Want to build your first game but don't know where to start? Read our step-by-step guide to video game design, from core hook to the magic of "game feel."
Learn why top game designers focus on systems rather than just "fun." Discover how to harness Cognitive Surplus to turn players into problem solvers.
Not another random generator.
This one thinks like a game designer:
• Worlds
• Gameplay verbs
• Tone & audience
• Visual direction
Here’s a sneak peek 👇
#GameDesign #WorldGenerator
Serious game design is changing how we solve problems. These games are fun but also teach important lessons. Our masterclass will show you how to make these games and use them to tackle real-world issues.
Understand the history and evolution of serious game design.
Learn the key principles for balancing fun and educational value in game design.
Discover the various applications of serious games in industries like healthcare, corporate training, and education.
Grasp the importance of playtesting and iteration in creating effective games.
In 2012 I set out to teach the secrets I had learned, of Serious Game Design. Since then thousands of students have taken my Basic Game Design Course online so far. Since I launched it 6 years ago, I have had lots of great feedback about how it helped inspire and change people's lives. This makes me so excited to announce the following news.
The 2020s have not been kind for mental health. Suicides are on the rise around the world as we begin to find ourselves in a Mental Health Crisis. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and boy do we need it. As I've told my students over the past 2 years, "So many people are walking around with PTSD, and they don't even know it." But how can Games help? …
Stop writing passive lore databases. Learn how to build immersive, systemic game worlds by transforming environmental storytelling into interactive gameplay affordances.
Stop letting your gameplay ruin your story. Learn how to align character motivation with mechanical systems to create deep narrative resonance.
Move beyond cliché. Learn how to identify common video game character archetypes and subvert them to surprise and delight your players.
Stop designing flat tropes. Learn how to design iconic video game characters by aligning their narrative motivations with your core gameplay mechanics.
Build a cohesive fantasy world that feels alive. Access our system-focused fantasy worldbuilding checklist designed specifically for game developers.