What is game development?

Game development encompasses all the steps needed to conceptualize and craft a video game, including its music, graphics, and mechanics. Although some games are developed by a solo individual, most projects require the talents of multiple people. In fact, when it comes to the most complex projects, multiple studios and thousands of people may collaborate to produce a single game.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in game development?

Game developers tend to be very creative individuals who are passionate about gaming and storytelling. Not all video games succeed. So, game developers should be willing to accept criticism and ambitious enough to keep trying until they find a winning concept. Game developers also need to be analytical as well as curious enough to stay on top of the latest tech developments.

What jobs can I get in game development?

You can find a variety of jobs in the game development field, including game designer, music composer, programmer, animator, and game tester. Game designers conceptualize games. They may have a role in everything from writing the storyline to designing the stages and mechanics. Whether a game's score features simplistic eight-bit tunes or dramatic orchestral music, composers or audio engineers are needed on game development teams. Jobs are also available for programmers. These individuals tackle the technical aspects of game development, creating complex code that allows players to interact with the elements on the screen. Animators and artists have the task of creating a game's visuals, ranging from character designs to background scenery. Game testers spend plenty of time playing games. However, rather than playing for sheer enjoyment, they spend their time searching for glitches and testing the difficulty and functionality of each stage.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn game development?

Online courses can introduce you to core principles of game design, including how to tell stories through gameplay and how to generate and build on unique game ideas. You can also find courses on Coursera that focus on building specific skills, such as programming, designing characters, and creating pixel art. Other courses focus on the business side of the field, helping you learn how to pitch your creations to audiences or even start your own company.

What are the benefits of taking an online Game Development course?

Online Game Development courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Game Development skills. Choose from a wide range of Game Development courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Game Development courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Game Development, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Game Development Courses - Learn Game Development Online

Explore the Game Development Course Catalog

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Functional Programming Principles in Scala
Skills you'll gain: Scala Programming, Programming Principles, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Functional Design, Software Design Patterns, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Software Engineering, Javascript, Algorithms, Computational Thinking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Learning, Knowledge, and Human Development
Skills you'll gain: Education and Training, Pedagogy, Human Development, Higher Education, Learning Theory, Psychology, Educational Materials, Social Sciences, Disabilities, Cultural Diversity
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
251 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
Full Stack Application Development Capstone Project
Skills you'll gain: Full-Stack Web Development, CI/CD, Kubernetes, Application Deployment, Application Development, Software Design, Front-End Web Development, Restful API, Web Design and Development, Software Architecture, Microservices, Web Applications, Containerization, Serverless Computing, Cloud Applications, HTML and CSS, Cloud Development, Back-End Web Development, Node.JS, User Accounts
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
171 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales)
Learning to Teach Online
Skills you'll gain: Instructional Strategies, Teaching, Course Development, Blended Learning, Education and Training, Interactive Learning, Student Engagement, Curriculum Planning, Pedagogy, Developing Training Materials, Educational Materials, Instructional and Curriculum Design, Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, Open Source Technology, Program Evaluation, Quality Assessment, Needs Assessment, Technology Strategies, Constructive Feedback
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Build a Full Website using WordPress
Skills you'll gain: WordPress, Content Management Systems, Web Content, Web Design and Development, Web Development, Content Development and Management, Social Media
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
4.2K reviews
Advanced · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
University of Michigan
Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, SQL, MySQL, Relational Databases, Database Management, Databases, Data Modeling, Data Integrity, Development Environment, Software Installation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.4K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order
Skills you'll gain: Writing and Editing, Writing, Storytelling, Detail Oriented, Resourcefulness, Decision Making, Creativity, Lifelong Learning, Professionalism
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google
Satisfaction Guaranteed: Develop Customer Loyalty Online
Skills you'll gain: Loyalty Programs, Customer Retention, Customer Relationship Management, E-Commerce, Customer Service, Marketing Automation, Professional Networking, Marketing Analytics, Digital Marketing, Product Improvement, Customer Insights, Performance Analysis, Analytics, Interviewing Skills, Data-Driven Decision-Making
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Johns Hopkins University
Mastering Software Development in R
Skills you'll gain: Ggplot2, Software Documentation, Open Source Technology, Tidyverse (R Package), Package and Software Management, Web Scraping, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization Software, Leaflet (Software), R Programming, Data Visualization, Datamaps, Data Cleansing, Interactive Data Visualization, Scatter Plots, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), GitHub, Version Control, Debugging, Functional Design
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Serious Gaming
Skills you'll gain: Game Theory, Persuasive Communication, Human Learning, Education and Training, Culture, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Research, Simulations, Psychology, Social Sciences, Technology Roadmaps
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
365 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado System
Database Management Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Database Design, Relational Databases, Data Modeling, Database Management Systems, Databases, Oracle Databases, SQL, Data Warehousing, Data Integrity, PostgreSQL
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of London
Machine Learning for All
Skills you'll gain: Applied Machine Learning, Feature Engineering, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Supervised Learning, Data Analysis, Computer Vision, Data Collection, Development Testing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks