I've been using 3D since forever and started making a 2D game for the first time, it's slightly different but largely the same. The 3d physics stuff and 2d physics stuff is slightly different but the approach is the same. Instead of X,Y it's X,Y,Z.

The best advice I can give you is rotation \* vector3 = rotated Vector3. Which is useful for converting global to relative movement. Alternatively you can use transform.InverseTransformDirection or something.

Its not as big of a jump as you're thinking. Nowadays everything is much easier than it used to be and a lot more automated.


This also will depend on the scope of your project and what you're trying to accomplish as well.

As the programmer, in Unity, you should be fine. It’ll basically be the same stuff, especially if you were already using some 2d navmesh asset before. Otherwise your main things will be learning the navmesh classes, and getting used to using like spheres instead of circles

In many ways 3d is easier.  Graphically you can accomplish things practically that (in 2d) have to be simulated.

If this is a traditional JRPG with next to no actual physics it should be a piece of cake. If it's more of an action RPG where the player has to manually aim and dodge attacks (and there's some level of verticality via jumping or slanted/elevated platforms) you might have to learn some new stuff. Either way I don't think it's a huge undertaking.

Graphics are going to be the biggest hurdle, and even that may be manageable depending on the visual style you're going for.

Hey! So I currently work with 2d games in Unity. I'd say I'm proficient in terms of experience but not an expert. My group wants to create a 3d rpg game by February, and I'm the only programmer in there. This is a project that I can do in a 2d game, but I don't know about a 3d game. How different is 2d coding from 3d and how difficult do you think the transition would be? Is that something that I can do in three months?

2D developer working in 3d?