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
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development with Unity
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Game Design, Video Game Development, Prototyping, 3D Modeling, Software Design Documents, Peer Review, Cross Platform Development, C# (Programming Language), User Interface (UI), Software Design, Animation and Game Design, User Experience, Storytelling, Software Documentation, User Experience Design, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Microsoft Visual Studio, UI Components, Conceptual Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
616 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
C# Programming for Unity Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Debugging, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Video Game Development, C# (Programming Language), Game Design, Software Design Patterns, Computer Programming, Event-Driven Programming, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Data Storage, Application Development, Software Design, Program Development, UI Components, Cross Platform Development, Scripting, Data Import/Export, Development Environment
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.7K 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), C++ (Programming Language), Video Game Development, Debugging, Computer Programming, Event-Driven Programming, Unity Engine, Data Structures, C# (Programming Language), Game Design, Data Storage, Software Design Patterns, Development Environment, Software Documentation, UI Components, Programming Principles, Software Architecture, Software Design, Application Development
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
204 reviews
Intermediate · 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), Algorithms, JSON, Programming Principles, OS Process Management, Functional Design, Data Structures, Other Programming Languages, System Programming, Development Environment, Software Design, Remote Access Systems, Software Installation, Operating Systems, File Management, Program Development, Computer Architecture
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Epic Games
Epic Games Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, Game Design, Video Game Development, Animation and Game Design, Ideation, 3D Modeling, Prototyping, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Software Documentation, Software Design Documents, User Experience Design, Computer Graphics, Usability, Interactive Design, Virtual Environment, User Interface (UI) Design, Version Control, Conceptual Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, UI Components
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
360 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Michigan State University
Game Design and Development 1: 2D Shooter
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Unity Engine, Video Game Development, Peer Review, Cross Platform Development, Software Design, User Interface (UI), C# (Programming Language), UI Components, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Animations, Scripting, Creativity
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
499 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Epic Games
Introduction to Game Design
Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Video Game Development, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Software Documentation, Interactive Design, Conceptual Design, User Experience Design, Prototyping, Creativity
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
295 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Stanford University
Game Theory
Skills you'll gain: Game Theory, Strategic Decision-Making, Mathematical Modeling, Graph Theory, Bayesian Statistics, Behavioral Economics, Probability, Economics, Markov Model, Algorithms
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
4.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Programming with Scratch
Skills you'll gain: Animation and Game Design, Computational Thinking, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Storytelling, Scripting, Solution Design, Creativity, Event-Driven Programming, Data Storage
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
95 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Python for Data Science, AI & Development
Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Automation, Web Scraping, Python Programming, Data Manipulation, Data Import/Export, Scripting, Data Structures, Data Processing, Data Collection, Application Programming Interface (API), Pandas (Python Package), Programming Principles, NumPy, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
41K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Introductory C Programming
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Maintainability, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Software Testing, Program Development, C (Programming Language), Pseudocode, Computational Thinking, Software Engineering, Simulations, System Programming, Data Structures, Software Development, Computer Programming, Command-Line Interface, Operating Systems, Development Environment, User Interface (UI), Data Import/Export
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Python for Everybody
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Data Processing, Relational Databases, JSON, Database Design, SQL, Network Protocols, Web Services, Restful API, Data Modeling, Programming Principles, Application Programming Interface (API), Data Structures, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Scripting Languages, Data Import/Export
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
277K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months