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 .

Best Game Development Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Game Development Course Catalog

Michigan State University
Game Design and Development with Unity 2020
Skills you'll gain: Software Design Documents, Ideation, Peer Review, Cross Platform Development, Prototyping, Software Design, User Interface (UI), User Interface (UI) Design, 3D Modeling, C# (Programming Language), User Experience, Storytelling, Programming Principles, Program Development, Interaction Design, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Design, Technical Design, UI Components, Conceptual Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
604 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado System
C# Programming for Unity Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), C# (Programming Language), Software Design Patterns, Computer Programming, Data Management, Event-Driven Programming, Program Development, Data Structures, Microsoft Visual Studio, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Programming Tools, Computer Graphics, Data Storage, Application Development, Software Design, Virtual Environment, Development Environment, Application Frameworks, UI Components
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado System
C++ Programming for Unreal Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), C++ (Programming Language), Debugging, Computer Programming, Event-Driven Programming, Computer Programming Tools, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Data Storage, Software Documentation, Program Development, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Software Architecture, User Interface (UI), Virtual Environment, Data Import/Export, Software Development, File Management, Scripting, Software Design
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
201 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Epic Games
Epic Games Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Software Design Documents, Ideation, 3D Modeling, Prototyping, Visualization (Computer Graphics), User Interface (UI), User Experience Design, Computer Graphics, Usability, Technical Documentation, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Experience, Virtual Environment, User Interface (UI) Design, Version Control, Conceptual Design, Program Development, UI Components, Data Management, Scripting
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
274 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Epic Games
Game Development and Prototyping
Skills you'll gain: Program Development, Prototyping, System Design and Implementation, Software Design, Conceptual Design, Creativity, Virtual Environment, User Interface (UI), Design
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Game Development: HTML to Unreal Engine Mastery
Skills you'll gain: Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Design, HTML and CSS, Application Development, User Interface (UI), Computer Graphics, Development Environment, Cross Platform Development, Software Development, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Introduction to Basic Game Development using Scratch
Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Debugging, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Computer Programming Tools, Computer Programming, Program Development, Interactive Design, Integrated Development Environments, Software Development Tools, Computer Science
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter
Skills you'll gain: Peer Review, Cross Platform Development, User Interface (UI) Design, Software Design, User Interface (UI), C# (Programming Language), UI Components, Design, Application Development, Systems Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Environment, Computer Programming, Scripting, Creativity, Computer Graphics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
487 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
California Institute of the Arts
Game Design: Art and Concepts
Skills you'll gain: Prototyping, Conceptual Design, Storytelling, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Design, Virtual Environment, Technical Design, Computer Graphics, Storyboarding, Usability Testing, User Story, Graphic and Visual Design, Multimedia, Mockups, Content Creation, Aesthetics, Design Research, Experience Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado System
Game Development with GameMaker
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Program Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Scripting, Integrated Development Environments, Graphics Software, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Scripting Languages, Software Development, Computer Programming Tools, Computer Programming, Computer Graphics, Human Computer Interaction, User Interface (UI), Event-Driven Programming, Object Oriented Design, Software Installation, Data Structures
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Coursera Project Network
Basic Game Development with Levels using Scratch
Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Debugging, Program Development, Algorithms, Solution Design, Computer Programming, Application Development, Computer Science
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
134 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Packt
Unity Android Game Development — Build Seven 2D and 3D Games
Skills you'll gain: Version Control, GitHub, Bitbucket, Git (Version Control System), Android Development, C# (Programming Language), Mobile Development, Scripting, User Interface (UI), User Interface (UI) Design, Computer Graphics, Application Development, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Cross Platform Development, Computer Programming, Program Development, Graphics Software, Graphical Tools, Development Environment, Software Installation
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months