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Best game design Courses Online

We compared 20 Game Design courses currently listed on Coursera, Udemy and edX, priced from $5.00 to $483.30. 2 come from a named university or institution, including Michigan State University and California Institute of the Arts. They are ordered by our CourseAsk score, which is built from how thoroughly each course describes what it teaches, whether it comes from a named institution, and how it compares on price — not from star ratings, which our course data does not include.

Courses in our catalog
296
Compared here
20
  1. 1
    Coursera Certificate Grade A University-backed

    Game Design and Development with Unity

    Offered by Michigan State University

    Break into the video game industry with theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge from one of the world’s best programs. In this Specialization, learners build the skills necessary to design and development games....

    $49.00
    listed price
  2. 2
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Game Design and Development 5: Capstone Project

    Offered by Michigan State University

    In the game design and development capstone course, you will create an original game from initial concept up to the first playable version! Along the way, you will have the opportunity to put your game ideas in front of...

    $49.00
    listed price
  3. 3
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter

    Offered by Michigan State University

    If you love games and want to learn how to make them, then this course will start you down that path. Making games is a creative and technical art form. In this course you will familiarize yourself with the tools and pra...

    $49.00
    listed price
  4. 4
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Game Design and Development 2: 2D Platformer

    Offered by Michigan State University

    If you love games and want to learn how to make them, then this course is your second step down that path. In this course you will learn the fundamentals of game design, including an understanding of the game world, stor...

    $49.00
    listed price
  5. 5
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter

    Offered by Michigan State University

    If you love games and want to learn how to make them, then this course is your third step down that path. In this course you will learn the fundamentals of game design, including an understanding of level design, game ba...

    $49.00
    listed price
  6. 6
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Introduction to Game Design

    Offered by California Institute of the Arts

    Study the foundational mechanics, rules, and conceptual underpinnings of game design. Define what makes a game compelling through industry-standard documentation and structured conceptual frameworks. Develop and describe...

    $79.00
    listed price
  7. 7
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Modern Game Design Mastery with AI

    Offered by AI CERTs

    Artificial intelligence is transforming how modern games are created, tested, and optimized across interactive entertainment environments. Gaming studios and creative teams are increasingly using AI-powered tools to acce...

    $49.00
    listed price
  8. 8
    Coursera Certificate Grade B

    Effective Game Design Patterns - Unity 6 Compatible

    Offered by Packt

    This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the co...

    $49.00
    listed price
  9. 9
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B University-backed

    Game Design: Art and Concepts

    Offered by California Institute of the Arts

    Stemming from the principles of storytelling and design established in CalArts’ renowned Animation programs, this Specialization lays a primary foundation for experimentation and exploration of video game design, story,...

    $49.00
    listed price
  10. 10
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    User Experience in Game Design

    Offered by Epic Games

    Elevate your game design skills with our immersive course on User Interface (UI) in Unreal Engine, where no prior experience is necessary, though completion of Courses 1-4 is recommended. This course stands out by blendi...

    $49.00
    listed price
  11. 11
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design

    Offered by John Wiley & Sons

    This specialization provides a comprehensive journey through video game design, starting from foundational concepts to advanced mechanics and monetization strategies. Learners begin by exploring core principles such as i...

    $49.00
    listed price
  12. 12
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade B

    Ultimate Guide to Blender & Unity® Game Design & Development

    Let's learn game design and development with practical projects that take you from zero to hero in one ultimate course. In Part 1 digital artist Kevin Liao from Mammoth Interactive will teach you how to use Blender to ma...

    $199.99
    listed price
  13. 13
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Evolution of Game Design

    Offered by LCI Education

    In the Evolution of Game Design course, you'll explore the transformation of game design practices over the years. The course examines the essential principles, methodologies, and technologies that have shaped modern gam...

    $483.30
    listed price
  14. 14
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Introduction to Game Design

    Offered by LCI Education

    This course offers an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of game design. You'll explore the various elements that contribute to creating engaging and interactive game experiences, including gameplay...

    $483.30
    listed price
  15. 15
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D Lowest price here

    A Complete Guide to Game Design

    Offered by HP

    From crafting immersive game worlds and designing captivating gameplay mechanics to mastering storytelling and level creation, explore the intricacies of game design with this comprehensive course from HP. Receive a veri...

    $5.00
    listed price
  16. 16
    edX MOOC / Non-credit

    Evolution of Game Design: 1990 to the late 2000s

    Offered by LCI Education

    Explore the technological breakthroughs, innovative gadgets and consoles that have revolutionized the gaming industry.

    $179.00
    listed price
  17. 17
    edX MOOC / Non-credit

    Evolution of Game Design: 2010 to present

    Offered by LCI Education

    Discover the gaming landscape's evolution, from the surge in mobile gaming to the exciting future of the industry.

    $179.00
    listed price
  18. 18
    edX MOOC / Non-credit

    Introduction to Game Design: Game Systems and Balance

    Offered by LCI Education

    Learn the deep mechanics of good system design that is both fun and rewarding for the gamer.

    $179.00
    listed price
  19. 19
    edX MOOC / Non-credit

    Introduction to Psychological Aspects of Game Design

    Offered by LCI Education

    Learn the fundamental concepts and practice of game design and the theory connected to it.

    $179.00
    listed price
  20. 20
    edX MOOC / Non-credit

    Introduction to Game Design: Process and Creation

    Offered by LCI Education

    Learn the steps involved in the game design process⁠—turning the vision into reality.

    $179.00
    listed price

What the prices here tell you

The 20 priced courses on this page run from $5.00 to $483.30, with the middle of the range around $49.00 — a spread of $478.30. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.

Who is behind these courses

These courses come from Coursera, Udemy and edX. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 2 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including Michigan State University and California Institute of the Arts — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.

Before you enrol

Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.

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