Build a Custom Roblox Player List GUI Script From Scratch

A roblox player list gui script is honestly one of those projects that looks way harder than it actually is when you first open up Roblox Studio. If you've spent any time playing popular games like Adopt Me or Blox Fruits, you've probably noticed that their player lists look nothing like the default one provided by Roblox. They're sleek, they match the game's theme, and they usually show way more information than just a username.

The default leaderboard is fine for basic games, but if you're trying to build something that feels professional and unique, you're going to want to hide that generic top-right box and replace it with something of your own. In this guide, we're going to walk through how to build your own system from the ground up. We'll cover the UI setup, the logic behind the scripting, and how to make sure it updates in real-time when people join or leave your server.

Why Bother Customizing the Player List?

You might be wondering if it's even worth the effort. Roblox already gives you a working leaderboard, right? Well, yes, but it's very limited. When you write your own roblox player list gui script, you gain total control over the user experience.

For starters, the default list takes up a specific amount of screen real estate that you can't change. If you want a list that sits at the bottom of the screen, or maybe one that only pops up when you hold down the "Tab" key, you have to build it yourself. Plus, custom lists allow you to show off specialized stats—like a player's rank, their current team, or even a tiny thumbnail of their avatar. It adds a level of polish that tells players you've put serious work into the game.

Setting Up the User Interface (UI)

Before we even touch a line of code, we need to get the "bones" of the GUI ready. Head over to the StarterGui folder in your Explorer window and create a new ScreenGui. Let's name it something obvious like PlayerListGui.

Inside that ScreenGui, you'll want to add a Frame. This is going to be your main container. I usually set the size to something like {0, 200}, {0, 300} and position it on the right side of the screen. To make it look modern, add a UICorner object to give it those nice rounded edges.

Now, here is the most important part: inside that Frame, add a ScrollingFrame. This ensures that if your server is full (say, 30 players), the list doesn't just spill off the screen; players can actually scroll through it. To keep the names organized, add a UIListLayout to the ScrollingFrame. This handy little tool automatically stacks your labels or frames on top of each other so you don't have to manually calculate positions in your script.

Creating the Template

You don't want to manually create a new text label for every player. Instead, we're going to make a "Template." Create a small Frame inside your ScrollingFrame, call it PlayerTemplate, and design it exactly how you want a single player's name to look.

Maybe you want a white background with a semi-transparent look, a TextLabel for the name, and a small ImageLabel for the player's headshot. Once you're happy with how it looks, drag that PlayerTemplate into a folder inside your script or into ReplicatedStorage. We'll be cloning this template every time someone joins the game.

The Core Roblox Player List GUI Script

Now for the fun part. We need a LocalScript to handle the logic. You should place this script inside your PlayerListGui. The reason we use a LocalScript is that the UI is individual to each player; the server doesn't need to be moving UI elements around.

Here's a simplified breakdown of how the logic works: 1. We need to look at who is currently in the game. 2. We need to listen for when someone joins (PlayerAdded). 3. We need to listen for when someone leaves (PlayerRemoving).

Let's look at how we might structure that:

```lua local Players = game:GetService("Players") local container = script.Parent.Frame.ScrollingFrame local template = game.ReplicatedStorage.PlayerTemplate

local function addPlayerToList(player) -- Don't add them twice! if container:FindFirstChild(player.Name) then return end

local entry = template:Clone() entry.Name = player.Name entry.PlayerNameLabel.Text = player.DisplayName -- Or player.Name entry.Parent = container -- Optional: Add their avatar image local content, isReady = Players:GetUserThumbnailAsync(player.UserId, Enum.ThumbnailType.HeadShot, Enum.ThumbnailSize.Size420x420) entry.AvatarImage.Image = content 

end

local function removePlayerFromList(player) local entry = container:FindFirstChild(player.Name) if entry then entry:Destroy() end end

-- Handle players already in the server for _, player in pairs(Players:GetPlayers()) do addPlayerToList(player) end

-- Listen for new arrivals and departures Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(addPlayerToList) Players.PlayerRemoving:Connect(removePlayerFromList) ```

This roblox player list gui script is a solid foundation. It clones our template, fills in the name, and cleans up when someone leaves. It's simple, effective, and won't lag your game.

Making It Look Professional

If you stop there, you'll have a working list, but it might feel a bit static. To really make it pop, you should look into TweenService. Instead of the name just "appearing," you could script it so the entry slides in from the right or fades in from transparent to opaque.

Another pro tip: use DisplayName instead of Name. Roblox players love their display names, and it makes the game feel more integrated with the modern Roblox ecosystem. Also, don't forget to set the CanvasSize of your ScrollingFrame. If you set the AutomaticCanvasSize property to "Y", the scrollable area will automatically grow as more players join. This is a lifesaver because it prevents that awkward situation where the 12th player's name is just cut off.

Dealing with Teams and Stats

If your game has teams (like "Police" vs. "Criminals"), you'll probably want to group players together. This adds another layer to your roblox player list gui script. You can use the UIListLayout property SortOrder to organize people by team color or by an "Order" value.

If you want to show stats—like how many kills someone has or what level they are—you'll need to access the leaderstats folder. Inside your addPlayerToList function, you can set up a listener for the specific stat:

```lua local kills = player:WaitForChild("leaderstats"):WaitForChild("Kills") entry.StatLabel.Text = tostring(kills.Value)

kills.Changed:Connect(function(newValue) entry.StatLabel.Text = tostring(newValue) end) ```

This way, whenever a player gets a kill, the number on your custom GUI updates instantly. It's these small details that make a game feel responsive and high-quality.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, your script might not work as expected. A common mistake is trying to access the leaderstats before they've actually loaded. Using WaitForChild is your best friend here. If you don't use it, the script might run so fast that it tries to find the "Kills" value before the server has even created it, resulting in a nasty error in your output log.

Another thing to watch out for is the ZIndex. If your player list is hiding behind other UI elements, make sure the DisplayOrder of your ScreenGui is higher than the others. Or, if the names inside the list are overlapping, check the padding settings on your UIListLayout.

Wrapping It Up

Creating a custom roblox player list gui script is really a rite of passage for Roblox developers. It forces you to learn about GUI structures, event handling, and how to bridge the gap between player data and visual representation.

Once you get the hang of the basic "Add/Remove" logic, the sky's the limit. You can add buttons to friend players directly from the list, mute buttons for chat, or even a "Teleport" button for admins. The best part is that once you've written this script once, you can save it as a model and drop it into any future project you work on. It's a foundational tool that makes every game you build look just a little bit more "pro." So, get into Studio, start dragging some frames around, and see what kind of unique list you can come up with!