What Makes a Great Games Designer?

Want to be the next big game designer? Follow these steps for greatness!

Designing games for a living is fun, exciting and lucrative. And for avid gamers, it’s a fantastic way to make money while pursuing a life passion. Too good to be true? Not at all…

Being successful in the gaming industry is a very real possibility, and the right education will help you get started. But this is a competitive field, so it’s important for students to understand how to become a game designer who excels at what they do, and how to get into the game design industry with a winning CV.

So what does it take to stand out from the crowd? Here are the qualities and traits you’ll need:

Be passionate

There’s something rather insular about the gaming community, and while that’s not always a good thing, it does help to have that level of passion for one single thing in life. If you live and breathe video games, turning it into a career choice could be for you.

But remember, gaming will no longer be your hobby once you’re in the industry. It will become your job. So make sure you remain passionate about games even when you’re not just the one playing them.

Have perseverance

Knowing how to become a game designer that stands out in such a competitive job requires persistence and determination. You have to be tenacious, and not be disheartened if a project doesn’t perform as well as you wanted.

Not every game will be a huge success, but persevere and you will catch your big break!

Develop teamwork skills

As a game designer, you will be in charge of new game concepts, mechanics and storylines. Game developers will work alongside you, and they are responsible for the making of games, such as the animation and programming.

In order to make your game a success, you’ll need to build strong relationships with everyone in the team.

Be humble

It’s good to be confident, and it’s good to believe in yourself. But taking on board other people’s opinions is just as key. Remember that you are designing for an audience, not to boost your own ego. Everyone who plays your game is a customer, and everyone you work with should be considered a stakeholder.

And as game design is a collaborative effort, it’s important to listen to and value the thoughts, ideas and feedback of colleagues.

Have endless creativity

Not every idea is going to be a winner, so that’s why you’ll need lots of them. As mentioned before, the gaming world can be somewhat insular. But this can hold you back, as the best inspiration for game narratives can come from unexpected places.

Travel the world, meet new people, embrace art in all formats, attend social events, and be open to all experiences. Being a well-rounded person, not just a top-notch gamer, is how you’ll truly excel.

What degree should I get for game design?

Knowing how to get into the game design industry and how to get into the game design industry starts with the right education.

At the University of Bolton, we offer undergraduate game design and development degrees, as well as master’s degrees for those looking to hone their professional practice. While a postgraduate degree isn’t a compulsory requirement, it can help to give you a competitive edge while increasing the depth of your knowledge..

We were one of the first universities to introduce game developer and game designer courses in the UK, so there’s nowhere better to begin your journey into this exciting career. Our £13 million facility, which houses the Centre for Games Development, is an established and vibrant hub that unites the entire gaming community. We also have impressive industry connections, including affiliations with Rockstar Games, Codemasters, Travellers’ Tales and Cloud Imperium Games.

To find out more about applying in 2022, see our available courses.