If you’ve ever played a video game, you may have considered how you can make your own.
At this point, game development is a field that is only getting bigger.
That’s why we’re here to help you find the best game development courses that will help you find a career in the business.
After all, the more you know, the better chances you have of improving your career path in the deeply competitive field of game development.
You might think that learning about game development is all about learning code.
However, it’s more than that. Game development is also about telling stories and understanding how games work.
So none of the courses on this list will be the same as any of the others.
Game Design And Development With Unity 2020 Specialization
In this free course, you will learn about the theory and practice of making games using Unity 2020.
It’s offered by Michigan State University, which is ranked as having one of the best game programs in North America.
You learn how to make four game projects, including a 2D shooter, a 2D platformer, a first-person shooter, and a 3D platformer.
You can also take part in the Capstone Project, where you can create a completely original game, including up to its first playable prototype.
Once you complete it, you’ll get a certificate to show you’ve finished the course, but it won’t count as college credits if you’re doing a degree.
Pros
- Beginner Friendly — You don’t have to worry about knowing any code before you start and can focus on learning straight from the course.
- Free — It doesn’t cost you anything, making it an affordable access point to learn about Unity, which is also free.
- Gain A Certificate Upon Completion — If you want to show what you have learned, then you can do so with a certificate that shows when you completed the course.
Cons
- Doesn’t Carry University Credit — Despite offering a certificate, you’ll find that there isn’t an option to carry university credits over to get into university.
- Only Teaches You About Shooters and Platformers — If you want to learn about video games, you’ll only learn about these specific genres. So if you’re interested in RPGs specifically, then it might not be of interest to you.
Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D
Offered by Udemy, the Complete X# Unity Game Developer for 2D games offers an affordable and accessible learning opportunity.
You’ll gain access to practical projects to gain hands-on experience and showcase your own portfolio of work.
Unfortunately, it is quite expensive if you don’t manage to buy it when it’s on sale.
Compared to other games development courses, you’ll find that you won’t receive a certificate upon completion.
Along with this, you need to have a basic knowledge and understanding of code if you want to jump into the course.
Pros
- Affordable — If you get this course on sale, it’s much cheaper and affordable. You will also have full access to it even after completion.
- Practical Projects — You get to do your own projects, which you can showcase in a portfolio of work. That way, you get practical experience, if not anything else.
- Accessible — It’s accessible to those with minor knowledge of coding and can be useful for students who are happy to dive into the deep end.
Cons
- Expensive If Not On Sale — While it’s affordable when you get it on sale, if you don’t, then it can get rather expensive. So you need to wait for it to be on sale.
- No Certificate Upon Completion — You don’t receive any certifications upon completion of the course.
- Some Experience Required — While the course is accessible, you may find that it’s better to have some prior experience with coding.
Introduction To Game Design
Coursera offers an introduction to Game Design, and you can enroll for free immediately.
As it’s an Introduction to Game Design, it’s available for all beginner-friendly students, and you’ll find that it’s completely beginner-friendly.
However, compared to other courses, you’ll mostly be learning about the theory behind video games and design.
The good news about this course is that you don’t need any prior knowledge of code, and you will gain a certificate upon completion of the course.
However, there are no practical applications here.
That means if you want a portfolio of work, you may not achieve one, nor will you achieve any university credits.
However, should you take part in this, you’ll find that it’s part of the Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization.
Pros
- Beginner Friendly — You don’t need any prior experience in game design or coding (see also ‘14 Best Masterclass Design Courses You Can Try Today‘).
- Free — You can enroll in this course for free and without any issues on Coursera.
- Theory-Based — This may be more suitable if you’re interested in the theory behind game development.
- Certificate Upon Completion — You can get a certificate upon completion of the course to showcase you have prior knowledge of game design.
Cons
- Not A Practical Course — If you want additional knowledge of coding and a portfolio of work, you won’t be able to get that here.
- Doesn’t Carry University Credit — No university credit is available upon completion of the course, so you can’t use it for classes.