If you've been messing around in Studio lately, you know that getting that roblox moon gravity script physics just right can totally change the vibe of your game. There's something incredibly satisfying about watching a player leap off a ledge and just sort of drift. It turns a standard platformer into something that feels cinematic and, well, out of this world. But if you just crank the numbers down without thinking about the mechanics, you end up with a game that feels floaty in all the wrong ways.
Let's talk about how gravity actually works in Roblox and how we can tweak it to get that lunar feel without breaking everything else in the process.
Why the Default Settings Don't Cut It
Roblox defaults the workspace gravity to 196.2. It's a specific number that makes the physics feel "snappy" for the standard character model. It's heavy enough that you don't feel like you're made of paper, but light enough that jumping feels responsive. However, if you're building a moon base or a space station, 196.2 feels like you're walking through lead.
To get a true moon-like experience, we usually look at the real-world ratio. The moon's gravity is about one-sixth of Earth's. If we did the math, that would put us somewhere around 32 or 33. When you plug that into the workspace settings, things get weird fast. Players jump, and they just keep going. It takes forever to come back down. While it's "realistic," it's often not very fun to play. That's where the actual scripting comes in—we need to balance the physics so it feels like the moon but still plays like a game.
The Simple Way to Change Global Gravity
The easiest way to handle this is by directly editing the global property. You don't even need a complex script for this if you want the entire server to be low-gravity. You can just drop a Script into ServerScriptService and write a single line:
workspace.Gravity = 35
But here's the catch: when you do this, you'll notice the players can jump over buildings. It's fun for about five minutes, but it breaks most level designs. To fix this, you usually have to tweak the JumpPower or JumpHeight of the humanoids. It's a balancing act. If the gravity is low, the jump power should probably be lowered too, so the height stays manageable while the time spent in the air increases. That's the "moon" feeling we're actually looking for—that slow, graceful descent.
Scripting Gravity Zones
Most of the time, you don't want the whole world to be low gravity. Maybe you have a spaceship where gravity is normal, but the moment a player steps out onto the lunar surface, they should start floating. This is where things get a bit more technical with your roblox moon gravity script physics setup.
You can use "Gravity Zones" using parts and touch events, or more reliably, by checking the player's position every frame. A common way to do this is using Region3 or the newer GetPartBoundsInBox functions.
Imagine a script that checks if a player is inside a specific folder of "MoonZones." If they are, the script applies a VectorForce to their assembly. Instead of changing the whole world's gravity (which affects every single brick and ball in the game), you're just applying a slight upward force to the player to counteract the natural gravity. It's a much cleaner way to handle things because it doesn't mess with the physics of objects in other parts of your map.
Making the Movement Feel Right
Physics in Roblox isn't just about how fast you fall. It's also about friction and momentum. On the moon, because there's less downward force, you'd actually have a harder time stopping once you start running.
To make your roblox moon gravity script physics feel more authentic, you might want to play around with the CustomPhysicalProperties of the ground. If you lower the friction on your moon-surface parts, players will slide just a tiny bit when they try to stop. It adds that extra layer of "I'm in a different environment" that a simple gravity change won't provide.
Also, think about the animations. When gravity is low, the standard walking animation looks a bit too fast and robotic. Some developers use scripts to slow down the animation speed of the legs when the player is in a low-gravity zone. It's a small detail, but it makes a massive difference in how the player perceives the "weight" of their character.
Handling Local vs Server Physics
One thing that trips up a lot of people is where the script should live. If you change workspace.Gravity on the server, it's a global change. Everyone sees it, and it's replicated perfectly. But if you want a really smooth experience for the player—specifically for things like custom jump heights—you might want to handle some of that on a LocalScript.
Roblox gives the player "Network Ownership" of their own character. This means the player's computer is the one actually calculating where they are and how they're moving. If you try to fight that from a server script by constantly pushing them around with forces, you might see some jittery movement (that annoying "rubber banding" effect).
The best roblox moon gravity script physics setups usually use a combination. The server handles the gravity for loose parts and objects, while a LocalScript handles the specific feel of the player's movement. It keeps things snappy and responsive for the person playing, which is always the priority.
Troubleshooting Common Physics Glitches
When you start messing with gravity, you're going to run into some weird bugs. It's just part of the process. One common issue is the "floaty ragdoll." If a player dies or gets knocked over in low gravity, their body parts might just drift away or spin uncontrollably.
Another issue is vehicle physics. If you have cars or rovers in your game, they're going to act like they're on ice. They'll flip over easily and fly off ramps like they've been launched from a cannon. You'll usually need to add a "Downforce" script to your vehicles. This basically adds an invisible force pushing the car down towards the ground so it stays drivable, even though the players are hopping around like frogs nearby.
Don't forget about the sound, either! Physics and sound go hand-in-hand for immersion. In a low-gravity environment, footsteps should probably be quieter or have a different thud. It reinforces the idea that there's less force hitting the ground.
Final Thoughts on Implementation
At the end of the day, there isn't one "perfect" number for moon gravity. It depends entirely on what kind of game you're making. Is it a realistic simulation? Go for a low gravity value and deal with the slow movement. Is it a fast-paced shooter set on the moon? You'll probably want to keep the gravity relatively high but add a "double jump" or a "slow fall" mechanic to give the illusion of space physics without sacrificing the gameplay speed.
Experimenting with your roblox moon gravity script physics is the only way to find that "sweet spot." Start with the global workspace setting to see if you like the general feel, then move into more localized scripts as your map gets more complex. Just keep an eye on how it affects your players' ability to actually navigate your world—after all, floating is only fun if you eventually have a place to land.