The 12 best online game development courses, from free beginner classes to advanced certificate programs

Updated

2021-08-17T20:09:52Z

Gaming development courses 6

Online game development courses are available through platforms such as Codecademy, edX, Coursera, and Udemy.
Stas Knop/Pexels

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

  • You can find online game development courses from e-learning sites like Coursera, edX, and Udemy.
  • Below, you'll find the best online game design and development classes, from beginner to advanced.
  • Read more: 13 sites where you can learn how to code online for free.

Loading Something is loading.

Whether you're a total beginner interested in game design, or a current programmer looking to switch career paths, there are several online courses for game development that span a variety of skill levels and specializations.

Most courses arm students with the conceptual and technical knowledge needed to advance, plus projects for their portfolios and the option to earn a certificate of completion.

Below, you'll find a few of the best and most affordable options whether you want to dabble in a new hobby or up-skill to stand out in the job market. Courses range in specificity, length, and emphasis to best suit individual needs.

Top 5 game development courses:

  • C# Programming – Unity Game Development Certification (Coursera)
  • Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialization (Coursera)
  • Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D (Udemy)
  • Computer Science for Game Development (edX)
  • Create Your First Game with Python (Coursera)

Read on for all 12 of the best game development courses:

Create Video Games with Phaser.js

Codecademy

Time commitment: 6 weeks

Certificate: Yes

Perfect for beginners, this course teaches students how to build games completely from scratch by learning to code in JavaScript and use the Phaser.js library to add visual effects and put the whole game together.

Students end the course with three completed games.

C# Programming – Unity Game Development Certification

Christina Morillo/Pexels

Time commitment: Approximately 7 months

Certificate: Yes

This specialization (which includes four courses and a final project) is great for beginners. It assumes no programming experience, and students learn to program in C# and then use those new skills to create Unity games.

Each of the courses includes exercises to instruct students on concepts in C# and Unity — from 10-20 exercises per course to several larger C# console applications and Unity prototypes, as well as two complete games. In the final capstone course, students implement their own game idea using Unity and C#.

Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialization

Unity

Time commitment: Approximately 7 months

Certificate: Yes

This five-course program is Unity's official series and is designed to prepare students for the Unity Certified 3D Artist exam. Students will work on two main projects: A Kitchen Configuration application with a realistic look and a 3D video game level with a "stylized science-fantasy" aesthetic. Across both, learners import assets, manipulate materials, create prefabs, add lighting, and more.

This course is best suited for those who have been using Unity for real-time rendering for one or two years and are looking to demonstrate a professional standard.

Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D

Soumil Kumar/Pexels

Time commitment: 34 hours of instruction

Certificate: Yes

Students learn C# from scratch so no programming experience is necessary, though it may be helpful. On top of building a solid foundational understanding, students create playable game projects to use in their portfolios and become adept at using the Unity game engine. Students also develop transferable skills like coding, problem-solving, and applying knowledge from this course to .NET and other languages.

This course is fitting for everyone from beginners to developers looking to re-skill.

Computer Science for Game Development

Luis Gomes/Pexels

Time commitment: Approximately 6 months

Certificate: Yes

This program (which includes two courses) is designed to build a broad understanding of computer science, programming, and software development, as well as empower students to feel comfortable in the fundamentals of game design and development.

Students are introduced to concepts like abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Students also work on familiarity with multiple languages such as C, Python, JavaScript, SQL, CSS, and HTML, as well as the principles of 2D and 3D work.

Create Your First Game with Python

Christina Moirllo/Pexels

Time commitment: 2 hours

Certificate: No

This two-hour project-based course helps students learn the basics of game development with Python using PyGame modules. Students learn concepts like creating a game loop and image display through hands-on experience.

The course is designed for students looking to get started with game development who already have some prior programming experience in Python.

Unreal Engine C++ Developer Course

Hitesh Choudhary/Pexels

Time commitment: 31 hours

Certificate:  Yes

This course is designed for students from beginners to developers and existing programmers who are looking to re-skill.

Students learn everything from C++, Git, and programming patterns and best practices to transferable problem-solving skills and vector maths for gameplay and physics calculations.

Game Design and Development Specialization

Stas Knop/Pexels

Time commitment: Approximately 5 months

Certificate: Yes

This specialization (five courses and a capstone project) focuses on both the theoretical and practical foundations of video game production while using the Unity 3D game engine. Its instructors have a reported 50+ years of experience building games and teaching game production.

Lessons cover everything from prototypes to iterations to licensing and marketing. It's a good fit for those looking to build a foundation that can be applied to roles like gameplay designer, level designer, technical designer/artist, programmer, or producer.

Students build four complete Unity3D game projects by applying the skills and knowledge they've gained throughout the course. In a final capstone project, they build an original market-ready game.

The online game portal Kongregate is the capstone partner, which provides an avenue for distribution of the project and a pathway for monetization.

Introduction to Game Design

Suludan Diliyaer/Pexels

Time commitment: 10 hours

Certificate: Yes

This introductory course requires no prior programming experience and focuses on the conceptual basics of games. Students learn about the primary underpinnings of gaming and how those basics affect the way that users interact with games.

Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

ThisIsEngineering/Pexels

Time commitment: 11 hours

Certificate: Yes

This course focuses on the story and narrative that drives gameplay forward, so students learn how to create a compelling game concept.

Students evaluate and interpret historical and contemporary games to identify different story styles and the themes and procedures that they can use in their own games. Students also explore traditional narrative storytelling processes and how they complement a game's strategic elements.

Game Music Composition: Make Music For Games From Scratch

Lulizler/Pexels

Time commitment: 20 hours

Certificate: Yes

This course teaches you how to compose original video game music through the lens of music theory, composition, production, and general game music knowledge.

Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modelling for Beginners

ThisIsEngineering/Pexels

Time commitment: 65.5 hours of instructional video

Certificate: Yes

Students learn how to use Blender to create 3D models, including combining CGI with real-life footage, using Blender's physics engine, and exporting their models to external packages.

Mara Leighton

Senior Education and Personal Development Reporter, Insider Reviews

Mara Leighton is the senior education and personal development reporter for Insider Reviews. In the spring of 2020, Mara spearheaded Insider Reviews' new education beat. She's reported on Yale's most popular course on happiness as well as essential workforce recovery programs, free instructional courses for non-ICU workers on operating mechanical ventilators, and a Johns Hopkins' contact tracing course designed to fill thousands of remote jobs. She's interviewed Google executives, presidential policy committee members, best-selling authors, leading researchers and professors, and NBC's Chuck Todd in her education coverage. She's most interested in personal development, skill-building, industry shifts, and increased accessibility for learners of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Previously, Mara covered e-commerce for Business Insider from 2017-2020. She's written thousands of reviews and explainers, profiled emerging and established D2C companies, blogged through major retail events, and forecasted and analyzed industry trends. She also produced the vertical's weekly newsletter. Say hello at mleighton@businessinsider.com or tweet her @maraleighton. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we review educational and personal development products.

More: Features IP Roundup Online Classes Online Learning

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

For you