• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Game Design

    Game Design Courses Online

    Explore game design principles for creating engaging games. Learn about game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.
    Earn career credentials while taking courses that count towards your Master’s degree.
    Earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online for a fraction of the cost of in-person learning.
    Complete graduate-level learning without committing to a full degree program.
    Earn a university-issued career credential in a flexible, interactive format.
    Graduate level learning within reach.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Game Design Course Catalog

    • Status: Free
      Free
      T

      The University of Tokyo

      Welcome to Game Theory

      Skills you'll gain: Game Theory, Strategic Thinking, Socioeconomics, Social Sciences, Behavioral Economics, Economics, Strategic Decision-Making, Decision Making, Business Strategy, Probability

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

      Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Storytelling, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Storyboarding, Writing, Creativity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.3K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      Coursera Project Network

      Introduction to Basic Game Development using Scratch

      Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Debugging, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Video Game Development, Computer Programming Tools, Game Design, Computer Programming, Program Development, Animation and Game Design, Interactive Design, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Science

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.5K reviews

      Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      The Language of Design: Form and Meaning

      Skills you'll gain: Design Reviews, Design, Graphic Design, Design Elements And Principles, Visual Design, Peer Review, Typography, Creative Design

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      887 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • X

      Xbox

      Xbox Graphic Designer

      Skills you'll gain: Color Theory, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Logo Design, Typography, User Interface (UI), Interaction Design, Figma (Design Software), Adobe Illustrator, Design Reviews, Wireframing, Usability, Graphic and Visual Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Adobe Photoshop, Graphic Design, Photo Editing, Game Design, Generative AI, Style Guides, Adobe Creative Cloud

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      32 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Alberta

      Software Design and Architecture

      Skills you'll gain: Software Architecture, Model View Controller, Unified Modeling Language, Object Oriented Design, Service Oriented Architecture, API Design, Systems Architecture, Web Services, Software Design Patterns, Software Design, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Microservices, Restful API, Software Design Documents, Software Visualization, Code Review, Solution Architecture, Software Systems, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      Coursera Project Network

      Basic Game Development with Levels using Scratch

      Skills you'll gain: Event-Driven Programming, Debugging, Game Design, Animation and Game Design, Program Development, Algorithms, Computer Programming, Application Development, Programming Principles

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      135 reviews

      Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • U

      University of Michigan

      An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD)

      Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Learning Theory, Instructional Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Educational Materials, Learning Management Systems, Course Development, Design Thinking, Professional Development, Brainstorming, Education Software and Technology, Motivational Skills, Communication, Design, Student-Centred Learning, Creative Thinking, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, User Centered Design, Technology Strategies, Quality Assurance

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      72 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • M

      Michigan State University

      Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter

      Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Unity Engine, Prototyping, Video Game Development, 3D Modeling, Animation and Game Design, Software Design, Computer Graphics, Multimedia, Programming Principles, Music

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      64 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • M

      Microsoft

      Fundamentals of UI/UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, User Experience Design, User Experience, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Human Centered Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing, User Research

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      310 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Character Design for Video Games

      Skills you'll gain: Animation and Game Design, Animations, Game Design, Video Game Development, Design, Technical Design, Conceptual Design, Design Elements And Principles, Creative Design, Storytelling, Creativity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      994 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • M

      Michigan State University

      Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project

      Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Software Design Documents, Prototyping, Video Game Development, Software Documentation, Conceptual Design, Ideation, Usability Testing, Peer Review, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      36 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Game Design learners also search

    Beginner Game Design
    Game Development
    Game Programming
    Digital Design
    Digital Media
    Digital Art
    Character Design
    Photography
    1234…388

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular game design courses

    • Welcome to Game Theory: The University of Tokyo
    • Story and Narrative Development for Video Games: California Institute of the Arts
    • Introduction to Basic Game Development using Scratch: Coursera Project Network
    • The Language of Design: Form and Meaning: California Institute of the Arts
    • Xbox Graphic Designer: Xbox
    • Software Design and Architecture: University of Alberta
    • Basic Game Development with Levels using Scratch: Coursera Project Network
    • An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD): University of Michigan
    • Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter: Michigan State University
    • Fundamentals of UI/UX Design: Microsoft

    Skills you can learn in Design And Product

    User Interface (18)
    User Experience (16)
    Software Testing (13)
    Game Design (11)
    Agile Software Development (10)
    Graphics (10)
    Virtual Reality (9)
    Design Thinking (8)
    Web (8)
    Video Game Development (7)
    Web Design (7)
    Adobe Photoshop (6)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Game Design

    Coursera's Game Design courses offer learners the opportunity to acquire a diverse range of skills critical for creating engaging and immersive video games:

    • Fundamental principles of game design, including storyboarding, gameplay theory, and character development.
    • Techniques for creating interactive game experiences, focusing on user engagement and retention.
    • Skills in using game development tools and platforms, such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
    • Best practices for level design, ensuring games are challenging yet accessible.
    • Understanding of game aesthetics to enhance visual storytelling and player immersion.
    • Insights into the business of games, including market analysis, distribution, and monetization strategies.‎

    Game Design courses on Coursera are accessible to learners with varying levels of experience:

    • Beginners interested in game design can start with introductory courses that do not require previous programming or design experience.
    • Those with some background in related fields like software development or digital art can deepen their knowledge of specific aspects of game creation.
    • Advanced designers and programmers can enhance their skills with specialized courses in advanced game mechanics, engine-specific training, or professional game development practices.‎

    Upon completing Game Design courses, learners can obtain credentials that may support their career advancement in the game industry:

    • Professional certificates that may demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and hands-on skills in game design.
    • Specializations that focus on particular aspects of game design and development, offering a deeper dive into subjects like virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI) in games, or multiplayer game settings.
    • Certificates that can showcase the learner’s capabilities to potential employers or collaborators within the gaming community.‎

    Skills acquired from Game Design courses can open doors to multiple career paths within the gaming industry and related fields:

    • Game Designer, crafting the core concepts and gameplay elements of new games.
    • Level Designer, focusing on the creation of engaging game environments and player progression.
    • Narrative Designer, developing storylines, dialogues, and character arcs within games.
    • Game Developer, implementing the technical aspects of game mechanics using programming languages.
    • Game Artist, designing visual elements such as characters, assets, and textures that define the game’s aesthetic.‎

    Looking to enhance your team's Game Design skills? Coursera provides tailored enterprise solutions for teams ranging of 5-125 employees. Our offerings include advanced analytics, customized learning paths, and collaborative tools. To explore our Game Design training options and make a purchase, please visit our Coursera for Teams page.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

    Other topics to explore

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Technical Skills

    • ChatGPT
    • Coding
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • DevOps
    • Ethical Hacking
    • Generative AI
    • Java Programming
    • Python
    • Web Development

    Analytical Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Big Data
    • Business Analysis
    • Data Analytics
    • Data Science
    • Financial Modeling
    • Machine Learning
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • SQL

    Business Skills

    • Accounting
    • Digital Marketing
    • E-commerce
    • Finance
    • Google
    • Graphic Design
    • IBM
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Social Media Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Essential IT Certifications
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How to Get a PMP Certification
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
    • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
    • Career Development Resources
    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Share your Coursera Learning Story

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok