7 Best Game Design Courses Online in 2024

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Super Mario, Prince of Persia, Pac-Man… I am sure they are familiar names to you. Indeed, video games make a significant part of our carefree childhood days. Today, the gaming industry has become huge and replete with opportunities. Thus, pursuing a game design course seems the right step towards a promising career. This blog will list some of the finest game design courses online.

Undoubtedly, the global gaming industry has witnessed rapid growth in the recent pandemic years. Owing to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, millions opted for social and casual gaming to escape boredom and loneliness. The World Economic Forum states the gaming sector will hit a market value of 321 billion dollars in the next three years. If you are an aspiring professional game designer or always wanted to create thrilling video games, this could be your golden chance to make your dreams come true. Embark your journey with the best game design courses online.

Some of the top-notch game design courses online in 2023 are

1. Game Design Foundations

This course available at LinkedIn Learning is ideal for beginners in game design. Consequently, it will provide a practical insight into game designing skills. Similarly, you will learn to convert your game ideas into actual designs and build games by defining features from a core. Furthermore, the lessons are from the award-winning game designer Brenda Romero. Also, earn a certificate of completion to mark your skill acquisition. Indeed, this is one of the best game design courses for beginners.

Duration:

1 hour 32 minutes

Course fee:

Free with Rs 763 monthly subscription

Website:

www.linkedinlearning.com

2. The Ultimate Guide to Game Development (Unity)

To begin with, it is a beginner-friendly course at Udemy to learn about game design using the Unity game engine. Unquestionably, Unity Technologies and instructor Jonathan Weinberger have outlined this course to introduce the basics of C# programming to the learners. Consequently, one can master the skills to create 2D and 3D games with Unity’s latest features. Indeed, it is one of the most noted game design courses online to acquire skills in Unity software.

Duration:

36.5 hours

Course fee:

Rs 3,199/-

Website:

www.udemy.com

3. Introduction to Game Design by CalArts

Introduction to Game Design is an easy-to-follow course with exceptional introductory lessons on game design. Furthermore, it comes as part of the Game Design: Art and concept specialisation course offered by the California Institute of Arts on Coursera. Apart from this, you can work on assignments and projects to gain experience in game development. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best game design courses offered online.

Duration:

6 hours

Course fee:

free with Coursera Plus’s subscription of Rs 4821/month

Website:

www.coursera.org

4. Unreal Engine 5: The Beginner’s Course

Indeed, this course is one of the leading game designer courses online to master Unreal Engine 5. Moreover, it is impeccable in covering all the basic features of Unreal Engine 5, the notable 3D game design software in the industry. Subsequently, you will learn how to formulate game rules and characters using this game engine. For aspiring game developers, this will help them to move into more advanced courses. Lastly, be ready to leave with your own demo game.

Duration:

10 hours

Course fee:

Rs 3199/-

Website:

www.udemy.com

5. Unreal Engine 5 C++: The Game Developer Course

This is an advanced course offering coding practices in Unreal Engine 5. You will learn advanced features of this game engine such as motion warping, quixel mega scans, open world maps and meta sounds. Also, it offers lectures on developing RPG open-world style games. Above all, it is one of the unrivalled game design courses online for intermediate learners.

Duration:

52.5 hours

Course fee:

Rs 3199/-

Website:

www.udemy.com

6. CS50’s Introduction to Game Development

This course is one of the top-rated game design courses online from the prestigious Harvard University. You can learn about 2D as well as 3D game design and development from this course at edX. Additionally, one can explore the design and build of various popular games and study graphics, animation and sound using the Unity framework. Apart from this, you can learn to program games on your own. To conclude, this is one of the best game design courses for intermediate learners.

Duration:

12 weeks

Course fee:

free with a monthly subscription of around USD 200

Website:

www.edx.org

7. C++ programming for Unreal Game Development Specialization

The University of Colorado offers this course to equip you with coding skills in C++ and create Unreal Engine games. In addition to this, the lectures are noted for their pragmatic approach towards game design and development. Likewise, there are exercises to complement your learning of C++ and unreal engine concepts. Apart from this, you can learn to use C++ programming skills in the Unreal game engine. Additionally, one needs to finish the project to earn the certificate. Of course, one of the finest game designer courses online for intermediate learners.

Duration:

4 months

Course fee:

free with Coursera Plus’s subscription

Website:

www.coursera.org

In short, most of these courses are designed for beginner to advanced-level learners, covering different aspects of game design. While some offer a general understanding of game development, they are undoubtedly excellent aids in realising your learner outcomes. To have a better in-depth understanding of game design, one may go for more than one course. Subsequently, with an array of game design courses offered online, you can master the game-designing skills the easiest these days. Undoubtedly, online courses are a much more affordable option for many of us.

About Game Design

Game design broadly refers to the art of video game creation for entertainment or educational purposes. The process is often multidisciplinary with inputs from various disciplines such as creative writing, computer science, graphic design, coding, art and more. In short, a game designer is in charge of conceptualising and designing the game from start to finish.

Though you may lack any relevant experience or technical knowledge related to game design, you can learn game design from scratch and make a career out of it. Therefore, going for the best game design courses taught by skilled game developers can help you imbibe the skills much needed in the industry.

Rather than credentials, a good portfolio can get you into top gaming companies such as Microsoft X Box and Ubisoft. Also, make sure to gain experience through various projects which can impart valuable lessons on designing game features and rules.

Significance of Game Design

Game designing holds much value in the process of game creation. The act of game design requires technical as well as creative skills. Excellent game designing skills result in quality games suitable for various platforms such as mobile phones, personal computers and gaming consoles. What starts as an idea in the game designer’s head is brought to life by an entire team in game development.

A game designer will set a game’s theme, and determine the level, characters and environment. Simply put, a game designer makes sure a game is appealing to the players. Besides, game designers are expected to work efficiently with other team members. Hence, they must possess basic knowledge of coding, visual design and animation which can assist in better communication with them.

Indeed, remarkable video games are the products of teamwork and collaboration.

Prospects of game design courses

Being such a diverse sector, the gaming industry presents a lucrative career for game designers. Without a doubt, it offers wide-ranging choices in employment. That is to say, having a game design degree will help you adorn varied job roles such as game artist, game writer, storyline developer, programme designer, lead designer, creative director, game tester and so on. Apart from this, salaries vary depending on experience, geography, and the size of the studio one works for.

Furthermore, the Indian gaming sector is expected to grow from 2.5 billion to 5 billion in two years. In India, a game designer earns an average annual salary of around 8 lakhs as a beginner.

Also, one should stay aware of the latest trends in the industry. Subsequently, there are game design workshops and game design courses online to upgrade your skills and stay relevant in the job market.

Conclusion

Indeed, the gaming sector is poised to evolve with technological advancement. What looks promising is the entry of new gamers each year. Subsequently, with the increased demand for more innovative entertainment options and easier access to video games, the gaming industry is up for new milestones. Its revenue generation is more than the global film industry. As a result, more tech companies are looking forward to tapping into the rising opportunities and joining the industry.

Unquestionably, a game designer’s journey is challenging. Learning the best game design courses online from industry experts can help you stay at the top of your game.

FAQs

Q1. How can I become a game designer?

To become a game designer, one must obtain certification in game design and animation. With a suitable portfolio of your work, you can start working for game studios or stay as a solo game dev.

Q2. What is game design?

Game design is the act of creating video games for users to play on different platforms. It determines game features, storyline and how the gamers should interact with the game.

Q3. What is the average annual salary of a game designer in India?

Surveys show beginners in the industry have an average income of around 8 lakhs/ year.

Q4. Can game design courses help me start my career as a solo game developer?

Yes. Most of the game design courses help you acquire skills in the basics of game design and development. You can choose to work on indie games and become an independent game dev as well.