How to Become a Game Developer

If you’re a passionate gamer who wants to take your love for video games to the next level, a career in game development might be an option for you.

While it’s possible to build your career by learning many of the necessary game developer skills on your own, there are also practical steps you can take to further your chances of success in the industry — like earning a bachelor’s degree and networking with game development professionals.

If you’re considering whether a future in game development is the right path for you, a good place to start is understanding what a game developer does — because the answer may surprise you.

What Does a Game Developer Do?

It’s important to know that “game developer” is more of an umbrella term, and there is a wide array of roles and responsibilities that fall under it. But Joseph Whitworth, an academic partner and adjunct instructor of game art and development at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), emphasized that no matter what job a game developer chooses to do, there’s a shared mission at the center of their work.

“The goal of a game developer is to create an interactive simulation — to turn an idea into a playable experience that people can enjoy,” he said.

Whitworth, who also works as a technical game consultant and owns his own independent game studio, shed light on the versatility of roles within game development. When it comes to choosing your path in the industry, you really do have the opportunity — some might say — to pick your player.

According to Whitworth, you might choose to be a game designer, working to conceptualize a creative idea for a game: how it will be played, how it will end and what kind of experience players will have along the way. You could work in art and animation, creating characters, environments and other elements of gameplay that achieve a cohesive, visually appealing result. Or work as a sound designer, writing music, creating sound effects and maybe even doing some voice acting for the game.

If you’re interested in a role that’s more technical, you might try your hand at programming: writing the code that makes characters move and objects interact within the game. Or maybe your work will be centered around testing and debugging, identifying errors and ways to fix them ahead of the game’s release.

Any of these roles in game development might land you in a traditional game studio setting. But there are a number of other environments game developers work in, too, according to Whitworth. You could be a freelancer, work for a larger tech company or help further research for an academic institution. You might even work in architecture, assisting with visual models for clients before projects begin.

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Game Developer?

Technically, you can become a game developer without a degree — but Whitworth noted its value, particularly in helping you stand out in the industry.

“The degree brings structure,” he said. “It is a tremendous leap forward over someone else who doesn’t have one.”

When it comes to which bachelor's degree to pursue, you have options:

• Game programming and development degree: This degree is a strong choice for its specificity.
• Game art and development degree: This degree is tailored to individuals interested in working in animation.
• Computer science degree: This degree is another solid option, as there are many similarities between software development and game development — particularly if you’re looking to become a programmer.

Ultimately, the best degree for you is the degree that feels most aligned with your goals.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Game Developer?

In addition to a bachelor’s degree, a number of game developer skills can be a helpful foundation for getting started in the industry. Some of the most important, Whitworth said, are centered around collaboration.

“All game developers require the typical soft skills involved with working on a project: the ability to work on a team, written and oral communication, problem-solving, patience, resilience — things like that," he said.

In terms of the importance of a more technical skill set, it really depends on what role within game development you’re interested in. If you’re looking to become a game programmer, for example, proficiency in coding languages like C++ or C# is something you'll want to prioritize. You’ll also need a keen understanding of algorithms, data structures and design patterns.

“The great thing about programming is that once you learn the fundamentals of one language, you can adapt to others more easily,” said Whitworth. 

While game designers don’t need to be expert programmers, a baseline understanding of coding can position you one step ahead. According to Whitworth, knowledge of game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity, as well as their scripting systems, is another key skill that can serve both programmers and designers well.

Whitworth also noted that even artists and animators need some technical skills and would benefit from proficiency in software like Blender, Maya or ZBrush for modeling and sculpting. But it’s even better, he said, if they take this a step further.

“Artists also need to know how to properly optimize these assets for performance in the game engine,” he said. “Understanding how to import and export assets, maintain proper file structures and work within engine constraints is crucial.”

No matter what specific role within game development you’re most interested in, start by gaining an understanding of basic programming concepts, learning how game engines work and wrapping your head around the technical requirements of asset creation. Build your soft skills, like teamwork and problem-solving, and you’ll be on your way.

Is Becoming a Game Developer Hard?

Like many industries, starting a career in game development requires some intentional work, and there can be challenges along the way. Something to keep in mind is that, for most game developers, it takes time and patience to get to achieve your goals.

“People’s perception of what a career in game development actually looks like is skewed a bit by film and television shows,” said Whitworth. “It is absolutely achievable, as I see many students leave my program to become game developers — but it takes a lot of work building your skills to reach a senior level.”

And according to Whitworth, that work can certainly be taxing. 

“Creating games is extremely time-consuming and difficult. Sometimes a game that studios spend years developing hits, and sometimes it doesn’t,” he said. “You need to have passion to be a game developer.”

Despite some of the challenges that come with getting started, a career in game development is possible.

For starters, it’s a booming industry. In 2023, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reported that the video game industry generated a total economic impact of $101.3 billion (ESA PDF Source).

And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), salary information looks promising.* As of May 2023, BLS reported that software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers made a median annual salary of $130,160.* In the same timeframe, special effects artists and animators made $99,060, according to BLS.*

How Do You Get Started as a Game Developer?

Your journey toward becoming a game developer could look a bit like this. 

Narrow in on Your Passion

Maybe video games are a recent hobby you’ve picked up — or maybe they’ve been in your life a lot longer. For Tim Barrett '22, who earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Game Programming and Development from SNHU, games have sentimental value. 

“I grew up playing 'The Legend of Zelda' and 'Final Fantasy' with my grandmother,” he said. “As I got older, I realized that I could create my own games and bring the same experiences that I cherished with my grandmother to other people.”

After graduating, Barrett combined his passion for games and the knowledge he gained in his program, landing a role as a level designer for Belfrost Studios — an independent game studio founded by SNHU alumni.

To decide what path you’d like to take as a game developer, it can help to ask yourself what, specifically, draws you to your favorite games. Is it the animation style? The storytelling? The smooth, realistic interaction of different elements? The level structure? The answer to that initial question will help you identify where you’d like to hone your focus — as a programmer, an artist, a sound engineer or something different.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree 

Once you’ve figured out which area of game development you’d like to focus on, choose a bachelor’s degree program that fits your needs. Many game development programs have concentrations, too — so you can hone in even more on the skills you’re set on building.

For Ryan Weathers, who’s currently pursuing both a BA in Game Art & Development and a BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts from SNHU, having the structure of a degree program has already helped broaden his skill set.

“Before starting at SNHU, my artwork remained solely 2D with both physical and digital media,” he said. “The courses at SNHU have provided the stepping stones to learn more about art in video games and embrace 3D.”

Barrett agreed, and said that he began applying the game developer skills from his bachelor’s program to his professional endeavors right away.

“The skills I learned in Unreal Engine through SNHU's game development program gave me a solid starting point to create some amazing level designs for games,” he said. “My education really helped me feel prepared to work in this industry.”

Learn by Doing 

There’s a lot about game development you can learn on your own — by practicing, exploring and going through some trial and error. This independent work is a strong supplement to a bachelor’s degree program and can help you begin building a portfolio.

According to Whitworth, building a portfolio that showcases any work you’ve done — even amateur or independent work — is a great best practice for someone interested in landing a job in the industry. The goal is to demonstrate your ability to do the work at a high level, even if you haven’t yet had the opportunity to demonstrate your skills professionally. For creative careers, in particular, showing employers what you can do can be a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates.

“Practice!” said Whitworth. “Experiment! And assume you will need to study just as much on your own as you do taking courses.”

When it comes to building your game development skills, it can be summed up pretty simply: the more you do, the more you’ll learn.

Build Connections 

Professional networking is beneficial in any industry, but it can be particularly useful for an aspiring game developer. For Barrett and Weathers, social media platform Discord provided a great space to connect over their shared passion for — and career aspirations in — game development.

“I had two terms left until I finished my degree and found a posting in SNHU’s Game Development Discord channel looking for a level designer,” said Barrett. "I reached out directly to the poster, interviewed, and within a few days, I was a member of the team myself.”

And in an era where remote work has become the new normal, Weathers said, platforms like Discord have become increasingly helpful for networking.

“Discord has helped bridge the communication gap inherent to remote work,” he said. “We can send files, video chat, screen share and create engagement that feels close to being in person.”

Whitworth echoed these sentiments, adding that in-person events can be great places to build connections, too.

“If you can, visit gaming conventions and conferences like GDC (Game Developers Conference),” he said.

Level Up With a Career in Game Development

The journey to becoming a game developer looks different for everyone. Whether your next step involves a bachelor’s degree, working on your technical skills independently or networking in a Discord channel with fellow gaming professionals, you can take your passion for gaming to the next level.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Abigail (Abby) Mark ’23G is a copywriter and contributing content writer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Prior to her role in marketing, Abby spent four years on SNHU’s student experience team as an academic advisor and team lead of academic advising. In 2018, she graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and went on to earn her Master of Arts in English & Creative Writing at SNHU in the spring of 2023.

She is also an adjunct faculty member at SNHU and is passionate about sharing her love for creative writing with online undergraduate students. Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative SNHU could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.