How to become a video game developer in 2025

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Video game development—designing, building, and publishing video games—is a very exciting career path for people who love games and creativity. Various elements, such as art, graphic design, programming, storytelling, and user experience, come together to create an interactive and engaging digital environment. 

Despite its complexity, anyone with the right dedication to learning can succeed in the field. Many video game developers start their journey as hobbyists, using online resources to create simple games. Consistent efforts and the will to experiment are all you need to succeed in this dynamic industry. 

This post gives some guidance on the sector and how to get started on your journey as a professional game developer.

Why be a game developer?

The video game development industry remains a very attractive landscape. According to a 2024 PwC report, the market size was estimated to be around $262 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass $312 billion by 2027. 

This growth is driven by the industry’s ability to engage a broad audience, a major portion of which is young adults. 

Recent trends in the industry, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, cloud gaming, cross-platform gaming, and mobile gaming, are all enabling even more engaging, interactive, and personalized gaming experiences, which should continue to fuel the sector. 

What does a game developer do?

A video game developer works as a member of a team (or on their own) to build video games. They contribute to a project based on their specialization, which can be one or more of the following:

• Game art: Designing the visual elements of the game, including the environments, animations, characters, and UI
• Game design: Conceptualizing the game experience, i.e., handling the creative elements (designing levels and creating the storyline) and defining the game structure and modes of play
• Game programming: Writing the game software, integrating sounds and art elements in the game, developing the physics behavior of objects, and defining intelligent behavior for non-player characters 
• Sound engineering: Composing music soundtracks, background ambiance, and player voices
• Network development: Developing the code that enables games to be played online in multiplayer mode

What you need to be a video game developer

While there are no specific requirements for video game developers, the following can help kickstart your career.

Education

From a university degree to higher mathematics, let’s explore some of the knowledge requirements you will need to start a career in game development.

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering

While it is not always mandatory to have a bachelor’s degree in software engineering or computer science, some employers in the video game industry require their game developers to hold a formal degree related to software development, programming, or computer science. 

According to an IDGA report, 45% of video game developers have a bachelor’s degree from a university and another 25% hold a post-graduate degree. 

Such degrees provide great foundational knowledge for building a career in this industry; however, it’s important to note that numerous video game developers build successful careers without attending university.

Instead, you can opt for the many free or low-cost online resources available to learn the trade. YouTube has an excellent collection of free video tutorials, while platforms like Codeacademy, Coursera, and EdX also provide a great starting point for beginners.

Programming and problem-solving skills

Creating a video game demands a good knowledge of algorithms and data structures to write efficient game code. Strong problem-solving skills are also required to solve issues that arise during development, testing, or designing.

Advanced knowledge of mathematics

Advanced math, such as calculus and trigonometry, is crucial for numerous aspects of game development. These include animation simulation, graphics, and the realistic physics of game objects and their movements. 

Coding-specific skills

Below are some coding-specific skills that enable the creation of graphics, game mechanics, and all other elements that together bring a game into existence.

Programming languages

C++, C# (read as C sharp), and JavaScript are all widely used in game development. You will need to know at least one to begin your game developer journey.

Debugging and problem-solving

Writing code requires identifying and resolving bugs. You will need to familiarize yourself with debugging tools such as Unity’s Console Window or Unreal’s debugging tools, depending on the game engine in use.

Software design

Stay on top of the latest software design principles and methodologies. We recommend learning object-oriented programming, software design patterns, and the Agile methodology.

Tooling experience

Game development involves simultaneously managing multiple complex systems, such as graphics, physics, and game logic. This means game developers must be able to use different tools, like game engines and development acceleration platforms, to simplify various processes.

Game engines

Game engines form the backbone of game development; they provide all key aspects of video game creation under a single umbrella. Unity and Unreal Engine are industry-standard engines and the most widely used. Other popular game engines include Godot, Amazon Lumberyard, and CryEngine. 

Development acceleration platforms

Development accelerator platforms, such as the Incredibuild development acceleration platform, provide a sophisticated environment that enables rapid development with low or no coding. 

Thanks to its extensive and seamless integration with popular game engines and other game development tools, Incredibuild can optimize builds via faster code compilation, faster asset compression, and improved rendering workflows. 

Its combination of distributed processing and reusing cache allows Incredibuild to accelerate game development. Incredibuild also enhances remote working by allowing teams to distribute their processing loads across multiple machines; this slashes build times and boosts productivity. On average, Incredibuild can save 2-3 hours per developer—meaning more time for creativity.

Several prominent AAA game studios (companies that produce large-scale games, often with multimillion-dollar budgets) use Incredibuild to pool spare processing power and speed up development. 

Japanese video game company Bandai Namco Online noted a massive 75% drop in build times after integrating Incredibuild. Other companies that have significantly benefitted from Incredibuild’s acceleration include Cryptic Studios, Turn 10, Epic Games, and Life Beyond Studios.

Courses and certifications

Listed below are some training options to help you get started with your game development career:

• Game Design and Development with Unity (Coursera/Michigan State University): This specialization is targeted toward beginners and covers all basic to advanced concepts of game development with the Unity game engine.
• Introduction to Game Development (Codeacademy): This free course explores basic concepts about game design, gameplay mechanics, and game assets; it also has a brief introduction to various programming languages and game engines used.
• CS50’s Introduction to Game Development (Harvard CS50): Although this course has been officially deprecated, it still provides a solid foundation for beginners.

Portfolio

Having an online portfolio lets potential employers easily view your capabilities. Projects can be shown on a video platform like YouTube or a personal website. You can also upload your source code to your GitHub profile. 

The job search: Make sure to network!

While online job boards and companies’ career websites are helpful when looking for work, networking within the industry comes with greater advantages. 

People in the industry

Connecting with people who work in the same industry is always a good way to improve your odds of landing a job. Participating in game development conferences or workshops like the Game Developers Conference (GDC) will give you more opportunities to come across industry professionals.

Social media

Game developers and game studios are usually active on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and X. Add comments under their posts to engage with them meaningfully. On LinkedIn, you can also reach out to established professionals, ask questions, and showcase your work.

Online communities

Reddit and Discord have many active communities focused on game development, such as r/gamedev and r/unrealengine. Get involved, share your experiences, and find answers to problems you encounter as a developer.

Start applying for jobs

When it comes to looking for a job, you’ll first want to tailor your resume to the roles you are interested in and highlight your top skills. 

You have multiple options to break into your game development career, so leverage your network to get referrals for roles that really pique your interest. 

You may want to work as a video game developer at a game studio or start working freelance to expand your knowledge while enhancing your portfolio. Another option is to show off your creativity and skills by developing a game on your own.

Start your successful journey as a game developer

With consistency and a passion for learning, you can easily acquire the education, resources, and technical expertise required to succeed as a game developer. This career path has its challenges but also many rewards. 

Remember, you are not limited to working in a game studio and can always work on your own ideas. 

Lastly, there’s no time like the present, so start your journey today! rld example and provide actionable strategies to reduce cache misses and enhance overall efficiency. Whether you’re new to build caching or looking to improve your current workflow, this guide has you covered.