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Games Developer

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Primary Secondary Post-16

Being a Games Developer means you get to bring video games to life! It's a really exciting job where you use your creativity and problem-solving skills to design, program, and test games for consoles, PCs, and mobile phones. You might be involved in writing the computer code that makes characters move, designing how the game looks and feels, creating sound effects, or even coming up with the story. It involves a lot of teamwork with other developers, artists, and writers to make sure the game is fun and works perfectly. You could specialise in different areas like gameplay programming, graphics programming, or artificial intelligence to make characters behave cleverly. To become a Games Developer, you usually need to be good at subjects like maths and computing. Many people study computer science or game development at university, but you can also learn through apprenticeships or by teaching yourself. It's really helpful to start making your own small games or projects as a hobby, as this helps you build a portfolio to show off your skills. The industry is always changing, so you need to be keen to learn new technologies and programming languages all the time. It's a challenging but very rewarding career for anyone who loves video games and wants to be part of creating the next big hit!

Games Developer

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📊 Statistics

Average Starting Salary

For a junior Games Developer in the UK, you could expect to start with a salary ranging from around 20,000 to 28,000 pounds per year, especially in cities where game studios are common.

Experienced Developer Salary

With more experience, a Games Developer in the UK can earn between 35,000 and 60,000 pounds annually. Very experienced or specialist developers might earn even more.

Number of UK Game Companies

The UK is home to over 2,500 game development companies and studios, from small indie teams to large international businesses, offering many different places to work.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Games Tester

Imagine playing games all day and getting paid for it! A Games Tester checks new games to find any glitches or things that aren't quite right before they are released to everyone else. You need to be really good at noticing details.

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Level Designer

If you love building worlds in games like Minecraft or Roblox, a Level Designer might be for you. They create the maps, environments, and challenges within a game, making sure they are fun and exciting for players to explore.

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Concept Artist for Games

Do you love drawing cool characters, creatures, and amazing landscapes? A Concept Artist draws the first ideas and designs for everything you see in a game, from the heroes and villains to the weapons and vehicles, helping bring the game's vision to life.

Build Your Foundations

Explore Games and Hobbies

Start by playing different types of games, thinking about what you like and dislike. Also, explore hobbies like art, storytelling, or problem-solving.

Playing a variety of video games isn't just fun; it's research! Pay attention to the graphics, the story, how characters move, and what makes a game enjoyable or frustrating. Think about how you might make it better. Hobbies like drawing, writing stories, building with LEGO, or even solving puzzles can help develop creative and logical thinking skills useful in game development.

Try Beginner Coding

Learn the basics of computer programming using free online tools or simple coding languages designed for beginners.

Websites like Scratch, Codecademy, or Hour of Code offer fantastic ways to learn coding in a fun, visual way. These platforms teach you how to think logically and create simple programs or even mini-games without needing complex software. This gives you a taste of what coding for games might be like and helps you decide if you enjoy it.

Join a School Club or Project

See if your school has a computing, coding, or art club. If not, start your own project with friends!

School clubs are great places to meet people with similar interests and learn from each other. You might work on a group project, develop a small game together, or learn new software. If there isn't a club, team up with friends who also enjoy games or technology to create something together, even if it's just a board game or a story for a game.

Develop Your Skills

Study Relevant Subjects

At school, focus on subjects like Maths, Computer Science, Design Technology, and Art.

Maths is super important for game physics and programming. Computer Science teaches you how computers work and how to write code. Design Technology can help with understanding game mechanics and user experience, while Art and Graphics can be crucial for the visual side of games. These subjects give you a strong academic foundation for a career in game development.

Learn Game Engines

Start experimenting with popular game development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine.

Unity and Unreal Engine are powerful software tools used by professional game developers. They have free versions you can download and use to build your own games. There are tons of online tutorials on YouTube and their own websites to guide you through making your first simple game. Learning these engines early will give you a big advantage.

Create Small Projects

Practise by making small games or interactive experiences on your own or with friends.

The best way to learn is by doing! Don't aim to build the next big blockbuster game straight away. Start with simple ideas like a 'Flappy Bird' clone, a basic puzzle game, or a short interactive story. Each project teaches you new skills, helps you understand the development process, and gives you something to show for your efforts.

Education and Entry

Consider Further Education

Look into university degrees or college courses in Game Development, Computer Science, or Digital Arts.

Many universities in the UK offer specialised degrees in Game Design, Game Programming, or Game Art. These courses provide in-depth knowledge, industry connections, and often include projects that build your portfolio. Alternatively, college courses can provide vocational skills and a solid foundation if university isn't your immediate path.

Build a Portfolio

Collect all your best game projects and designs into a portfolio to show off your skills.

A portfolio is like your creative CV. It's a collection of your work that demonstrates what you can do. This could include games you've coded, characters you've designed, levels you've built, or even written game ideas. A strong portfolio is essential when applying for jobs or university courses, as it proves your talent and passion.

Seek Internships or Entry-Level Jobs

Look for work experience, internships, or junior roles in game development studios.

Internships or 'junior' positions are fantastic ways to get your foot in the door. You'll work alongside experienced developers, learn industry best practices, and gain real-world experience. Many companies advertise these roles online, and attending industry events or career fairs can also help you make connections.

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🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Games Developer. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

🎓 View Apprenticeships

Career Progressions

This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.

Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.

Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.

These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!

Sample Qualifications

A Games Developer is directly responsible for programming and creating computer games. This title accurately reflects that primary function, as opposed to other development roles or testing.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You could do a foundation degree or degree in:

  • computer games design
  • computer games development
  • computer science
  • interactive media
  • mathematics

If you'd like a job that includes game design as well as programming, you could do a foundation degree or degree in a subject like animation or graphic design.

You may have an advantage when you look for work if you do a degree that includes a work placement.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

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College

You could do a college course before moving on to a higher level qualification. It may help you to get a trainee position with a development company.

Courses include:

  • computing
  • creative media and games development
  • T Level in Digital Software Development

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Higher Apprenticeship to get into this career, such as:

  • Software Developer Level 4
  • Junior VFX Artist or Assistant Technical Director Level 4
  • Game Programmer Level 7 - postgraduate level

Foundation apprenticeship

You may be able to start in a junior or assistant developer role by doing a Software and Data Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship.

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start with a company as a games tester if you play a lot of games.

You'll usually need a computing qualification or some relevant work experience. Employers will also be interested in your talent and creative ideas.

More Information

Career tips

You can create a portfolio of work or online demo to highlight your skills to potential employers.

You can get information on how to start creating your own games from Into Games.

You can also search for games companies and educational institutions, offering courses in digital gaming, on the UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) games map.

Further information

You can get more advice about working in games development from ScreenSkills and Into Games.

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