What is game programming?

Game programming is writing the code that makes video games work. It's a part of the broader field of video game development, and it is, more specifically, the development of video game software. Game programming is based heavily on mathematics and programming logic, and it often includes specific programming languages, such as C Sharp. It also includes digital art, planning game concepts, and sound design to create gaming experiences that keep users playing and sharing games.

What opportunities will learning game programming make available to me?

Some opportunities that learning game programming can make available to you are working on a team with other programming professionals and artists to develop video game designs. This type of work is both highly analytical and extremely creative, so you could gain the chance to use both imagination and logic as part of your work if you go into the field of video game development. You may also find the experience of learning about game programming interesting and exciting.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn game programming?

Taking online courses on Coursera can help you learn game programming by covering the range of information from basic, beginner level programming through intermediate-level skills, such as using Python to create a game, and advanced courses such as more complex game development on PyGame. Select the courses on Coursera that complement your programming skill level, and then move through the courses at your own pace while developing a portfolio of your hands-on work.

How do I know if learning game programming is right for me?

To know if learning game programming is right for you, consider whether you enjoy exploring and discovering new ways to solve recurring problems and if you have strong mathematical skills or are willing to work on learning advanced math. It helps to be passionate about technology and driven to understand why things work the way they do. You also ideally need to be self-motivated, a person who takes initiative, and comfortable with linear thinking because game programming requires solving a lot of logic problems. Even though a team is typically involved in the creation of a game, game programmers spend most of their time alone and deep in thought, so it may also help if you're a person who is comfortable with a lot of quiet time for deep thinking.

What are the benefits of taking an online Game Programming course?

Online Game Programming courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Game Programming skills. Choose from a wide range of Game Programming courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Game Programming courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Game Programming, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Game Programming Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Game Programming Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
C# Programming for Unity Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Structures, C# (Programming Language), Debugging, Video Game Development, Game Design, Computer Programming, Event-Driven Programming, UI Components, Scripting, Programming Principles, Integrated Development Environments, Program Development, Computational Thinking, Application Development, Software Design, Microsoft Development Tools, Data Storage, Computer Programming Tools
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development with Unity
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Unity Engine, Video Game Development, Software Design Documents, Prototyping, Storytelling, User Interface (UI), User Interface (UI) Design, Animation and Game Design, C# (Programming Language), Software Design, Programming Principles, Interactive Design, Cross Platform Development, User Experience Design, Microsoft Visual Studio, Ideation, Project Documentation, 3D Modeling, Conceptual Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
623 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
C++ Programming for Unreal Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Video Game Development, C++ (Programming Language), Debugging, Program Development, Event-Driven Programming, Game Design, UI Components, Data Structures, Programming Principles, Software Design, Application Development, Microsoft Visual Studio, Data Storage, Development Environment, Data Import/Export, Software Installation, File Management, Apple Xcode
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
206 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Epic Games
Epic Games Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Video Game Development, Unreal Engine, User Interface (UI), Animation and Game Design, Usability, Version Control, 3D Modeling, User Interface (UI) Design, Visualization (Computer Graphics), User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, UI Components, Ideation, Computer Graphics, User Experience, Virtual Environment, Software Design, Software Design Documents, User Experience Design, Prototyping
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
415 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Game Design: Art and Concepts
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Video Game Development, Animation and Game Design, Storytelling, Prototyping, 3D Modeling, Ideation, Oral Expression, Software Design Documents, Creativity, Storyboarding, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Virtual Environment, Design Reviews, Usability Testing, Conceptual Design, Design Elements And Principles, Design, Interactive Design, Systems Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Programming with Google Go
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Environment, Data Access, Algorithms, Programming Principles, Data Structures, JSON, File Management, Software Design, OS Process Management, C (Programming Language), Computer Programming, System Programming, Program Development, Computer Architecture, Computational Thinking, Operating Systems, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
University of London
Object Oriented Programming
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Computer Programming, Pseudocode, Data Modeling, Integrated Development Environments, Data Management, Data Structures, Algorithms, Software Engineering, Programming Principles, Test Data, Data Validation, System Design and Implementation, Statistical Programming, Development Testing, Command-Line Interface, Computational Logic, Transaction Processing
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
227 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Design a 3D Video Game in Unreal Engine
Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, Game Design, 3D Modeling, Animations, Animation and Game Design, Video Game Development, Virtual Environment, Computer Graphics, Motion Graphics, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Timelines, Package and Software Management, Application Deployment, Interactive Design, User Interface (UI), Data Import/Export, Editing
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
The University of Edinburgh
Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Software Design, Software Development, Programming Principles, Game Design, Computer Programming, Debugging, Algorithms, Event-Driven Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Video Game Development, Unity Engine, User Interface (UI) Design, User Interface (UI), C# (Programming Language), Cross Platform Development, Scripting, Animations
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
506 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Epic Games
Introduction to Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Video Game Development, Ideation, Design, User Experience Design, Prototyping, Agile Project Management, Presentations, Creativity
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
344 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Stanford University
Game Theory
Skills you'll gain: Game Theory, Strategic Decision-Making, Mathematical Modeling, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Probability, Bayesian Statistics, Behavioral Economics, Problem Solving, Social Sciences
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months