How To Get Started In Game Design

“Stop playing video games! You’ll never make money with that”.

How little our parents knew…

In 2022 the games industry made over $319 billion in revenue, and in 2023 it grew to a whopping $365 billion:

Source: Statista video game industry revenue growth report

Clearly, there’s money to be made in this field, but how do you get started?

Better yet:

• What's the best path to get hired and get set up for a successful career?
• Do you need a degree to get hired?
• What skills do you need to know?
• And where can you learn all of this?

If you want to make the move from a budding Twitch streamer to a $100K+ / year game designer, I cover all this and more in this guide, so let’s dive in.

What does a game designer do?

A game designer is pretty much the architect of a computer game and everything in it.

They’re responsible for:

• Creating the initial concept and overall vision
• The rules, gameplay, and overall structure
• The characters, levels, and challenges
• How the user will interact with all these elements
• As well as the user interface!

They achieve this with the use of high volumes of caffeine, various planning techniques, critical thinking skills, along with specific development tools to bring their ideas to life 😛.

In addition to designing the gameplay and mechanics, the game designer also plays a key role in helping to create the game's visual and audio elements.

They work closely with artists, animators, and musicians to ensure the vision meets the end product.

And the cherry on top?

A game designer is also responsible for playtesting the game to ensure that it’s fun, engaging, and meets the overall goals of the game, before taking any relevant feedback and making adjustments.

tl;dr: It’s a lot to organize, but the Game Designer gets to build entire interactive worlds, which sounds pretty damn amazing to me.

What's the difference between a game designer and a game developer?

This can be confusing as both roles sound similar, but here's the best way to remember the differences:

• Like we said above, the Game Designer is responsible for the overall design and ideas for the game. They make all the choices, have the core vision, and are the architect of everything that goes into the game.

• A Game Developer is someone who take's the designer's vision and implement it to make it real. Simply put, the Developer build the game that the Designer designs.

How much does a game designer make?

According to Zip Recruiter, the average Game Designer salary is around $104k USD per year.

Not bad right?

As for job opportunities, there are currently 26,601 Game Designer positions available in the US alone!

Do you need a degree to become a game designer?

Good pay, great prospects, and an incredibly fun career… surely you need a degree to do this role right?

Nope! The tech industry is a unique place in that as long as you have relevant skills, some experience with your own projects, and can answer the interview questions, then you can be hired for the job.

In fact, a large segment of employees across a almost all tech fields have never got a CS degree. Some of them even run entire departments and companies.

This is part of the beauty of a career in tech. You are measured based on your actual skills and output rather than what school you went to. If you can do the work and deliver results, then you can get hired and succeed.

Where can I learn game design?

So where can you learn game design?

We’ll cover some of the overarching things you’ll need to know in a second, as well as an ideal list of what to learn and when.

But rather than give you just a single path, here are some different ways and resources that you can use to get started, and then learn to code video games.

1) Read books and articles about game design:

Personally, I recommend The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses.

That being said, it’s not the only book out there. It’s always smart to get multiple opinions, so go ahead and have a chat with a game design community about which books they recommend, and ask them which ones they found helpful for their journey.

Interacting with a community is a great way to start building knowledge early.

2) Take online courses

There are many online courses available that cover different aspects of game design, from the basics to more advanced topics.

My mom would be upset with me if I didn't mention that I happen to teach Unity 3D game design and have an entire program designed to take you from a complete beginner with zero coding experience, to building your own game and be ready to jump into the game industry and get hired ASAP.

You can even take the first 3 sections of my course for free.

No signup or credit card required.

That said, definitely check out other courses as well to see what the best option is for you.

Just make sure that whatever course you choose is up to date, teaches the latest content, there is student/teacher communication, and real-world projects to build.

Building your own projects is incredibly key for applying and remembering what you're learning. It's also necessary if you're serious about getting hired.

Yes, online courses will cost a bit of money (~$300) but compared to a full-time bootcamp or degree ($10K - $100K), I'd say it's totally worth it to really fast-track your results.

Plus... that $300 investment can turn into a job as a game designer where you're making $100K / year. Show me a better return on investment than that!

3) Attend game development conferences

Game dev events provide an excellent opportunity to learn from industry experts and network with other game designers.

Most people don't love "networking" but it can be extremely valuable to set yourself apart from other candidates.

Here’s a current list of different events for you to choose from, but check for ones in your area also.

4) Practice and build experience by creating your own games

The best way to learn game design is by creating your own games and experimenting with different techniques and tools.

Here’s one YouTube video you can watch before falling down the rabbit hole.

Not only does creating your own projects build confidence and experience but like I mentioned, it's a key step to getting hired (if that's your goal).

And if you don't actually enjoy building your own games... is this really the best career option?

It could even lead to something bigger than you imagine...

The creator of Stardew Valley built their game solo over 4.5 years (that's dedication!), but the reward?

He’s sold over 20 Million copies of the game, netting over $30 Million USD…

So those are 4 ways you can start learning Game Design. For a more specific path though, I recommend the following 6 steps.

Step #1. Learn ‘critical thinking’ for Game Design basics

Before you can build a game, you need to understand each of the basic elements that make up a game - such as mechanics, gameplay, and storytelling.

Let’s get into the building blocks that you should be focusing on first, before you learn to code:

• Mechanics: These are the rules and systems that govern how the game works. This includes the game's controls (like the ability to change directions mid-air) and the game’s physics (to achieve realistic behavior and special effects like falling debris or how a flag whips in the wind)

• Gameplay: This is the overall experience of playing the game. This includes the challenges and obstacles that the player must overcome, as well as the rewards and progression system

• Storytelling: This is the narrative aspect of the game, which includes the game's characters, the landscape, and the overall plot of the game

• User experience: This is about the game's aesthetic and how it is presented to the player. It also incorporates the game's interface and how easy it is to navigate and understand

• Balance: This ensures that the game is not too easy or too hard. You want to make sure that all the elements of the game are well-balanced and provide a challenging and enjoyable experience for the player

• Player's motivation: You need to have a deep understanding of what motivates the player to keep playing the game, what keeps them engaged, and what makes them lose interest altogether

• Testing and iteration: Continual playtesting and iteration to refine the gameplay and the mechanics, improve the user experience, and fix any bugs or glitches that are discovered

As a game designer, you need to have a solid understanding of these basics in order to create engaging and well-designed games.

When you’re designing a game, here are some questions you should ask yourself continually throughout the game design process:

• What is the overall goal of the game?
• Who is the target audience for the game?
• What kind of gameplay mechanics and controls will the game have?
• How will the player progress through the game?
• What visual and audio elements will be used in the game?
• How will the game monetize?
• How will the game be marketed?
• How will the game be updated?
• How will the game be supported?
• What are the technical constraints of the game?

For example

A game designer who is designing a mobile puzzle game should be asking themselves:

• What type of puzzles will be included in the game?
• How will the player progress through the levels?
• How will the player earn points and rewards?
• How will the game handle player progress and data?

Whereas a game designer who is outlining a multiplayer, first-person shooting game should be asking themselves:

• What type of weapons and equipment will be included in the game?
• How will the player progress through the game?
• How will the game handle player ranking and matchmaking?
• How will the game handle player progression and customization?

tl;dr: The questions that a game designer should ask when designing a game will depend on the type of game they’re creating and the game’s overall goals.

Critical game design thinking is a bigger topic than I can cover here, but learning to think like this and asking yourself these types of questions will help with planning a larger, cohesive vision.

Step #2. Learn to use Game Development software

Once you have a solid understanding of game design concepts, the next step is to learn how to use gaming development software to bring your idea to life.

There are various software packages you can choose from, and of course, each one has its own strengths and weaknesses (most of them can be used to create both 2D and 3D games).

Some of my top picks include:

Unity

Unity is a popular cross-platform game engine that is widely used for both 2D and 3D game development. Games are developed with the C# programming language.

As I mentioned above, my in-depth bootcamp course can take you from absolute beginner to coding your own 3D games using Unity, which you can check out here.

You can start by learning the basic Unity fundamentals for free right here.

Pokemon Go, Among Us, Disco Elysium, Hearthstone, and many more are all built on Unity.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is a powerful game engine that is popular for creating high-quality 3D games. It uses C++ as its primary programming language and also supports Blueprints, which is a visual scripting system.

Fortnite, Final Fantasy 7, and Batman: Arkham city were all built on Unreal engine.

Godot

Godot is a free and open-source game engine that is popular for both 2D and 3D game development. It uses GDScript, which is a Python-like language, and also supports C#, C++, and other languages.

Because it’s open-source and high-level, a lot of indie games are built using Godot.

GameMaker Studio

GameMaker Studio is a game development software popular for creating 2D games. It uses its own proprietary language, called GameMaker Language or ‘GML’. It also supports other languages such as C# and C++.

You can check out all of the games built on GameMaker here.

Other gaming development platforms

These are some of my top picks but there are many options available to you. A good rule of thumb is to choose a language depending on:

• The specific needs of your project
• The programming language or coding style you prefer
• And your overall personal preference of platforms

Some companies will take on Game Designers with experience in one language or framework, but then have them build in their own proprietary language.

For example

Clash of clans is a ridiculously successful game, that is built on its own proprietary platform.

Regardless of which language you choose, the next step is to start learning how to use it!

But don’t waste your time trying to learn all of them. Chances are high that you will pick up others as you go and build on your previous experience.

The key is to simply choose one to start with and stick with until you have real-world experience or employers wants you to learn something else (and you'll be getting paid to learn in this case!).

Step #3. Apply your new skills and gain experience (points) 😜

I’ve sat and spoken with numerous hiring managers in different tech industries, and this point is pretty much unanimous: They would rather speak to someone with skills and projects vs someone with just a list of skills.

The reason of course is that they can look at what you’ve done, and have trust in your abilities. Even better still, they LOVE it when someone has additional experience from creating their own projects.

Trust me on this. If you want to get hired ASAP then it’s not enough to just learn to code - you have to apply it if you want to build that confidence and wow interviewers.

So now that you’ve picked up and learned a programming language and created a few follow-along projects from a game design course... it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and build your own games.

Important: Don’t freak out!

• You’re not going to create the next Call of Duty on your first try, and that’s fine
• Your practice games should be simple but good concepts
• You don’t need to spend 4.5 years making them because that’s frankly insane

Just get started. Make mistakes. Figure it out as you go. The learning comes through this struggle and iterative process.

Simple designs with good gameplay can really work well, which is why Clash of Clans made $496 Million dollars in a single year, solely from in-game purchases.

The key is just to be applying what you’ve learnt and aim for progress over perfection!

• Build your own projects
• Keep watching tutorials
• Make sure to finish your courses!
• Attend conferences
• And keep collabing with others

Then, if you want to improve even further you can also supplement this with the following tips.

Keep learning and experimenting

The game development and design field constantly evolves, so it's important to keep learning and experimenting with new techniques and technologies. This is why reading the latest information and attending events helps.

Start to specialize

Choose a specific area of game development or design to specialize in, such as level design, character design, or user interface design.

Specializing in a specific area will help you to develop more advanced skills and increase your marketability in the industry.

Play and analyze games

Play and analyze games from different genres and platforms.

This will give you a better understanding of the game mechanics, gameplay, and overall design and help you to create better games.

By using a combination of these methods, you can refine your game development and game design skills and become a better game developer and designer.

Step #4. Assemble a strong portfolio to get hired

So far you’ve learned to code, built course projects, and better yet, made your own games.

You’re 90% of the way there but there’s one thing left that stumbles most people, and it’s why they miss a lot of job offers.

Seriously, it’s such an important aspect of getting hired in game design, and it’s simply to make sure that you create a strong portfolio for prospective employees to check out.

You would be blown away by the number of people who have skills and projects in hirable areas but are passed over because they haven’t bothered to update their Linkedin, Github, or personal portfolio site.

Don't let that be you. Get that portfolio updated and looking great!

Don’t just add any old random thing in though. Your portfolio should include examples of your best game design work, along with explanations of the design process, and context on why you made certain choices.

You want to showcase your experience to potential employers in a professional and organized manner, at a glance.

Portfolios for game design should include a variety of examples of your work, including:

1. Game design documents: These documents should include your game design concepts, mechanics, and user interface designs. This can consist of design documents, flowcharts, wireframes, and other materials that demonstrate your design process and thought process

2. Game prototypes: Include examples of games that you have designed and developed, whether they are complete games or prototypes. These should demonstrate your ability to design and implement gameplay mechanics, user interfaces, and other core game systems

3. Concept art and visual design: Include examples of concept art and visual design that you have created for games. This can include character designs, environment concepts, and other visual elements that demonstrate your ability to create visually appealing designs

4. Audio and music: If you have experience creating audio or music for games, include examples of this work in your portfolio. This can include sound effects, background music, and other audio elements that demonstrate your ability to create immersive audio experiences

5. Video footage: Include video footage of your games to give potential employers a sense of the gameplay, mechanics, and overall experience of your games

6. Design Analysis: Include a section of your portfolio that analyzes the design of other games, this can help to demonstrate your knowledge of game design, and your ability to think critically about the design of other games

7. Your process: Include a section that explains your design process, this can be a great way to give potential employers an understanding of how you work, what you consider when designing a game, and your methodologies

Top tip:

If you’re currently applying for roles with specific skills, go ahead and reorganize your portfolio so that’s it's tailored to the specific job or company you’re interested in applying to.

You could even have multiple versions you send out. A more generalized one that you link to from your LinkedIn profile and then this more customized one that you send as part of your application for your dream roles and companies.

It requires more time and research but customizating and tailoring your application and portfolio to the specific company you're applying for will make you stand out from 99% of other applicants.

It is obvious when candidates have done their homework and put in the extra effort. It shows that you’re familiar with their work and that you have the specific skills they're looking for and have shown exactly how you can can add value or assistance to what they are already trying to build.

Step #5. Build further experience

By this point you should be able to get hired, but let’s look at some other ways you can continue to build experience and possibly earn an income before you land that Game Designer job.

Attend a game jam

Game jams are short-term game development events where teams create games in a limited amount of time. So not only are you gaining experience and working within a team dynamic - you’re learning to work under pressure which forces time management and setting priorities. You're also building your network.

Apply for paid internships

Look for paid internships or apprenticeships at game development companies or studios. You gain experience, build your portfolio, and get paid.

That’s the winning trifecta if you're just starting out.

(Not to mention internsips usually lead to permanent job offers if you do a decent job).

Volunteer

If you can't find a paid internship, consider opportunities to volunteer on game development projects or take on independent projects (even in your spare time).

This can help you build that portfolio and experience to give you a better shot at landing paid roles.

Become a QA (Quality Assurance)

Want to get paid to play games?

Becoming a QA is actually a great way to get your foot in the door with companies.

A QA plays an integral part of the game development process.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Testing the game and providing feedback on various aspects of development such as: gameplay, mechanics, and user experience. This can help you to develop your critical thinking skills and master the art of giving valuable feedback to the development team

• Pinpointing and reporting bugs, and any other issues that arise. As well as identifying and solving problems that occur within a game

• Communicating your findings, or any necessary feedback and ideas, with the development team

But more importantly, it gives you the opportunity to play A LOT of different games - which can help you expand your knowledge of the games on the market, their mechanics, and current design trends.

You play the games, test them, give feedback and earn a pretty decent wage.

In fact, you can earn anywhere from 50-80k a year as a games tester at some companies.

Not only do you get paid well, but you get a deeper understanding of how games are made and get to witness the different stages of a game’s development, while also being ‘in-house’ when any developer or design roles open up!

A QA role can be a strong stepping stone toward a game design career, as it demonstrates a passion and understanding of the industry.

Step #6. Supplement your technical skills with soft skills

Let’s cut to the chase - you need to be able to work within a team.

You can be the best game designer and coder in the world, but if you can’t work within a team environment, then your tenure at any company will be short-lived, and it’s why most tech companies will also run a behavioral interview for potential new hires.

The goal of this final interview is to assess your ability to communicate, your skills at working in a team, and company culture fit.

A lot of people pass the early technical interviews only to fail at this point, which is why I HIGHLY recommend you improve your soft skills.

It would be wise of you to have proficiency in:

• Communication: Game design is a collaborative process that involves working with a team of developers, artists, and musicians. Good communication skills are essential for effectively conveying design ideas, providing feedback, and resolving conflicts

• Teamwork: Game designers must work closely with other members of the development team to bring their ideas to life. Teamwork skills help game designers to build positive relationships, share knowledge and ideas, and create a productive working environment

• Creativity: Game design requires a lot of creativity and imagination. Game designers must be able to come up with unique and innovative ideas and think outside the box to solve problems

• Problem-solving: Game development is a complex process that is full of challenges and obstacles. Game designers must be able to identify problems, analyze information, and come up with effective solutions

• Adaptability: Game design is an ever-changing field that requires game designers to be adaptable. They must be able to adapt to new technologies, changing market trends, and shifting project requirements

• Time management: Game development often has tight deadlines, game designers must be able to manage their time effectively to meet these deadlines and make sure that the game is completed on schedule

ZTM actually covers how to improve these in this blog post so feel free to check it out.

These are also skills that don't just help you land a job, these are the types of skills that you'll need if you want to get promotions and advance your career faster.

Start learning Game Design today!

So what are you waiting for?

Start learning Game Design today and work towards an incredibly fun, lucrative, challenging and worthwhile career - all while working with your passion for gaming.

Sure Elden Ring was great. But imagine how much cooler it would have been if you got to work on it?

Heck, what if you could be actively building and playing the newest version of it right now or in the next 6 months, while also getting paid for it!

Sounds good right?

So start learning today, and then hit me up on Discord with some beta access codes to your latest creation 😀