Free
Course

Introduction to Game Development

Explore video game development, including game design, gameplay development, and asset creation.

4.3 out of 5 stars
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44,769 learners enrolled

  • Skill level

    Beginner

  • Time to complete

    Approx. 4 hours

  • Certificate of completion

    Included with paid plans

  • Prerequisites

    None

About this course

Gain foundational knowledge in the video game development process. In this course, you will learn:

  • Game Design: Take an idea to a full design ready for developers and asset creators
  • Gameplay Development: Understand the inner workings of an engaging game, such as gameplay mechanics, artificial intelligence, and user experience
  • Game Assets: Learn how immersive games are made using art and sound assets
  • Tools: Learn about the tool of the trade, from programming languages to game engines

Syllabus

4 lessons • 4 quizzes
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The platform

Hands-on learning

Don’t just watch or read about someone else coding — write your own code live in our online, interactive platform. You’ll even get AI-driven recommendations on what you need to review to help keep you on track.
Animated demonstration of running code in Codecademy's learning environment
Meet the creator of the course
Meet the full team
Jace van Auken
Curriculum Developer at Codecademy
Jace is a Curriculum Developer with the Codecademy Computer Science team. He learned to code at an early age by reading a C Primer textbook and playing around with HyperCard on his Macintosh Plus.
Meet the full team

Introduction to Game Development course ratings and reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,003 ratings
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  • The progress I have made since starting to use codecademy is immense! I can study for short periods or long periods at my own convenience - mostly late in the evenings.
    Chris
    Codecademy Learner @ USA
  • I felt like I learned months in a week. I love how Codecademy uses learning by practice and gives great challenges to help the learner to understand a new concept and subject.
    Rodrigo
    Codecademy Learner @ UK
  • Brilliant learning experience. Very interactive. Literally a game changer if you're learning on your own.
    John-Andrew
    Codecademy Learner @ USA

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Unlock additional features with a paid plan

  • Practice Projects

    Guided projects that help you solidify the skills and concepts you're learning.

  • Assessments

    Auto-graded quizzes and immediate feedback help you reinforce your skills as you learn.

  • Certificate of Completion

    Earn a document to prove you've completed a course or path that you can share with your network.
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Join over 50 million learners and start Introduction to Game Development today!

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Frequently asked questions about Game Development

  • Game development is the process of creating video games — using technical knowledge and skills to turn game concepts and ideas into reality. While it sounds pretty straightforward, it’s a broad field that involves coding, art design, project management, and more (which we’ll explore in this course).