Build settings and scene order in Unity - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Build settings and scene order

Open Build Settings

↓

Add Scenes to Build

↓

Arrange Scene Order

↓

Set First Scene as Entry

↓

Build and Run Game

↓

Game Starts

This flow shows how you open build settings, add scenes, arrange their order, set the first scene, and then build and run the game.

Execution Sample

Unity

// Pseudocode for setting build scenes order
var buildScenes = new List<Scene>()
buildScenes.Add(scene1)
buildScenes.Add(scene2)
// scene1 is first, scene2 second
BuildPlayer(buildScenes);

This code adds scenes to the build list in order and builds the player with that order.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Scene List Order	First Scene (Entry Point)	Result
1	Open Build Settings window	[]	None	Build Settings window opens
2	Add Scene1 to build	[Scene1]	Scene1	Scene1 added, becomes first scene
3	Add Scene2 to build	[Scene1, Scene2]	Scene1	Scene2 added after Scene1
4	Rearrange scenes: move Scene2 up	[Scene2, Scene1]	Scene2	Scene2 is now first scene
5	Build and run game	[Scene2, Scene1]	Scene2	Game starts with Scene2
6	Exit	[Scene2, Scene1]	Scene2	Build complete, game launched

💡 Build and run completes, game starts with first scene in list

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4	Final
Scene List	[]	[Scene1]	[Scene1, Scene2]	[Scene2, Scene1]	[Scene2, Scene1]
First Scene	None	Scene1	Scene1	Scene2	Scene2

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the first scene in the list become the entry point of the game?

Because Unity always starts the game with the first scene listed in Build Settings, as shown in steps 2 and 4 where changing order changes the entry scene.

What happens if you add scenes but don't arrange their order?

The scenes run in the order they were added, so the first added scene is the entry point, as seen in steps 2 and 3.

Can you start the game with a scene not in the build list?

No, only scenes included in the build settings list can be used to start the game, otherwise the build will fail or skip that scene.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, which scene is the entry point after step 4?

A Scene2

B Scene1

C No scene

D Both scenes

💡 Hint

Check the 'First Scene (Entry Point)' column at step 4 in the execution table.

At which step does Scene2 get added to the build list?

A Step 1

B Step 2

C Step 3

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Action' column for when Scene2 is added in the execution table.

If you remove Scene1 after step 3, what will be the first scene?

A Scene1

B Scene2

C No scene

D Scene3

💡 Hint

Refer to the variable_tracker for scene list changes and first scene after removing Scene1.

Concept Snapshot

Build Settings and Scene Order in Unity:
- Open Build Settings window
- Add scenes to the build list
- Arrange scenes to set game start order
- First scene in list is entry point
- Build and run starts game from first scene

Full Transcript

In Unity, you open the Build Settings window to manage which scenes are included in your game build. You add scenes to the build list, and the order of these scenes determines which scene starts first when the game runs. The first scene in the list is the entry point. You can rearrange scenes to change the starting scene. After setting the scenes and order, you build and run the game, which launches starting from the first scene in the list.