88 Courses and Certifications

Online Game Design Courses & Certifications

Man always found one game after another to simulate his brain: from simple Tic Tac Toe to the almighty Chess. And then in the 20th century, he created virtual reality. From Tetris to Call of Duty (the list is huge!), Game design is getting better and better. Game designing has come a long way since its inception. With gaming becoming increasingly complex, game design has also evolved tremendously.

With each passing year, you are getting complex, compelling storylines right in your palms. This virtual world inside the game is coming to life. Now who makes this possible? If you are passionate about this, you could be that person. The one who designs the characters and comes up with plots, who also doesn’t shy away from programming. You could be that all-rounder. Choose from a variety of free game design certificate courses to stay ahead of the ‘game’.

What is Game Design?

Game Designing is the art of designing aesthetically and visually appealing games for various purposes (entertainment, educational, experimental.) It involves developing in-depth storylines, characters, dialogues, and rules. for the game. It is a multidisciplinary field where the professional needs to be a writer, an artist (in terms of design), and a programmer.

Who Can Pursue Game Design Courses?

Anyone can become a video game designer even if they do not hold a college degree or have any working industry experience. One can even pursue design courses if one wants to become a video game designer. Here are some skills that people should have before joining game design courses.

  • You are a born storyteller
  • You love to animate, i.e. bring your stories to life through design
  • Your passion for these led you to coding as well
  • And finally, you are a team player

Eligibility Criteria for Game Design Courses

For UG Game Design courses, (B.Tech, B.Sc)you must (10+2) in the science stream from a recognised board with a minimum 50% aggregate. For PG Game Design courses (M.Sc, M.Tech), you should have a masters in a relevant field.

Note: Please note that UG and PG courses mentioned here vary from animation design to engineering. The idea is that you are equipped with fundamental knowledge in programming, and designing. since game design is a multidisciplinary field. If you have the passion to learn, any of these courses will make you that artist.

Entrance exams for Game Development courses

  • NID DAT (National Institute of Design aptitude test)
  • UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design) 
  • AIEED (All India Entrance Examination for Design)
  • CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design)

You can also pursue online game development courses either to have an overview or for specialisations.

Important Skills for Game Design Courses

Being a game designer will require people to have creative skills. Suppose you have some previous skills in the field of art or engineering, it is best if you consider expanding your skills and knowledge in these areas. Below are some skills which are extremely important for candidates who want to pursue game design courses.

  • Creativity and innovation
  • Logical and analytical skills
  • Powerful visualization skills
  • Designing (drawing, graphics)
  • Technical skills (basic knowledge of programming)
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisational skills
  • Perseverance 
  • Teamwork
  • Interpersonal skills

What Will you Learn in Game Design Courses?

Game design students will be learning how people will design, document, and even communicate the different design ideas so that they can be turned into completed games. Learners can also apply their game design skills to solve several challenges where these skills are wanted.

  • Game theory
  • Basics of art
  • Concept design
  • Introduction to 3D
  • Pre-visualisation of level design
  • Fundamentals of digital sculpting
  • Stylised character modelling
  • Asset integration into the game engine
  • Programming languages

Popular Game Design Certification Courses

Different popular game design certificate courses offer students a proper understanding of game levels, layouts, drawing maps, and other areas related to game design. Below are some popular game design courses offered by different educational institutes:

Career Opportunities after Game Design Courses

Game designers will have exciting career opportunities and it will be rewarding for them when they are interested in devising video games. Game designers earn a lot and the profession will experience rapid growth over the coming years or as and when the gaming industry expands. Hence people look forward to pursuing game design training courses.

Game Designer

You come up with the concept of the specific game. Then you present it to the whole team. Then you work with them in developing everything (storyline, characters, dialogues, movements, rules of the game)

Average Base Salary p.a.: Rs. 5,69,261/-

UI Designer

You are an excellent programmer who creates the perfect interface for the game. (which the end-user will see and interact with). You work with the entire game development team in the process.

Average Base Salary p.a.: Rs. 4,89,570/-

UX Designer

You focus on the user experience while being enrolled in game development certifications. You do this by creating prototypes of the product and modifying the design based on user feedback. You find solutions by working along with other designers, engineers, product managers, and clients. 

Average Base Salary p.a.: Rs. 6,07,913/-

Salary Trends

Average Base Salary of a Game Designer based on experience:

Experience in years

Average Base Salary p.a.

< 1

Rs. 4,83,387/-

1 - 4

Rs. 5,12,239/- 

5 - 9

Rs. 9,50,000/-

10 - 19

Rs. 51,00,000/-

Scope after Game Design Courses

According to Newzoo, the global gaming market was worth 159.3 billion dollars in 2020. And it is estimated that the industry will cross 200 billion dollars in 2023. Thus it is a lucrative, financially rewarding field. If you love gaming and want to leave your signature on it, then best game design courses online are a huge stepping stone.

Top Recruiters

Game developers are in high demand all over India and the world. Below is a list of the top-level recruiters who hire people who have pursued game design courses online and are as follows:

  • Bonfire Studios
  • Electronic arts
  • Zensar Technologies
  • Unanimous studios
  • Activision

FAQs

Q: Are there any online Game Design courses?

A: Yes. There are a variety of online Game design courses offered by top universities, and colleges. These are recognised worldwide. These online game design courses can teach you the fundamentals as well as augment your skills in the gaming field.

Q: What is the duration of different game design courses?

A: This varies depending on different game design courses. There are short online game design courses that can be completed in a few weeks such as game design certification courses. Then there are game design courses (B.Tech) that take up to 4 years.

Q: What are the best careers after game design courses?

A: There are many careers after game industry certifications. To list a few: Game Designer, Game Developer, UI Designer, UX Designer.

Q: What are the different fee structures for game development courses?

A: It can vary depending on the online game design certificate. There are both free and paid courses. The fees for game development courses (UG) can be up to 4-6 lakhs or even more depending on the institute. 

Q: What are the different ways of teaching online game design courses?

A: Most courses offer the following: Complete accessibility to the materials 24/7, self-paced study with 24/7 tutor support, Audio/video inputs, question and answer forums for the entire candidates, and case studies. There will also be weekly, and monthly evaluations. 

Q: What are the core/fundamental subjects taught in game development courses?

A: This would depend on the specific best certifications for game developers. To list a few: Game theory, 2D, 3D, Concept design, Programming languages. 

Career Category
Specialization
Job Role
Skills

Pricing

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Studio Ready Program

Offered by

Certificate

Studio Ready Program

The Studio Ready Program is a comprehensive and intensive course. It has been meticulously designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge required to excel in various departments of high-end feature film, games, and episodic VFX production. This programme is a stepping stone for those who aspire to make a mark in the dynamic world of visual effects.

Studio Ready Program certification by Incube8 VFX Academy is a 12-month programme. The curriculum of the programme begins by providing learners with a robust understanding of various disciplines in the VFX pipeline. As the course progresses, it narrows down its focus to certain select areas. This approach enables learners to build competence in those areas, thereby enhancing their expertise and proficiency in the field of visual effects.

Studio Ready Program course focuses on imparting technical skills and underscores the importance of developing problem-solving abilities, time management, and soft skills. These are crucial for ensuring long-term career success in the fast-paced VFX industry. To provide learners with practical exposure and help them understand the real-world dynamics of the industry, the programme also includes a one-month studio internship. 

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12 Months
Enquire
Certificate

Master Certificate in Videogame Production

The Master Certificate in Videogame Production is a professional certificate course for 9 months. This is solely the offering of EDGE that is operational under the institute of Pearl Academy. Not everyone gets the chance to pursue their hobbies along with securing the dream job in video game production. This course is exactly what a professional candidate would want to pursue.

The Master Certificate in Videogame Production training will help all the participating trainees to exploit, and use the resources that are required to build their own video game, and get ahead in the production game. This professional course will be helpful for both the artistic and creative development of a candidate thereby helping him or her to produce 3D designs of a game.

Also Read: Video Editing Certification Courses

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9 Months
2,97,050
Master Certificate in Videogame Production

Offered by

Certificate

Master Certificate in Videogame Production

The Master Certificate in Videogame Production is a professional certificate course for 9 months. This is solely the offering of EDGE that is operational under the institute of EDGE Metaversity. Not everyone gets the chance to pursue their hobbies along with securing the dream job in video game production. This course is exactly what a professional candidate would want to pursue.

The Master Certificate in Videogame Production training will help all the participating trainees to exploit, and use the resources that are required to build their own video game, and get ahead in the production game. This professional course will be helpful for both the artistic and creative development of a candidate thereby helping him or her to produce 3D designs of a game.

Also Read: Video Editing Certification Courses

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9 Months
2,97,050
Brochure
Master Certificate in Meta-Game Design

Offered by

Certificate

Master Certificate in Meta-Game Design

The Master Certificate in Meta-Game Design course is a 9 months programme. Edge Metaversity is in charge of awarding the master certification for this course. The syllabus is taught by experts who have been approved by Unreal Engine, the most open and powerful real-time 3D development tool available these days for breathtaking images and immersive experiences is called Unreal Engine.

The Master Certificate in Meta-Game Design training course has in total 6 modules along with a final portfolio project which gives hands-on experience on Metaverse Project. This project will be aspiring the candidates to design, test, and then package their very own made multi-player game.  Moreover, the provider of this course, Edge Matavarsity has ultra-modern campuses for kickstarting the process of learning game design.

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9 Months
Brochure
Full Stack Game Development

Offered by

Outscal
Certificate

Full Stack Game Development

The Full Stack Game Development certification course is an 8 months course offered by the institution UTSCAL. This FSGD program is ideal for candidates who are looking to accelerate their professional development. With this course, the candidates will be able to upskill their skills in the context of game development. 

The Full Stack Game Development training course will teach the candidates ways in which they can build their own games thereby creating more than 10 games that will be suitable enough to add to their portfolio. Not only the candidates will get a chance to directly learn from industry veterans but also will get their doubts cleared by them.

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8 Months
1,60,000
Enquire
Skills Covered:
Game Development
Certificate

Professional Certificate in AR/VR Development and 3D Graphics

The Professional Certificate in AR/VR Development and 3D Graphics certification course aims to impart education in the domain of AR and VR. Candidates who get into the programme are introduced to various modules throughout the course. There are no limitations regarding attendance percentage or timings. Candidates will be able to join the course in the online mode since it is provided by NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The course is in collaboration with Emeritus. Students can complete the Professional Certificate in AR/VR Development and 3D Graphics certification syllabus by spending almost 15-20 hours a week for 7 months. Candidates get the options of financial aid and placement services in the programme. In the end, candidates get a certificate from the institution upon completing the Professional Certificate in AR/VR Development and 3D Graphics online course.

...Read More
7 Months
$ 7,000
Skills Covered:
Designing skills Animation skills
Certificate Program in Game Design & Introduction to Unity

Offered by

Certificate

Certificate Program in Game Design & Introduction to Unity

Do you have a knack for designing or coding skills? Want to have a competitive edge over peers? If yes, the Game Design online programme is for you.  This course, being offered by Hero Vired in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will let you discover your future in game design and enable you to channel your analytical plus creative skills to make a lasting mark in the increasingly bright future of the gaming industry. The course will be conducted within 6.5 months in which there will be a three months Industry project work assigned. The course fee of Rs. 2,75,000 (plus applicable tax) which has to be paid for the entire course.

The Certificate Program in Game Design & Introduction to Unity syllabus will take you through a myriad of essential topics, such as game design basics, designing free-to-play games, story vs mechanics, designing live-ops games, and many more. Moreover, at the end of the training, you also receive a certificate from Hero Vired, co-signed by the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The content for the Certificate online Program in Game Design & Introduction to Unity will be delivered through live online classes. You require an undergraduate STEM degree to enrol in this course. Anand Ramachandran, Bhavna Padmanabhan, and Bhamini Lakshminarayan will be your course instructors.

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6.5 Months
2,75,000
Intelligent Game Design and its Applications

Offered by

TCS iON , VirtualSoft
Certificate

Intelligent Game Design and its Applications

The Intelligent Game Design and its Applications online certification program is developed for students to know about the concepts and principles associated with the designing of games and their mechanical aspects. This online course is provided by the TCS iON digital learning hub for the students who are interested in enhancing their skills to set up a career in the field of designing games. 

The TCS iON industry honors certification course is conducted for a period of five to six months through lectures, practical sessions, tutorials, and other summative and practical assessments. Students gain knowledge and industrial experience through hands-on teaching methodologies and support for career building. This online program enables students to get introduced to gaming and its role in the industry with the understanding of the significance of technologies of augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The ‘Intelligent Game Design and its Applications’ online training program offers a course certificate to the students who complete the assessment and course study successfully.

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6 Months
20,000
Skills Covered:
Rapid prototyping Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence Animation skills Game designing skills
Certificate

Animation and Game Design for Scholars

The Animation and Game Design for Scholars certification course is designed to immerse students in the exciting realm of game development. Focused on hands-on learning, the programme leverages intuitive tools to nurture creativity and imagination. Participants delve into various aspects of game design, programming, and storytelling. 

The Animation and Game Design for Scholars certification by BIA provides a solid foundation in the dynamic gaming industry. It covers graphics, animation, and gaming, providing a comprehensive education for aspiring game developers. This offering is part of the institute's commitment to training in predictive analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

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4 Months
Skills Covered:
Animation skills Game designing skills Game Development Programming skills
Certificate

Game Design and Development

The Game Design and Development certification course encompasses game design principles, programming, and storytelling. With hands-on training from industry experts, it covers essential aspects like 3D modelling, game engines (Unity and Unreal), sound design, and mobile/VR development. It is an ideal gateway for learners, fostering creativity and excellence in the gaming industry.

The Game Design and Development certification by BIA equips students with over 200 hours of industry-relevant knowledge. It welcomes enthusiasts from various backgrounds, requiring only a high school diploma. Graduates can explore diverse career opportunities, from game design and development roles to data analysis. The course makes graduates well-prepared for the gaming industry.

Also Read: Online Game Design Certification Courses

...Read More
4 Months
Skills Covered:
Programming skills Storytelling Game designing skills
Game Development Online

Offered by

Certificate

Game Development Course Online

The Game Development Course program offers a full-time learning experience via online mode. Students can join the sessions at zero cost and without paying any admission, application, or registration charges. The program offers a vast syllabus of four modules that includes thirty-two distinct lessons for students. 

Participants who join the course will get to know about gaming, its mechanism, how to become a developer, etc. The curriculum of the Game Development Certification Course is designed in such a way that it can be pursued by any undergraduate or postgraduate student. During the span of the course, students have the liberty to decide their study timings. The program does not demand any specific time needs to be fulfilled by the students in order to pursue the course.

Students have a chance to get the certificate at the end of the Game Development Online Course. The only eligibility criteria regarding the certificate of the program are to complete the entire syllabus, submit all the assessments, and then take up the exam. The university behind the certification of the program is Austin Peay University, Tennessee. Participants are provided with the study materials for the program such as modules, tests, an exam, video lectures, etc. There are no fixed timings for exams or tests and students can pursue the Game Development Certification at the comfort of their own schedules. 

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12 Weeks
349
Skills Covered:
Knowledge of sound Knowledge of Music Designing skills Animation skills
Certificate

CS50's Introduction to Game Development

12 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Games and Information

Offered by

Certificate

Games and Information

The Games and Information Certification course is a 12-week certification course that provides students with a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between game theory and information theory. Students delve into the fundamental principles of game theory, examining strategic decision-making in competitive scenarios Games and Information through the Games and Information certification course by NPTEL.

The Games and Information training delves into information theory, investigating how the flow of information shapes decision-making processes within games and broader contexts. The online course analyses concepts such as signalling, information asymmetry, and more to understand how information influences strategic behaviour and makes students proficient in the evolving world of gaming

Also Read: Online Gaming Certification Courses

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12 Weeks
Skills Covered:
Decision making skills
Introduction to Virtual Reality Programming Design and Unity

Offered by

VR Voom via Futurelearn
Certificate

Introduction to VR Programming, Design, and Unity

The Introduction to VR Programming, Design, and Unity Certification Course is a 10-week long course that provides a detailed overview of VR programming along with the steps involved in the creation of 2D games. The course offered on the FutureLearn platform will help learners to build a career in the field of programming and game development.

Through the Introduction to VR Programming, Design, and Unity Online Course, learners will cover topics including the fundamentals of VR programming and applications of the Unity game engine. The course will provide learners an opportunity to utilize their creative thinking abilities for game design and creation.

The Introduction to VR Programming, Design, and Unity Training Course is a self-guided course that will be delivered using video lectures, course articles, peer discussions, activities, and quizzes. After completion of all assessments, learners will be rewarded with a valid course certificate.

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10 Weeks
1,114
Skills Covered:
Game designing skills
Certificate

Game Theory

Game Theory certification is a short 17 hours course that is offered in conjunction with Stanford University, The University of British Columbia, and the certificate is provided by Coursera. This course has been made by keeping in mind movies like "A Beautiful Mind,” which helps learners identify that game theory is nothing but a mathematics model of strategic interaction between agents like rational and irrational. The course enlightens us that common games like chess, poker, or soccer are more than just games as these involve conflict modelling among political campaigns, competition among firms trading behaviour in New York Stock Exchange, and more.

The game Theory certification syllabus will include fundamentals of topics like representation of games and strategies, Bayesian games, the game trees, repeated and stochastic games, and many more. The course will also impart learning about some classic games and their applications to the participants.

This is a beginner-level course of game theory and can be completed in a time frame of 17 hours. Also, 18% of the students who have completed the course, and earned a certificate have been benefited tangibly in their careers. 

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8 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Skills Covered:
Game designing skills
How to Make a Platformer using libGDX

Offered by

Certificate

How to Make a Platformer Using libGDX

Udacity’s 'How to Make a Platformer Using libGDX' online programme will teach you how to build a platform game called GigaGal. You will be using the open-source libGDX game-development application framework for this. The course is curated and offered by the Amazon Appstore.

With the help of the 'How to Make a Platformer Using libGDX' training by Udacity, you will learn about controlling interactions between game objects and keeping track of complicated game state. Moreover, you will develop skills such as drawing sprites, animations, loading and managing level data, etc. These skills are critical to walking the exciting path of professional game development.

'How to Make a Platformer Using libGDX' online course is an intermediate-level programme that is approximately eight-week-long. During this duration, you will become skilled in effectively using libGDX for 2D game development. You will learn via intensive video content, practical exercises and interactive quizzes. Jeremy Silver and Peter Heinrich will be your expert instructors for this training. 

...Read More
8 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills Game designing skills
2D Game Development with libGDX

Offered by

Certificate

2D Game Development with libGDX

The 2D Game Development with libGDX online course by Udacity is designed to acquaint you with the libGDX game development framework. This course will help you learn how to use libGDX to create 2D video games with compatibility on multiple platforms, including mobile devices and web browsers.

Offered by the Amazon Appstore, the 2D Game Development with libGDX online programme consists of eight detailed lessons that will take you approximately eight weeks to complete. The course features interactive quizzes, learn by doing exercises and rich video content by top instructors of the industry.

Udacity’s 2D Game Development with libGDX online training will teach you central game development concepts such as user input handling, simple drawings, physics, cameras, cross-platform development, viewports, simple animations, etc. With the help of the 2D Game Development with libGDX programme, you will build a complete game called Icicles. The gameplay will involve icicles pouring down from the top and the player dodging them with physical controls or tilting the phone.

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8 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Animation skills Game designing skills
Certificate

Unity Development and Essential 3D Math

Unity Development and Essential 3D Math by NYU Tandon School of Engineering gives an exhaustive introduction to the Unity game engine and the mathematical foundations necessary to kickstart their career with the knowledge of the key skills. Participants will undergo a rigorous mathematical understanding of 3D spaces, which will prepare them to produce their own mobile AR prototypes and Unity projects.

Unity Development and Essential 3D Math Certification Syllabus has been structured to empower candidates to create solutions that can tackle problems facing the current domain. The faculty shall focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and invention. This course is the right place for ambitious students from all walks of life to get the solid education they need in the current paradigm. The school’s great history is brought forward with the shared objective to generate ideas and build solutions for the world.

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8 Weeks
$ 2,500
Skills Covered:
Animation skills

Offered by

Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia via Edx
Certificate

Introduction to Video Game Development with Unity

The increasing popularity of mobile gaming has revolutionised the video game market. There are more platforms available for game developers now than there ever were. But choosing between all these platforms can be a challenge for developers. You can overcome this challenge by using a gaming engine, and at present, the most popular gaming engine in the market is Unity.

Now you can learn how to use Unity in just six weeks, with the Introduction to Video Game Development with Unity programme by edX. There are many reasons behind Unity’s popularity, including its ability to generate games that are compatible with over 20 different platforms, its powerful tools and hundreds of third-party add-ons that it supports. The learning curve associated with Unity is also excellent.

After completing the Introduction to Video Game Development with Unity training programme, you will be able to take advantage of all these incredible features. The Introduction to Video Game Development with Unity certification course is an intermediate-level computer science programme, brought to you by the Universitat Politècnica de València.

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6 Weeks
Intermediate
Free
Skills Covered:
Game designing skills
Pixel Art for Video Games

Offered by

Certificate

Pixel Art for Video Games

Through the aesthetic of pixel art, the Pixel Art for Video Games course by Coursera will explore artistic principles like shape language, colour theory, and composition. The programme portrays the systematic workflow that helps in creating assets that can be used to make your games. 

The Pixel Art for Video Games online programme is divided into four main modules - props, environments, characters, and animation. All the modules will have a series of pre-recorded video lessons alternating between technical and artistic skills. Also, there is a peer-reviewed project at the end of the programme. 

The Pixel Art for Video Games course is aimed at art novices who want to create art for their own video games or contribute to other game projects. Through this course, game designers and programmers can catch a glimpse into the world of game art. They will be able to work better with artists or create their own prototype or final artwork.

...Read More
5 Weeks
Beginner
4,115
Skills Covered:
Artistic ability Animation skills
Certificate

Writing Video Game Characters

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Certificate

Worldbuilding for Video Games

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Certificate

Video Game Writing Essentials

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Certificate

Working as a Game Writer

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Certificate

Interactive Narrative

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Accessible Gamification

Offered by

Certificate

Accessible Gamification

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Video Game Design and Balance

Offered by

RIT via Edx
Certificate

Video Game Design and Balance

5 Weeks
Beginner
Free
Certificate

Welcome to Game Theory

4 Weeks
Beginner

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