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If you are serious about becoming a game developer, you must learn various skills, from game design to programming to art and animation. One of the best ways to learn these skills is to take a comprehensive game development course.
In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the best game development courses, along with my top 3 choices, so that you can pick the best one. These courses will teach you everything you need to know about creating your video games.
Criteria For Rankings
I’ve based my rankings on the following criteria:
- Comprehensiveness: Does the course offer a holistic view of game development?
- Focus Areas: Does it lean more towards coding, art, marketing, or a balanced mix?
- Community and Support: How active is the community? Is there additional support like forums, Discord channels, etc.?
- Quality of Instruction: Are the teachings clear, engaging, and well-structured?
- Affordability: While price isn’t everything, it’s an important factor.
Full Time Game Dev
- Comprehensive Training
- Entrepreneurial Skills
- Game Dev Marketing
- Active Community
- 2D Game Development
Game Dev Unlocked
- Comprehensive Game Dev Coverage
- Progression: Beginner to Advanced
- Efficiency Over Perfection
- Engaged Community Support
- Covers Unity & Unreal
Game Institute
- Hands-on Coding
- Advanced Topics
- Comprehensive Training
- Community/Instructor Support
- Covers Unity & Unreal
Why Trust My Reviews?
You might be wondering, “Why should I trust this person’s opinion on game development courses?” Great question! Here’s why:
- Hands-On Experience: I’m currently working on my first Unity 3D game, Last Stand, a base defender game that has helped me understand the practical aspects of game development. I know the challenges of building a game as I am going through the process now.
- I’ve Taken These Courses: Unlike some reviewers who skim through course outlines, I have personally invested in these courses and integrated what I’ve learned into my own game development journey.
- In-Depth Research: For courses I haven’t taken, I’ve done my homework by examining course materials on the seller’s website, reading reviews across the web, and checking out social media discussions. This allows me to provide a well-rounded perspective.
- Credibility: Aside from my hands-on experience, I regularly study various aspects of game development, from coding to marketing. My ongoing learning ensures that my reviews are up-to-date and informed by industry trends.
- Transparency: I provide a clear set of criteria for my reviews, so you know exactly what factors I consider important when ranking these courses.
What is a Comprehensive Game Development Course?
Before diving into the best game development courses list, let’s first define what “comprehensive” means in this context. A comprehensive game development course is not just a tutorial—it’s a well-rounded educational experience designed to equip you with all the skills you need to bring a video game from concept to market.
Key Components of a Comprehensive Course:
- Game Design: Understanding the basics of game design, including level design, gameplay mechanics, and user experience.
- Programming: Learning the essential coding skills, usually in languages like C#, to build and optimize your game.
- Art and Animation: The ability to create or integrate visual elements, such as characters, environments, and animations.
- Sound Design: Learning to add audio effects, background music, and other sound elements to create an immersive experience.
- Marketing and Business: A comprehensive course will also teach you how to promote your game, monetize it, and perhaps even how to seek external funding.
- Community and Support: Access to an active community and instructor support for troubleshooting, feedback, and guidance.
By understanding these components, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate the courses on this list and choose the one that’s the perfect fit for your game development goals.
What Are The Best Game Development Courses?
1. FULLTIME GAMEDEV
Summary
Full-Time Game Dev serves as a complete learning resource for aspiring game developers eager to turn their dreams into reality. It covers topics like the basics of C# and building a 2D platformer and dives into areas often ignored in other courses, like game art, marketing, and the business aspects of being an indie game developer.
What Sets It Apart?
What makes this course different from other game development courses is its holistic approach to game development. It’s not just about writing lines of code; it’s about understanding the industry, building your brand, and learning how to sell your product. This course tackles the entrepreneurial side of game development, filling in the gaps that developers—especially those who excel in coding but lag in marketing—often struggle with.
Course Curriculum:
The wide-ranging curriculum covers everything from game design, marketing, crowd-funding, and even the basics of C#. It even includes a 2D game kit, helping you to create a prototype that you can use as the foundation for future projects.
Inspiration and Community
The course is full of motivational content to keep you moving forward. Thomas, the instructor, often brings in successful game developers for interviews, offering first-hand insights into what makes a game sell. The community is active on Discord, and Thomas even hosts live streams to discuss game dev topics and review student work.
Limitations
There are a few drawbacks to consider. The course lacks extensive 3D game development content taught by Thomas. Instead, the 3D material is from David Waylees’ Game Dev Unlocked course. This part may not benefit you if you’ve already gone through that material.
Also, while Thomas covers the basics of c# and his 2D game kit, he doesn’t dive into the intricate details of how things work from a coding perspective. But for most indie developers, this level of detail is often unnecessary. (I have followed many tutorials when building a particular game mechanic and didn’t necessarily understand the details, just that the code worked to accomplish a specific mechanic.
Additional Considerations
The course does use industry-standard Adobe products like Photoshop. If you’re using alternatives like Affinity Designer, you’ll need to adjust the tutorials to fit your software. Despite the high price point of almost $1,000, the course frequently goes on sale, making it a good investment during discount periods.
Final Thoughts
What I love about this course is its emphasis on entrepreneurial skills. As an indie developer, multiple income streams are vital, and this course provides you with the toolbox to achieve just that.
Full-Time Game Dev excels in areas that most courses don’t even touch on—marketing and entrepreneurship. While it might be expensive, the depth of content and the active community make it worth every penny, especially if you can grab it during a sale.
Update: With the change in Unity’s pricing model, Thomas decided to add 2D/3d Unreal Modules to his course. Now students are not locked into a particular engine and can choose the best for their specic needs. The Unreal modules is taught by Cobra Code. Now students are not locked into a particular engine and can choose the best for their specific needs. The Unreal modules are taught by Cobra Code
Thomas has also added section on the Godot engine. This makes the Full-Time Game Dev the most comprehensive course on the market, covering all three game engines, plus the creative and entrepreneurial side of game development. The Godot course is taught by stayathomedev.com
2. Game Dev Unlocked
Summary
Game Dev Unlocked is an online resource created by David Wehle to share the knowledge he gained from creating his two games, Home is Where One Starts and The First Tree. The course guides students in setting realistic expectations, ensuring they start a game project they can finish. Additionally, it encourages using assets and other tools to expedite the game development process.
What Sets It Apart?
One of the standout features of Game Dev Unlocked is its emphasis on starting with the right idea. The course underscores the importance of selecting a concept that resonates deeply with the developer and the market.
It also promotes the use of art and coding assets. It teaches that leveraging these resources isn’t just a shortcut; it’s a smart and strategic move.
The real-world focus of the course is another highlight. Beyond the intricacies of game creation, it arms students with practical marketing skills, ensuring their crafted games don’t merely remain in development obscurity but find their deserving spotlight.
Course Curriculum
The curriculum is structured for gradual progression. It starts with building a basic game in a day, then advances to creating a first-person story-driven game in a week using free assets, covering all aspects from conception to publishing on Itch.io.
What stood out for me was David’s emphasis on efficiency over perfectionism, advising against getting trapped in doing things the “right” way, which resonates with my experiences as a programmer.
David recommends the paid asset “Playmaker” for visual scripting, but also guides the student on transitioning to C# or Unity’s visual scripting later on. The advanced section walks you through creating an atmospheric animal exploration game, mirroring techniques from David’s ‘The First Tree’. I’m currently working through this section and will share more insights upon completion.
Limitations
No course is without its drawbacks. In the case of Game Dev Unlocked, the primary limitation is its strong emphasis on Playmaker for visual scripting. For those coming with a solid coding background in C#, this might feel a tad restrictive.
Additionally, the advanced section of the course relies on paid assets, which might not be feasible for everyone, especially indie developers on a tight budget.
Another point to note is the course is a little outdated. David uses an older Unity version and some obsolete assets. Still, David effectively addresses these issues, offering solutions for versioning and alternate assets. The fundamental concepts remain unchanged regardless of the Unity version.
Additional Considerations
The course, priced at almost $500, might be steep for those on a tight budget. However, there’s an option to purchase the 7-day game challenge for $10, allowing a preview of the course and giving a feel for its content before deciding on the full purchase.
Students are given free Steam keys for David’s game and exclusive discounts on game development assets and software. The Game Dev Unlocked community is active on Discord, where students support one another. David used to conduct student game reviews and monthly Q&As, but this has lessened over the past year as he focuses on a new game project.
The course has a 2D section that directs to Thomas Brush’s full-time game dev course, meaning it’s not exclusively taught by David. The 2D section might not offer additional value if you’ve already taken that course.
Final Thoughts
Game Dev Unlocked is a comprehensive resource for beginner and experienced game developers. David Wehle packs the course with his real-world knowledge, but it’s also apparent that he understands the challenges developers face.
His approach of focusing not just on game development but also on marketing and ensuring your game sees the light of day, is commendable.
Sure, no course is perfect, and this one has its drawbacks. But with all the knowledge, the supportive community, and the extra perks, it’s a solid deal. The cost might raise a few eyebrows, but think of it as putting some cash down for skills that’ll pay off later.
3. The Game Institute
Summary
Dead Earth, offered by The Game Institute, is an in-depth course designed to guide students in creating their own first-person shooter (FPS) or survival game. The Game Institute, a reputed online platform, offers a range of courses spanning programming, game development, and 3D modeling, catering to learners from beginners to advanced levels.
What Sets It Apart?
Unlike many other courses that might rely heavily on pre-made assets, Dead Earth stands out by ensuring that students code everything from scratch. This hands-on approach ensures a robust understanding of the nuances of game development. Another standout feature of Dead Earth is its emphasis on mastering technical skills. The course dives into advanced topics, showcasing systems like the Procedural IK Step and the PVS (Potentially Visible Set).
Course Curriculum
The curriculum is robust, starting with the game development essentials and progressing to more advanced topics. It includes:
- Path Finding and Environment Traversal
- Zombie AI & Decision Making
- Zombie & Player Animation using Mecanim
- Systems for Night Vision, Hunger, Audio Management, Item Interaction, UI & HUD, Inventory, Optimization, Mission Objective, and Lock Picking and more.
Limitations
There are a few limitations to consider. Firstly, the course doesn’t delve into the business or marketing side of game development. Some videos stem from 2018, and while there are updates for 2021, it may not always be in sync with the latest game development trends. This course covers some advanced topics, so its recommended that you have a solid understanding C# programming and unity.
Additional Considerations
Pricing varies, with options to purchase individual courses or opt for a lifetime premium membership, which offers access to all current and upcoming courses. At the time of writing, there are discounts available on several course bundles. There’s also an active message board where students can interact, get support from peers, or even receive direct guidance from Gary, the course instructor.
Final Thoughts
Dead Earth is an excellent course for anyone serious about venturing into the FPS or survival game development niche. With over 150+ hours of hands-on video training, led by the seasoned game developer Gary Simmons, students are equipped with the technical know-how to craft a game from scratch.
I really enjoyed this course. Gary walks you through building some complex systems from scratch. The Zombie AI module especially helped me out and I used what I learned to build the AI for my game, Last Stand. However, Gary is great at simplifying complex ideas.
Some topics can be complicated, so you might need to revisit a module to understand it completely.
Although there are a few limitations, the breadth and depth of the content, coupled with the active community and instructor support, make it a worthwhile investment.
4. Game Dev Rocket
Summary
Game Dev Rocket is an extensive program tailored for those who want to become a game developer. From providing foundational knowledge in game development using the Unity engine to advanced topics like 3D art creation, monetization strategies, and multiplayer game mechanics, this course claims to transform you from a novice to a pro. With the tagline “Discover our secret roadmap to turn your passion into profit”, the course promises a unique roadmap to game development success. But is it worth the hype?
What Sets It Apart?
- Horror Game Design: As part of a special offer, the Game Dev Rocket introduces a new Horror Course that dives deep into creating spine-chilling experiences. Topics include jump scares, atmospheric VFX, and storytelling.
- Expert Instructors: The course is taught by renowned industry experts from various specializations. From multiplayer game developers to 3D art specialists, the course offers a wealth of knowledge from different facets of game development.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: With 60+ hours of program content, the course covers almost every aspect of game development. From making your first game in 2 hours, mastering art and animations, to diving deep into mobile and multiplayer games. There’s something for everyone.
- Focus on Monetization: Apart from game development, the course heavily emphasizes building an audience and marketing games. They even guide you on how to sell your first game on platforms like Steam.
- Additional Perks: The program provides free asset packs, access to a VIP Discord community, and podcasts with global game developers, further enhancing the learning experience.
Course Curriculum
The Game Dev Rocket offers a diverse range of modules:
- Foundational Learning: Starting with Unity game engine’s interface, progressing to C# programming, and creating your first game.
- 3D Game Development: Dive deep into 3D games like endless runners and top-down shooters.
- Art & Animation: Learn from the “Blackthornprod art style”, pixel art, Blender modeling, and animation.
- Monetization and Audience Building: Covers content creation, YouTube algorithms, sponsorships, and more.
- Advanced Modules: Multiplayer game development, game design processes, and even insights into working in AAA game studios.
Limitations
- Cost: The course comes with a price tag of $697, which can also be paid in 3 installments of $267 each. This could be a significant barrier for those on a tight budget.
- Time-Intensive: Given the breadth and depth of the course, it requires a substantial time commitment. This might not suit everyone, especially those looking for a quick introduction to game development.
- Requires Commitment: As with any course, the results are dependent on the effort and time invested. The course can only provide the roadmap; the journey is up to the individual.
Additional Considerations
- Community Support: The inclusion of a VIP Discord server provides an excellent platform for students to discuss, share, and network. This is a fantastic addition as game development often requires community support and feedback.
- Guest Features: The course boasts guest features from notable personalities in the game dev world. This provides students with varied perspectives and insights, a valuable addition to the core curriculum.
Final Thoughts
The Game Dev Rocket seems like a comprehensive package for anyone serious about getting into game development. While the cost might seem steep, the amount of content offered, combined with expert insights and community support, might justify the price for many.
However, potential students should be aware of the commitment and effort required to make the most out of this course. If you’re passionate about game development and are looking for a structured roadmap to success, the Game Dev Rocket might be the course you need!
Note: I have not purchased Game Dev Rocket yet so review is based on info from their site and reviews.
Conclusion
Finding the right training course can be very beneficial when beginning game development. Each program we’ve explored has its strengths and limitations, catering to varied needs and budgets. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, picking the right course can save you time. I hope you found these reviews helpful.
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