How to Create Simple Screen Shake

Shake Shake Shake

Today we add an screen shake effect when the Player is hit.

Exaggerated Screen Shake

Setup

Create a script: ShakeBehaviour
Attach to Camera

Create Shake Effect

We will be using the Random.insideUnitSphere function. As stated in the documentation: “Returns a random point inside or on a sphere with radius 1.0".

Random.insideUnitSphere

First we store the initial position of the camera. We’ll use this to return to the initial position again. That’s why it’s set in Start(). Next we use the Random.insideUnitSphere to move the camera around. By adding the random value to the initial position. With the magnitude multiplier we can adjust to create an bigger shake or smaller one.

Start Shaking

When shakeduration is positive we start the screen shake. Create a public method to set the shakeduration value so the shaking starts.

End Shaking

To end the shake we use Time.deltaTime multiplied by a dampingSpeed value. This will decrease the duration of the shake over time till it hits zero or below. Then the shaking will end till shakeduration becomes greater then 0 again.

Code Screen Shake

public class ShakeBehaviour : MonoBehaviour
{
    [SerializeField] private float _shakeDuration;
    [SerializeField] private float _shakeMagnitude = 0.08f;
    [SerializeField] private float _dampingSpeed = 3f;
    private Vector3 _initialPos;

    // Start is called before the first frame update
    void Start()
    {
        _initialPos = transform.position;
    }

    // Update is called once per frame
    void Update()
    {
        if (_shakeDuration > 0)
        {
            transform.position = _initialPos + Random.insideUnitSphere * _shakeMagnitude;
            _shakeDuration -= Time.deltaTime * _dampingSpeed;
        }
        else
        {
            transform.position = _initialPos;
        }
    }

    public void CameraShake()
    {
        _shakeDuration = 2f;
    }
}

Final Result: Subtle Shake on Player Hit

Play around with the number till you have the desired look.

There will be other methods for sure, but this one is quite simple.