What Is a Video Game Designer? Career Overview + FAQ

India's gaming market is massive, reaching 568 million gamers in 2023 and gaining the distinction as the largest in the world [1]. Additionally, data from Statista suggests that it will continue growing at a rate of 11.69 per cent yearly to reach 4.42 billion USD in 2027 [2]. These figures suggest a promising job market for those with the proper skills, knowledge, and drive.

Video game designing might be the right job for you if you have a passion for storytelling and integrating characters and plots into interactive gaming. You can use your creativity to design new video games for consumers and educators. Keep reading to learn about video game designers, such as how you can earn in this role and the types of jobs you can find in video game design.

What is a video game designer?

Video game designers create the worlds, characters, stories, rules, and overall gameplay of video games. The number of designers working on a video game can vary. You could be part of projects where you work individually and write all the code yourself, or you might work as part of a larger team to bring the vision for a video game to life. 

What does a video game designer do?

As a videogame designer, you’ll create games for computers, platforms, and game consoles. You may do everything from brainstorming game ideas to developing the characters, plots, and settings. Typically, you’ll work as part of a creative team.

Not only will you conceptualise ideas, but you’ll also work out the details of how players will play the game, create the different levels, and determine the length of playing time. In some cases, game designers may help write the code for gameplay and ensure the audio and video run smoothly.

What’s the difference between a video game designer and a video game developer?

A video game designer creates a game’s theme, characters, plot, and skill levels whilst a developer works on the game's coding, programming, and testing to ensure that it’s ready for the market. Essentially, bringing the video game designer's vision to life is the responsibility of the video game developer. That’s not to say game designers don’t participate in the physical creation of video games, as you will still draft the overall concept. However, developers go even further, making the game playable and running all necessary tests.

How much do video game designers make?

According to Glassdoor, the median annual base salary for video game designers in India is ₹7,11,000. This figure is slightly lower for freshers just entering the industry, at ₹4,50,000 [3]. Besides gaining experience, you can improve your earning potential as a video game designer by working for well-known companies within the industry. 

Types of video game design jobs

You will find various job titles where your skills and responsibilities vary within the video game design field. Based on your interests and abilities, consider if one of these specialisations is right for you.

Game tester

Average annual salary: ₹3,00,000 [4]

Your work as a game tester will consist of performing tests and inspections, as well as delivering reports on bugs and other problems that may arise. Skills like the ability to keep pace with rapid changes, problem-solving, and attention to detail will serve you well in this role.

Level designer

Average annual salary: ₹6,00,000 [5]

Relying on your creativity and storytelling capabilities will help you succeed as a level designer. In this position, you help create the overall environment in which the game takes place, the overall storyline, and the character's involvement. 

Game programmer

Average annual salary: ₹5,00,000 [6]

Knowledge of programming languages such as C++ is important for game programmers. You will use your programming skills to bring design concepts to life for games that can function on different platforms. 

Creative director

Average annual salary: ₹17,50,000 [7]

As a creative director, you carry significant responsibility as part of a team. You will ensure you meet deadlines whilst also contributing to the vision of the game and all aspects involved, including audio, visual, and storyline components.

Video game designer skills

As a videogame designer, you’ll need various skills, including familiarity with programming and excellent interpersonal skills, to create enjoyable games that offer a positive user experience and work well within the game design team. Take a look at some of the skills employers may seek in a video game designer in the lists below.

Workplace skills

Video game design can be highly collaborative, requiring designers to work on teams of varying complexity to bring a game to life. 

• A passion for gaming

• Communication skills

• Creativity

• Flexibility

• Problem-solving skills 

• Project management

• Resource management

• Willingness to work as part of a team 

Technical skills

Video game designers need technical skills to execute the functionality of video games. Employers also like to see candidates who have strong video game-playing experience. Some skills include: 

• UX design

• Programming languages such as C++, and C#

• 3D modelling 

• Virtual reality development

• Game analytics

• Game design software and engines

Video game designer education and training

Video game design is a competitive field; degrees and internships can help build your experience and skills. Both school and internships can provide you with projects to add to your portfolio.

Consider earning a degree. 

Whilst you don’t necessarily need a degree to qualify for video game designer opportunities, they certainly can improve your opportunities and help you stand out as a candidate. Bachelor’s degrees in computer science and engineering are great options as they will allow you to develop the necessary technical skills. Other bachelor’s degrees are still valuable as well. However, you will need to ensure you have the right skills, and practical experience, regardless of your educational background.

Throughout your studies and as you gain experience, consider focusing on developing a portfolio for the purpose of demonstrating your work to hiring managers. You can include samples from internships, projects, or any other example that shows video game designer skills.

Get started in video game design with Coursera

Video game designers generate new ideas by designing various concepts and components, such as the storyline, characters, and game mechanics. Consider building your skills and knowledge with online courses to boost your resume and build your portfolio. 

Learn fundamental concepts of gaming design in Introduction to Game Design, part of the Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialisation from CalArts. Take your learning a step further with Meta’s AR Developer Professional Certificate to build AR knowledge that can help differentiate your game design resume.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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