rather than all being made directly by Roblox.

Roblox gives users one account that can be used across many different games.

After creating an account, a player can:

1. Choose or customise an avatar.
2. Browse Roblox games.
3. Select a game they want to play.
4. Join the game online.
5. Play with other users where multiplayer is available.
6. Move between different Roblox experiences using the same account.

Games are hosted through Roblox, so players can usually move between experiences without downloading each game separately.

Yes. Roblox is free to join and many Roblox games can be played without paying.

However, Roblox also has optional purchases.

The platform uses a virtual currency called Robux.

Players can use Robux to buy things such as:

• Avatar clothing
• Accessories
• Game passes
• Special abilities
• In-game items
• Private server access
• Other digital content

You do not need to buy Robux simply to create a Roblox account or start playing. Roblox officially states that the platform is free to join and play, although some upgrades and items cost Robux.

Robux is Roblox's virtual currency.

Players can spend Robux on digital items and features across Roblox.

For example, Robux may be used to buy:

• Avatar items
• Clothing
• Accessories
• Game passes
• In-game products
• Private servers

Because Robux can be purchased using real money, parents should review spending settings before allowing younger children to make purchases.

Our Roblox parental controls guide explains how parents can manage spending and other account settings.

A Roblox avatar is the character that represents a player across Roblox.

Players can customise their avatar using different:

• Clothes
• Hair
• Faces
• Accessories
• Bodies
• Animations
• Characters

The same avatar can usually appear across many different Roblox experiences.

Roblox describes avatars as the 3D representations of users that can be customised with different items and character features.

Many Roblox games are created by members of the Roblox community.

Creators range from beginners learning game development to professional development studios.

A Roblox creator can build:

• Games
• Maps
• 3D models
• User interfaces
• Scripts
• Plugins
• Avatar items
• Animations
• Other digital assets

Roblox provides tools that let creators build, test, publish and monetise their work.

Roblox Studio is the main development software used to create Roblox games.

It is available free from Roblox.

Creators use Roblox Studio to:

• Build 3D worlds
• Create maps
• Add models
• Write scripts
• Design interfaces
• Add animations
• Test games
• Publish games to Roblox

Roblox describes Studio as its all-in-one development environment for building, scripting, testing and publishing experiences.

If you want to start developing, our upcoming How to Use Roblox Studio guide will explain the process step by step.

Yes.

Roblox Studio is designed so beginners can start learning how games are made.

A beginner might start by:

• Editing a template
• Building a simple map
• Adding objects
• Changing colours and materials
• Creating a basic obstacle course
• Learning simple scripting

More experienced developers can build much larger multiplayer games and systems.

Roblox Studio includes templates that can be edited without requiring previous development knowledge.

Roblox primarily uses a programming language called Luau.

Luau is based on Lua and is used to control how Roblox games behave.

Scripts can be used to create things such as:

• Doors
• Vehicles
• Shops
• User interfaces
• Game rounds
• Weapons
• Leaderboards
• Player systems
• Special abilities

Players do not need to know programming to play Roblox.

Coding becomes important when someone wants to create more advanced Roblox games.

Roblox assets are digital items used when creating Roblox games and experiences.

Examples include:

• 3D models
• Maps
• Scripts
• UI and GUI kits
• Icons
• Audio
• Animations
• Textures
• Plugins
• Game templates

Creators can build assets themselves or use resources created by other developers.

If you are learning about development resources, read our guide to finding free Roblox assets.

The Creator Store is a Roblox marketplace designed for developers.

It contains assets that creators can use when building Roblox games.

These can include:

• Models
• Plugins
• Audio
• Images
• Meshes
• Other development resources

Roblox describes the Creator Store as a place where creators can share and sell assets to other creators.

This is different from the Roblox Marketplace used for avatar items.

The Roblox Marketplace is mainly used for avatar items.

Players can find items such as:

• Clothing
• Accessories
• Hair
• Faces
• Avatar bodies
• Other customisation items

The Marketplace is aimed primarily at players customising avatars, while the Creator Store is aimed at developers building games. Roblox makes this distinction in its creator documentation.

We will also cover this in more detail in our Roblox Marketplace vs Creator Store guide.

Yes.

Roblox creators can earn money through several different systems.

Depending on what they create, developers may earn through:

• In-game purchases
• Game passes
• Paid products
• Advertising
• Avatar items
• Plugins
• Other creator monetisation systems

Roblox provides creators with tools for building, publishing and monetising games and digital content.

Making money on Roblox is not guaranteed. Successful games usually require development skills, good design, regular updates and an audience.

Roblox is designed to work across multiple types of devices.

Depending on the game and regional availability, Roblox can be played on platforms including:

• PCs
• Macs
• Phones
• Tablets
• Consoles
• VR devices

Individual games may work better on certain devices than others.

Creators can publish Roblox experiences across major platforms from the same Roblox ecosystem.

Yes.

Many Roblox experiences are multiplayer and allow users to play alongside friends and other players.

Users can connect with other Roblox accounts and join supported multiplayer experiences together.

Roblox also automatically places players into online servers when they join games.

Parents of younger children should review communication and connection settings before allowing unrestricted social features.

Roblox is primarily a gaming and creation platform, but it also contains social features.

Depending on age and account settings, users may be able to:

• Add friends or connections
• Chat
• Play multiplayer games
• Join communities
• Interact inside experiences

This means parents should think about Roblox as more than just a traditional offline video game.

Roblox includes safety systems designed for younger users, but no large online platform is completely risk-free.

Roblox uses measures including:

• Age-based accounts
• Age checks
• Content ratings
• Communication restrictions
• Parental controls
• Moderation
• Blocking and reporting

In 2026, Roblox uses Roblox Kids accounts for ages 5–8 and Roblox Select accounts for ages 9–15 in supported regions. These accounts include additional age-based protections.

For a full explanation, read our Is Roblox Safe? guide.

Roblox uses different account experiences for younger players.

Roblox Kids

Generally ages 5–8.

Roblox Kids has stronger default protections, including lower content maturity access and chat that is off by default.

Roblox Select

Generally ages 9–15.

Roblox Select provides access to a wider range of experiences while keeping additional protections for younger users.

Roblox

Generally ages 16+.

Older users have access to a broader set of platform features.

Exact ages and features can vary by region.

Yes.

Parents can link their own Roblox account to their child's account and manage supported settings.

These can include:

• Content access
• Games
• Communication
• Screen time
• Spending
• Friends and connections

If you are setting Roblox up for a child, read our complete Roblox parental controls guide.

It includes step-by-step walkthroughs showing parents where the main controls are located and how to use them.

One reason Roblox attracts such a wide audience is the variety of content available.

Instead of buying one game with one fixed set of features, users can move between many different experiences.

A player might spend one day playing:

• A racing game

and the next playing:

• A roleplaying game
• A simulator
• An obstacle course
• A building game

Roblox also gives players the ability to become creators themselves.

This combination of playing, creating and social interaction makes Roblox different from many traditional games.

The difference is simple:

Roblox is mainly where users play and discover games.

Roblox Studio is where creators build those games.

A player can use Roblox without ever opening Studio.

A developer may use both:

Roblox Studio → Build the game

Roblox → Publish and play the game

No.

Roblox is used by children, teenagers and adults.

Different games are designed for different audiences.

Roblox now also uses age-based account types and content access to make different parts of the platform more appropriate for different age groups.

Parents should still check whether individual games are suitable for their child.

No.

You only need Roblox Studio if you want to create Roblox games or development content.

Players can simply use the regular Roblox application to:

• Find games
• Play games
• Customise avatars
• Connect with friends

Studio is an optional development tool.

Roblox can introduce users to several creative and technical skills.

Creating games can involve:

• Programming
• 3D modelling
• Game design
• UI design
• Animation
• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Project management

The amount someone learns depends on how they use the platform.

Simply playing Roblox is different from actively learning how to build games in Roblox Studio.

Getting started is straightforward.

Step 1: Create a Roblox Account

Create an account through Roblox.

Step 2: Install Roblox

Download the Roblox application for your device.

Step 3: Choose an Avatar

Customise your Roblox character.

Step 4: Find a Game

Browse available Roblox experiences.

Step 5: Press Play

Choose a game and join.

Roblox uses the same account for both playing and creating.

If you want to create rather than only play:

Step 1: Create a Roblox Account

The same account can be used for playing and developing.

Step 2: Download Roblox Studio

Studio is Roblox's free game-development software.

Step 3: Open a Template

Beginners can start with a Roblox template instead of building everything from scratch.

Step 4: Edit the Game

Add objects, terrain, scripts and UI.

Step 5: Test Your Game

Use Roblox Studio's testing tools.

Step 6: Publish

When the game is ready, publish it to Roblox.

Roblox provides free creation tools, hosting and infrastructure for developers.

Parents do not need to understand every Roblox feature before allowing a child to play.

The most useful things to know are:

1. Roblox is a platform, not one game.
2. Different Roblox games can contain different content.
3. Robux can involve real-money spending.
4. Some Roblox features allow communication with other users.
5. Parental controls are available.
6. Younger users receive additional age-based protections.
7. Parents should periodically review what their child plays.

For more information, read:

Is Roblox Safe?

and

Roblox Parental Controls

Roblox is an online gaming and creation platform where users can play millions of community-created games, customise avatars, interact with other players and build their own experiences using Roblox Studio.

For players, Roblox is a place to discover and play games.

For creators, Roblox provides tools for building games, digital items and other content.

For parents, understanding that Roblox is a platform containing many different experiences rather than one single game is one of the most important things to know.

If you are new to Roblox, continue with:

• Is Roblox Safe?
• Roblox Parental Controls
• Where to Find Free Roblox Assets
• How to Upload Roblox Assets
• Roblox Asset Packs

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Last updated: September 2026

Freeflow is an independent marketplace and educational resource for Roblox creators and users. Freeflow is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Roblox Corporation.