Game development is a great career path for tech enthusiasts with a passion for creativity, design, and computer programming. Traditional four-year degrees are both costly and time-consuming, but a game development bootcamp will streamline the process and ensure you are job-ready in a matter of months.
Gaming bootcamps teach in-demand technical and soft skills. This allows learners to focus on the core skills to make it as professional game developers. While bootcamps are still considered fairly new education options, they have proven time and time again to provide excellent training.
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If you want to know more about game developer bootcamps, then this guide will be an excellent resource for you. We cover the top online and in-person game development bootcamps, tips on financing a bootcamp education, and how to find the best development bootcamp.
Best Game Development Bootcamps
The best coding bootcamps for game development teach learners in-demand skills using hands-on learning. Furthermore, these programs will offer extensive career services and soft skills training to ensure students are job ready.
It is important to note that the best game development bootcamps may offer a border range of subjects, as opposed to solely focusing on game development. For example, game development enthusiasts may enroll in computer science or coding bootcamps to learn the skills required for a gaming career.
| Gaming Bootcamp | Topics covered | Location | Format |
| Devmountain | Coding, Software Engineering, Design, Data, Cyber Security | Washington | In-person |
| Flatiron School | Software Engineering, Design, Data Science, Cyber Security | New York City | In-person |
| General Assembly | Data, Marketing, Software Engineering, Web Development, UI/UX, Coding | New York | Online |
| Holberton Tulsa | Software Engineering, Virtual Reality, Machine Learning, Web Development | Tulsa | Online |
| Learning Fuze | Web Development, Data Science, UX Design | California | In-person |
| Tech Academy | Software Development, Cyber Security, Python, C#, .NET | Portland | Online |
| Tech Elevator | Coding | Texas | In-person |
| Udemy | Python, Web Development, Machine Learning, SQL, Business, IT, Design | San Francisco | Online |
| University of Washington | Coding, Fintech | Washington | In-person |
| Vertex School | Game Art, Animation | California | Online |
Online Game Development Bootcamps
Game development bootcamp online programs are ideal for learners who require a flexible learning environment. These online bootcamps often blend live virtual classes with self-learning. Professionals or students who are employed can also find part-time online game development bootcamps that offer weekend and evening classes.
Some of these online video game development bootcamps may offer a broader tech education, such as computer science or design bootcamps. Graduates can use online courses in game art and development to learn additional game development skills. Numerous sites can teach you game coding.
Udemy
The Game Developer Bootcamp offered by Udemy teaches students how to code using Python, GDScript, and GML. Students will use this knowledge to make both 2D and 3D games. Furthermore, students will learn how to write servers and clients. This knowledge of networks is ideal for multiplayer gaming.
The course consists of 11 hours of live videos and six articles. Learners have lifetime access to the material and receive a certificate of completion upon graduation. The software required for the program is all free.
Tech Academy
The Software Developer Boot Camp offered by Tech Academy teaches students computer programming and in-demand development skills. The classes will give students a broad education and will set video game enthusiasts up for game development jobs.
This course is available as a self-paced, online program. The thorough curriculum covers both front end and backend development, as well as various programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, C#, SQL, and HTML. The Tech Academy also includes job placement training.
General Assembly
General Assembly allows students to attend its game design bootcamp fully online. This program is ideal for beginners as it teaches foundational game design knowledge and techniques. This fundamental knowledge applies to all stages of game design, from brainstorming to play-testing to iteration.
During this course, students will use hands-on technical skills to design games. They will also study popular video games. Furthermore, learners will learn key video game terminology to allow them to communicate efficiently in a professional environment.
Vertex School
Vertex School, formerly Game Art Institute, offers a 12-week online course for part-time students. Throughout the program, students learn how to create game art. There are also courses in virtual reality, which is a growing field in game design. This program helps students start their careers in gaming and virtual reality development by teaching them essential skills.
This game development bootcamp program is designed for remote learning with live online classes, flexible schedules, and a remote work environment where you can interact with your team. Graduates also get access to career support such as job readiness training, networking, and employer connections.
Holberton Tulsa
The Computer Science and Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Bootcamp offered by Holberton is a full-time program that can be taken either fully online or in a hybrid format. The course runs for 20 months and covers both programming fundamentals and video game development.
Students who have previous Unix experience can complete the course within 12 months. This bootcamp covers non-technical skills such as whiteboarding, technical writing, and professional development. Unix and C# are used for game creation and design and graduates can pursue careers as mobile game developers, programmers, or immersive designers.
In-Person Game Development Bootcamps
In-person game development bootcamp courses are a great way to start your game coding education. While online learning offers flexibility, some learners may find the distant learning model difficult.
In-person learning allows students to interact directly with their peers and instructors. Furthermore, in-person gaming bootcamps give students access to onsite facilities such as computer labs.
Flatiron School
Students interested in the design end of video game development can enroll in Flatiron School’s UX/UI Design Bootcamp. While this course can be taken online, there is the option of enrolling at the New York City campus.
While coding isn’t a major part of the program, basic HTML and CSS are taught. The focus of this program is design elements. This qualification will be enough to break into the design field of video games. Developers who want to code and test games may need to take an additional coding course.
Tech Elevator
Tech Elevator offers in-person coding bootcamps across a variety of locations in the United States. Students who enroll in this bootcamp will learn full stack development. These skills are ideal for those looking to break into the video game industry.
This course is designed to teach beginners. An in-demand curriculum combined with top career coaching will ensure graduates receive hands-on training and real world experience. Furthermore, students have the option of studying part-time or full-time.
Learning Fuze
Learning Fuze offers a part-time UI/UX Design Bootcamp as well as a full-time or part-time web developer program. Either of these courses will help prepare learners for a career as a video game developer.
Learning Fuze helps you learn the skills employers need. The school boasts an impressive 99 percent student satisfaction rate and uses small-sized classes with a student-to-teacher ratio of 6 to 1. Furthermore, graduates can take advantage of over 300 employer partners.
University of Washington
The University of Washington offers an in-person, part-time coding bootcamp in conjunction with Trilogy Education Services. Learners can become web developers in just 24 weeks, allowing them to transition into the gaming industry.
Students will learn full stack development, and cover languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Git. All of which can be applied to video game development and design. Students will benefit from a wide range of career services including soft skills training and portfolio reviews.
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Devmountain
Part of Strayer University, Devmountain has numerous bootcamp programs that will benefit learners seeking a game development career. The iOS development and Python software engineer courses will be of particular interest to potential game developers.
Learning about iOS development is a great way for learners to create apps and use their creativity. This is a skill that can be transferred into video games, even if you want to develop them for platforms other than mobile devices. Python, while not the most common game development language, is becoming more popular among newer developers.
How to Finance a Game Development Bootcamp
Game development bootcamp tuition is typically cheaper than traditional universities. However, students may struggle with these costs, especially if they enroll in full-time programs. Top gaming bootcamps offer students flexible payment options and typically have a strong admissions team that will help learners figure out these payment plans.
Deferred tuition, such as an ISA, is the best option for students considering a video game development bootcamp. This type of financing means learners can enroll risk-free. They pay nothing up-front and don’t start tuition repayments until they find employment in their field of choice.
All game design programs are different, but the average cost of a coding bootcamp or game design bootcamp was $11,727 in 2020. Today, the most expensive bootcamps rarely exceed $20,000. The most common payment options are:
- Income share agreements (ISA)
- Private loans
- Deferred tuition plans
- Monthly installments
- Scholarships
Finding the Best Game Development Bootcamp
The gaming industry is steadily growing and many people are finding long-lasting careers in it. After taking the right game development courses, you too can create incredible games. The benefits of game development bootcamps are numerous. Bootcamp students not only learn how to create games, they also gain real-world skills.
For example, the programming knowledge you learn can be applied to game development. Furthermore, many game developer bootcamps also allow you to learn under industry professionals, so you get first-hand knowledge of what the industry expects of you. The following criteria will help you find the best game development bootcamp.
Job Guarantee
Some of the top bootcamps offer their graduates a job guarantee. Schools usually set out a time frame between 6 and twelve months to find alumni employment. In some cases, if the bootcamp is unable to find employment for a graduate, no tuition repayments are required. If a student paid their tuition upfront, they may get a full refund.
Career Services
One of the biggest draws of bootcamps is the extensive career services they offer. Top game development bootcamps will have a professional career services team to help students find employment. Career services may include mock interviews, portfolio building, resume help, networking, workshops, and online portfolio creation, to name a few.
Schedule
It is vital you pick a bootcamp program that will fit around your schedule. If you have a job or a hectic family life, a part-time bootcamp program will be ideal. You can use bootcamp reviews or the official school website to get an idea of what your schedule will be like. However, the nature of bootcamp programs is intensive learning in a short period of time, so students should be prepared for their studies to take up a lot of time.
Online or In Person
Online and in-person bootcamps offer the same level of education. However, online learning is typically cheaper and it also allows students to save money on commutes. In-person learning, however, gives students the chance to interact directly with their instructors and take advantage of on-campus resources like libraries and labs.
Curriculum
Game developer enthusiasts may not find a bootcamp that solely teaches game development. Therefore, finding a bootcamp with a related curriculum is key. Coding bootcamps or design bootcamps will greatly benefit game developers, but by researching various curricula you can guarantee you will learn transferable skills for a game development career.
Should You Attend a Game Development Bootcamp?
Gaming is growing and thriving. As a game developer, you can explore your creative side in this exciting industry in a variety of ways. Some developers create game art while others do complex programming. Through game development, you can tell intricate stories and design experiences that are like no other.
Game developers enjoy a lucrative income. According to the BLS, the median salary for software developers, analysts, and testers is $109,120. Furthermore, the job outlook for these careers is growing at a rate of 25 percent, which is much faster than average growth. As a game development bootcamp graduate, you will gain the required technical and soft skills for your dream job.
Game Development Bootcamp FAQ
Yes, game development bootcamps teach you the essentials of game design. You’ll be fully prepared for a career upon completing the program.
Are game development bootcamps for beginners?
Yes, even if you have no prior experience or knowledge of game design, a bootcamp still teaches you everything you need to have a career in the field.
How expensive are game development bootcamps?
The average coding bootcamp costs $11,727. Many bootcamps are significantly cheaper than a game development degree program. Most bootcamps also offer some form of financial aid or income share agreement.
Will a game development bootcamp get me a job?
While a job isn’t guaranteed, many game development bootcamps help students find a job through career services. Some bootcamps even offer tuition reimbursement if students cannot find a job after graduating from the program.
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