Whether you’re a newcomer to Unity or an experienced developer, advancing your career with game development can be a fantastic path to take. However, there is a lot of competition – so what can you do to highlight your own self? The answer is Unity Certification, which can prove your credentials and is industry-recognized!

In this article, we’re going to focus specifically on the Unity Associate Game Developer Certification, get you excited about it, and then get you learning the materials you’ll need to obtain it!

Let’s get started!

What is the Unity Associate Game Developer Certification?

Unity’s Associate Game Developer Certification is designed for aspiring developers with intermediate skills who can take a game from an initial idea to completion. The certification will showcase a receiver’s mastery of Unity, proving their worthiness for a professional game development role.

Those that take the Associate Game Developer Certification will have a background in computer programming or be self-taught hobbyists with detailed knowledge of Unity and C#, including audio, animation, and game physics. Rather than focusing on more minor details, this exam focuses on the broader picture of game development and design.

To qualify for the Unity Associate Game Developer Certification, you’ll need to:

• Build complex games using C# in Unity
• Understand end-to-end game production
• Have previously built a game for publication
• Be confident using prototypes, debugging, and solving programming issues

When taking the exam, you’ll cover a range of topics, including:

• Animation
• Audio
• Asset management
• Employment preparedness
• Game art and design principles
• Industry awareness
• Lighting
• Materials and effects
• Physics & Programming
• Project management & services

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The Benefits of the Associate Game Developer Certification

Unity is an influential game engine, powering half the world’s games. Unity-made applications are used by 2 billion people every month, with 1.5 million creators using Unity to create new and innovative games and applications.

Learning how to use Unity will improve your chances of breaking into the gaming industry, and receiving an Associate Game Developer Certification proves to employers that you’re skilled in game design and development.

Here are the main benefits of taking the Unity Associate Game Developer Certification.

Become a Unity game developer

Receiving a Unity Certification allows you to stand out against your competitors as it’s a recognized qualification in the game development world. Even better, many Unity-based jobs will list a Unity Certification as a preferred requirement, helping you better your chances of becoming a game developer.

Showcase your skills

To take the Unity Associate Game Developer course, you’ll need advanced skills in both Unity and C#. You should be able to make intricate games from conception to reality. Having a Certification will prove your skillset to potential employers, allowing you to stand out in a busy crowd.

What courses are best to prepare for the Associate Game Developer Certification?

Taking the Unity Associate Game Developer Certification requires significant skill, and you’ll need advanced knowledge of Unity and C# to qualify.

It’s essential to build your knowledge practically by making fully-fledged games suitable for your professional portfolio. Luckily, there are plenty of advanced online courses you can take to improve your knowledge of Unity and C# practically by building games.

Here are the best advanced online courses you can take that are suitable to prepare for Unity’s Associate Game Developer Certification.

Unity Game Development Mini-Degree

As mentioned above, preparing for this exam isn’t just about learning Unity, it’s also about having proven game development projects under your belt. What if you could do both at the same time though?

In Zenva’s Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, you’ll go through a comprehensive set of courses that cover just about everything you might want to know about Unity. It covers everything from various tools offered by the engine, and up to covering specific genre mechanics. All the courses are project-based, so you’ll also get plenty of items to add to your portfolio. This includes things such as RPGs, FPS games, racing games, idle clickers, and much more!

Plus, Zenva’s courses also offer a ton of supplemental learning material. Like to read other people’s code? There are downloadable course files of the complete projects! Aren’t a video person? There are text-based summaries that can be used to learn independently of the video!

With Zenva’s Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, you’ll learn:

• C# coding basics
• UI systems
• Audio effects
• Cinematic cutscenes
• Special effects
• Procedural terrain
• Animation

Skill level: Beginner. You don’t need prior experience in Unity or C#.

Duration: 36h 23m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Unity Advanced Tutorials

When it comes to game development, there are a surprising lot of details in terms of how mechanics are rendered. Likewise, there are a ton of Unity tools that aren’t so clear or have nuances that can make or break how your game feels.

The Unity Advanced Tutorials series by Brackeys seeks to demystify this. From specific nuances of game mechanics to just taking better advantage of Unity as a tool, this series has a little bit of everything. Nevertheless, it will vastly improve your skillset that you can use for game development.

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Gravity simulation
• Dialogue systems
• Altering the Unity windows
• Making a level editor
• Reversing game time
• Making a loading bar
• Procedural generation
• Putting Unity projects on GitHub
• Using Unity Analytics
• Volumetric lighting
• Scriptable objects
• Object pooling
• Different combat styles

Skill level: Intermediate. You’ll need to know how to use Unity and program in C#.

Duration: 4h 31m

How to access: Access the series here.

Survival Game Development Academy

To reinforce a point above, the game developer certification is about showing you can take a game from idea to completion. So, understandably, having experience in making a larger, more complex game can be a big boost.

This is where we come to Zenva’s Survival Game Development Academy. Unlike many entries on this list where you’re learning bits and pieces of Unity and doing a different project every course, this curriculum is about making one singular project: a survival game. You’ll learn core mechanics such as player needs, crafting, base building, and combat – and with the breakdown into several courses, wind up with a fairly complex game project!

Plus, this curriculum is perfect for any skill level. If you haven’t ever used Unity before, the curriculum will guide you through the fundamental courses first before throwing you into the project.

All in all, though, the skills here feed directly into learning what being a game developer is all about and teaches you a ton of material that will be helpful for taking the exam.

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Hunger, thirst, health, and sleep needs
• Day-night cycles
• Item and inventory systems
• Crafting mechanics
• Base building
• Combat and Enemy AI
• Game Saving

Skill level: Beginner. No prior knowledge of Unity or C# is needed.

Duration: 18h 45m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Learn to Program with C# – Unity Advanced Tutorials

While programming isn’t the focus of this specific certification, you can’t really ignore it. After all, you’re going to need to know C# pretty well in order to show the advanced level at which you can create games.

Thus, we include Learn to Program with C# – Unity Advanced Tutorials by GameDevHQ. This series of tutorials focuses on a few very specific aspects of C# that are not typically covered in a beginner’s level journey. However, as you advance in game development, you will find they are integral and well-used – so learning them will boost your skills immensely (even if you decide not to get certified).

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Lists
• Enumus
• Structs vs Classes
• Nullable types
• Interfaces
• Delegate and events

Skill level: Intermediate.

Duration: 1h 46m

How to access: Access the series here.

EdTech Mini-Degree

Unity is for more than just making entertainment industry games. EdTech is revolutionizing how Unity is used with educational games and job training applications. The industry is already worth $6 trillion and is set to grow further.

For the purposes of certification, though, EdTech is also a fantastic way to explore unique Unity features and other advanced skills that otherwise never get covered.

The EdTech Mini-Degree by Zenva is designed to teach you everything you need to develop educational and training-based apps. You’ll cover topics including developing in 2D and 3D, using virtual reality, data analytics, and much more.

Each subsequent project featured in the curriculum gives you a chance to explore new applications for Unity – while also teaching you important facets involved in the software development cycle. Plus, as these skills are a bit more unique, it adds some extra material to your portfolio to stand out from the competition.

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Coding basics with C# and Unity
• Quizzes featuring text, images, audio, and video
• Virtual reality applications
• Data-driven development with Unity Analytics
• Retrieving data with external APIs
• Voice and language recognition
• Text-recognition and text-to-audio

Skill level: Beginner. No prior coding experience is needed.

Duration: 21h 40m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Learn Unity Engine and C# by creating a real top-down RPG

Similar to an earlier entry, a good portion of this exam is about showcasing you can make games as a whole. So, making games as a whole is sure to help you actually prove that.

Learn Unity Engine and C# by creating a real top-down RPG by Epitome, as the title suggests, is all about teaching you various skills while building a fully scoped top-down RPG. Where this tutorial is slightly unique is that it focuses specifically on 2D – which is just as important to learn as 3D. Nevertheless, this course will put you through the gambit and make sure you have tons of key systems down pat!

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Setting up
• Moving and Manual Collision Detection
• Tilemap and Designing Dungeon
• Interactive Objects and Inheritance
• Saving Game’s State
• Floating Text System
• Top Down Combat System
• Animator and Weapon Swing Animation
• Character Menu and the new UI System
• Polishing and Adding Content

Skill level: Novice. Some basic knowledge of Unity and C# is needed.

Duration: 7h 45m

How to access: Access the course here.

Game Design Academy

Game design is integral to developing a game. Game designers will conceptualize levels and characters, create engaging stories, and make the game feel cohesive through stylistic and narrative choices. While not “technical” in the same way coding is, it still requires purposeful choices and skills that show you can plan a game. So, though often overlooked, it is a huge step in the entire game development process.

Game Design Academy by Zenva is the perfect way to jump into this aspect of the game development process. You’ll explore the main principles of design using real-world examples, and discover how these fundamental concepts affect the overall feel of the game

More importantly, though, you’ll learn skills that will let you enhance your game projects, which in turn improves your overall Unity skills with new reasons to learn specific skills and tools.

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Core game loop setup
• How to guide players
• Game feel
• Level design foundations
• Storytelling techniques

Skill level: Beginner. You don’t need any prior knowledge of Unity or C#.

Duration: 3h 5m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Unity’s Associate Game Developer Certification

Well, that’s all, folks – the best courses for the Associate Game Developer Certification. This certification will be a lot tougher than the previous User level. However, preparing for it with enrich your ability to make games as a whole.

This said, be assured there are a lot more courses out there, even on platforms like Zenva. The more you can learn about Unity and game development, the better off you’ll be. Plus, everyone’s learning style is different, so your “best” course may be different from what’s on the list.

Regardless, we hope these resources help, and best of luck on your certification exam!

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This said, standing out from the competition can be difficult, as the industry is also highly competitive. With the popular Unity engine, though, the Unity Certification program – which is industry recognized – allows you to gain credentials to boost your resume and portfolio.

In this article, we’re going to help you prepare to take the exam for the Unity Associate Programmer Certification with the best courses available. We’ve also designed this list to work for both beginners and experienced developers – so all skill levels are welcome!

Let’s jump in and start learning Unity!

What is the Unity Associate Programmer Certification?

Unity’s Associate Programmer Certification is a credential offered by Unity Technologies, the company behind the Unity game engine. The program showcases a coder’s skills and knowledge in Unity, including C# programming and game development.

Unlike the User Programmer Certification, the Associate level exam focuses primarily on C# coding, and you’ll need a detailed understanding of Unity’s API to script behaviors and objects, including UI elements, to receive this qualification. This Certification proves that you understand best practices for data structures and that you’re competent at debugging.

After passing the exam, individuals will receive the Unity Associate Programmer Certification, which they can use to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in Unity programming and game development to employers. The certification is valid for two years. After this time, individuals must renew their certificates by taking the exam again.

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The Benefits of the Associate Programmer Certification

The Unity Associate Programmer Certification is an advanced exam designed to showcase your skills as a game developer. Some of the benefits of this certification include the following:

Stand out in the job market

Having a certification from Unity helps individuals stand out in the job market since it proves significant skill and dedication to programming. In fact, many employers, including Unity, will list certification as a preferred requirement.

Build your programming skills

Unity’s Associate Programmer Certification is an advanced exam and involves rigorous training on many concepts within game development. As you train for the exam, you’ll develop your skills and knowledge in core aspects, including programming, scripting, game physics, and optimization.

Networking

By getting Unity Certification, you’ll have access to a growing community of professional game developers, including holders of the certification. Having a network can provide individuals with valuable opportunities for their future careers, including learning and collaboration.

What courses are best to prepare for the Associate Programmer Certification?

To prepare for Unity’s Associate Programmer Certification, you’ll need a strong understanding of the Unity game engine and C#, as well as core programming concepts. Luckily, there are many online courses suitable for learning game development that will prepare you for taking the certification. Along the way, you’ll be able to develop complete games that will form the basis of your professional portfolio.

Here are the best advanced online courses you can take that will help you qualify for Unity’s Associate Programmer Certification.

Unity Game Development Mini-Degree

While the Associate Certifications are the second level of certifications available, that doesn’t mean that aren’t achievable by beginners looking to establish goals for themselves.

Our first stop is therefore Zenva’s Unity Game Development Mini-Degree. This comprehensive curriculum offers a little bit of everything in regards to Unity. You’ll learn the fundamentals of the engine and C#, genre game mechanics, asset handling, animations, procedural generation, and much more.

This curriculum also takes a very practical project-based approach, so you’ll get the opportunity to build things such as FPS games and action RPGs for your portfolio. There are also supplemental materials such as downloadable course files and text-based lesson summaries. This means that it doesn’t matter how you learn – this curriculum can match what you need!

Plus, as mentioned, this curriculum was designed for people with zero knowledge. So, any skill level can practice with these courses!

You’ll learn:

• C# coding basics
• UI systems
• Audio effects
• Cinematic cutscenes
• Special effects
• Procedural terrain
• Animation

Skill level: Beginner. You don’t need prior experience in Unity or C#.

Duration: 36h 23m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

C# Programming (Advanced)

As the title of the certification suggests, knowing how to program with C# is a super important aspect of this exam. However, remember that C# is a general-purpose language and was actually primarily created to make software. Thus, it doesn’t hurt to learn the language divorced from Unity.

The C# Programming (Advanced) series by Code Master does just that and focuses on C# from a software development perspective. However, the principles covered are near universal to all C# applications – so they can easily be applied back to Unity. This said, do be prepared – this series is intended for those with C# experience, and is heavily comprehensive in just about everything you can do with the C# language and programming in general!

With this course, you’ll learn the following and more:

• Delegates, lambdas, and events
• Generics
• IEnumerables
• LINQ
• Functional programming
• Dictionaries
• Lookups
• Joining data
• Programming patterns
• Anonymous types
• Conversions
• Structs and classes
• Indexers
• States
• Different architectures
• Component systems
• Zone systems
• Game mechanics such as inventories and dialogue trees

And much more!

Skill level: Intermediate. You’ll need some coding experience.

Duration: 17h 45m

How to access: Access the series here.

Survival Game Development Academy

In the complete opposite from the above, it’s also just as important to understand programming in the practical Unity setting. The best way to achieve this is simply by building games – and unsurprisingly, the more complex the systems the more you’ll learn about coding.

Zenva’s Survival Game Development Academy is a curriculum focused specifically on building one single survival game. However, in so doing, you can focus on a lot of game mechanics, such as crafting systems, inventory management, and enemy AI.

Due to the complexity of the project featured, you’ll get the opportunity to explore a ton of aspects of Unity’s API and C# in general, however, which is integral for taking the exam. Plus, you’ll get a nifty project for your professional portfolio as well.

As part of this course, you’ll cover survival game topics, including:

• Hunger, thirst, health, and sleep needs
• Day-night cycles
• Item and inventory systems
• Crafting mechanics
• Base building
• Combat and Enemy AI
• Game Saving

Skill level: Beginner. No prior knowledge of Unity or C# is needed.

Duration: 18h 45m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Learn to Program: C# Advanced Unity Tutorials

We’ve included a lot of comprehensive courses on this list, but what if you’re more interested in something a bit more simple and focused on just a few C# programming skills.

GameDevHQ’s Learn to Program: C# Advanced Unity Tutorials series is just for you then! Instead of learning everything you could ever imagine about C#, this series focuses on just a few advanced concepts that are both important and regularly used for game development. Thus, you can be assured there is no fluff here – just the exact material you’ll want to learn to code your game projects more efficiently.

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Lists
• Enumus
• Structs vs Classes
• Nullable types
• Interfaces
• Delegate and events

Skill level: Intermediate.

Duration: 1h 46m

How to access: Access the series here.

2D RPG Academy

As part of preparing for the exam, we highly encourage exploring lots of different game mechanics. This forces you to learn and re-learn C# structures and systems, as well as focus on improving your coding efficiency.

The 2D RPG Academy by Zenva is a perfect choice when it comes to this. In this collection of courses, you’ll focus on creating a variety of 2D RPGs, including turn-based RPGs, farming sims, action RPGs, and rogue-like games.

As each project featured involves different systems, you’ll quickly expand what you can do with C# and 2D in general. Likewise, you’ll also reinforce programming certain features like character movement that are integral to any kind of game that needs to be created.

With this course, you’ll learn the following:

• Tile-based maps
• Melee & ranged attacks
• Items & inventories
• Randomized dungeons
• Mini-maps
• Enemy AIs

Skill level: Beginner. No prior coding experience is needed.

Duration: 19h 2m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Learn Unity Multiplayer

If you really want to advance your skills with C#, one of the best game types to practice with is multiplayer. Multiplayer involves a ton of more advanced concepts to consider when it comes to programming since networks are a subject unto themselves. Plus, with Unity’s new multiplayer system, it’s become fairly integrated with understanding the API.

Learn Unity Multiplayer by Code Monkey is the ultimate solution here. You’ll master a ton of things like synchronizing data, deciding the authoritative structure, using RPCs and network variables, balancing server-side and client-side data, and more.

There is little chance this won’t improve your C# skills in some way!

With this course, you’ll learn the following:

• Singleplayer Overview
• Install Netcode and Basic Setup
• Sync Player Movement, Client Vs Server Auth
• Sync Player Animations
• Sync Delivery Manager
• Fix Selected Counter Visual
• Sync Pick up Objects
• Sync Kitchen Object Parent
• Sync Trash Counter, Cutting Counter, Stove Counter
• Sync Plate Add Ingredients
• Player collisions
• Sync Game State & Sync Pause
• Handle Disconnects & Late Joins
• Connection Scene Flow
• Character Select Scene
• Lobby & Relay
• Game Server Hosting (Multiplay), Matchmaker, Vivox
• Multiplayer Debug Tools
• Singleplayer Option
• Gamepad Test

Skill level: Intermediate. You’ll need some coding knowledge to understand this course.

Duration: 6h 20m

How to access: Access the course here.

Strategy Game Development Academy

Strategy games aren’t just popular – they feature a ton of complicated systems. Thus, learning just how strategy games work and are programmed can be a big boost to your skills.

The Strategy Game Development Academy by Zenva allows you to explore a variety of different strategy game mechanics. You’ll learn everything from making city-builders with an emphasis on resource management to turn-based strategy games featuring multiplayer mechanics. You’ll even get to explore universal systems such as unlockable, tech research trees!

The breadth of variety here is astounding – but allows you to practice a ton of C# programming and cement it into your skill set. You can also practice expanding these games as well to further your skills and make certain you’re prepared for the exam to come.

With this course, you’ll learn the following:

• Strategy game mechanics
• Resource management
• Turn-based and real-time formats
• Enemy AI and state machines
• Multiplayer games with Photon networking

Skill level: Beginner. No prior knowledge of Unity or C# is needed.

Duration: 28h 33m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Unity Associate Programmer Certification Wrap Up

That brings us to the end of this list, and you should hopefully soon be ready to tackle the Associate Programmer Certification. Regardless of whether you pursue certification or not, though, these courses are sure to help you upskill.

All this said, we hope you continue to explore other courses available on platforms like Zenva and elsewhere. There is a lot to learn about Unity, and there are even higher-level certifications after this. More education on working with Unity can never hurt!

Good luck with your preparations, and we look forward to seeing new Unity experts out there in the future!

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The game industry is currently booming, projected to reach $372.00bn by 2023 and grow to $545.98 bn by 2028. For those interested in game art, now is a fantastic time to break into the industry with jobs galore available. However, even with a portfolio, game art is a super competitive field without some extra edge to bring you above the competition.

This is why having Unity’s User Artist Certification can give you a boost. It proves your skills, and proves your knowledge of the game engine itself (both highly valued skills for jobs). That said, how can you prepare for the exam?

In this article, we’re going to explore some fantastic courses available to help you master the art of game art and learn Unity – even if you have zero experience with the engine.

Let’s get started!

What is the Unity User Artist Certification?

Unity’s User Artist Certification showcases your core Unity skills to help you achieve a professional role as a Unity 2D and 3D artist. It will demonstrate that you can manage aspects of art assets, scene design, and use complex tools in Unity to make character creations.

To be eligible for this exam, you’ll need at least 150 hours of Unity experience and some basic knowledge of character creation, lighting, materials, and cameras. You’ll also need to undertake two to three semesters of Unity classwork or independent study and have a portfolio containing a range of completed Unity projects before applying.

Many holders of the Unity User Artist Certification will go on to become junior developers, junior artists, lighting and technical artists, content designers, or quality assurance testers.

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The Benefits of Unity’s User Artist Certification

Unity is the most popular game engine to date, powering half of all games worldwide. Making games using Unity will improve your chances of starting a game artist career.

Unity’s User Artist Certification is designed to showcase the professional knowledge of aspiring game artists to help them stand out against their competitors. Here are the benefits of receiving Unity’s User Artist Certification.

Boost your career chances

Having a Unity Certification will allow you to stand out in an incredibly competitive industry against hundreds of other applicants. It’s a rare credential in the game artistry industry and is used as proof that an individual has the skills needed to start a professional career. Alongside this, a Unity Certification proves dedication to being a game artist since it costs significant money and time to finish the exam.

Many Unity-based jobs list certification as a requirement, putting you in a great position to start your career in the gaming industry.

Improve your talents as an artist

You’ll need plenty of experience using Unity and C# to create game art before taking the Unity User Artist Certification, allowing you to improve your talents as a game artist. By spending at least 150 hours using Unity to create complicated characters and worlds, you’ll be more than ready to enter a professional career.

Showcase your technical skills

To obtain the Unity User Artist Certification, you need to have strong technical skills for games, apps, models, and simulations. You’ll be able to showcase your technical skills and proficiency in using Unity, one of the most popular game development programs.

What courses are best to prepare for Unity’s User Artist Certification?

To take Unity’s User Artist Certification, you need foundational knowledge of using Unity and C# for the purposes of game design. It is essential to study game artistry before applying to take the exam. Luckily, there are many online courses designed to help you improve your skills as a game designer so that you can take the Unity User Artist Certification.

Here are the best online courses you can take to prepare for Unity’s User Artist Certification.

Unity Game Development Mini-Degree

Passing the artist certification is as much about knowing Unity as it is about art. Zenva’s Unity Game Development Mini-Degree is a comprehensive curriculum designed around teaching you Unity from the ground up. You’ll work on everything from the foundations of Unity to building real-world projects that are perfectly suitable for bulking up any portfolio you might want to create.

Along the way, you’ll learn a ton of aspects relevant to the User Artist Certification – such as how the cameras work, how audio assets work, and even how to manage animations for your game projects (whether 2D or 3D).

Plus, all of Zenva’s courses offer tons of extra material to help with your learning process. This includes downloadable project files and text-based summaries so you can learn in whatever way suits you best!

With the Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, you’ll learn the following topics:

• C# coding basics
• UI systems
• Audio effects
• Cinematic cutscenes
• Special effects
• Procedural terrain
• Animation

Skill level: Beginner. You don’t need prior experience in Unity or C#.

Duration: 36h 23m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Intro to Game Development with Unity

If you want to start off a bit smaller with your Unity journey, Intro to Game Development with Unity by Zenva is the perfect starter.

This short course is focused specifically on people who have never used Unity in their life. As such, rather than throwing to you the deep end of the pool, it takes a light, hand-holding approach. You’ll discover how to set up Unity, what windows in the engine mean, how to work in 3D space with objects, and more. Of course, you’ll also discover some fundamentals around C# as well – so when you’re ready to start building games, you’ll have the key skills you’ll need.

By the end, the course will also get you building your first interactive project!

If you’re unsure, Zenva does offer a free sample of this course via Unity 101 – Game Development Foundations.

As part of this course, you’ll cover key topics, including:

• Installing and setting up Unity projects
• manipulating object size, position, and rotation
• How to change aesthetics with materials
• Coding variables and operators with C#
• Using various skills to create interactive games
• Building and deploying your games

Skill level: Beginner. No prior knowledge is needed.

Duration: 2h 7m

How to access: Access the course here.

Unity Pixel Art Game Tutorial – Complete Starting Setup

2D games are still thriving, so learning how those sorts of assets work in Unity is a good skill to have as well – especially for certification.

Through Unity Pixel Art Game Tutorial – Complete Starting Setup by Restful Coder, you’ll explore how to take 2D pixel art assets and bring them into Unity for game projects. This includes how to paint tilemaps in the engine, how to import your assets properly, and even some idiosyncrasies when it comes to setting up cameras and collisions.  You’ll also learn a bit about the different ways in which creating pixel art levels through parts works.

You’ll cover key topics, including:

• Unity overview
• Player character and sprite
• Player movement
• Tilemaps and background
• Obstacles and collisions
• Prevent character spinning
• Add a camera (Cinemachine) and follow player
• Make the camera pixel perfect
• Confine the camera to the background
• Fix background collision bug
• Tweak camera settings

Skill level: Novice. Some basic knowledge of Unity and C# is needed.

Duration: 51m

How to access: Access the course here.

Create your First 3D Game in Unity

One of the best ways to learn to work with game assets is to just build a game. Of course, you don’t want to start off too complicated, which is why Zenva’s Create Your First 3D Game in Unity is a great course.

Focusing specifically on 3D games, you’ll master a variety of platformer mechanics including how to work with character controllers, set up “enemies”, create coin collectibles, add UI systems, and more. Each element has its own asset requirements, of course, so you’ll learn a lot about how to manipulate art aesthetics using the tools Unity offers. Plus, by the end of the course, you’ll have a nifty entry for your portfolio and good skills to begin expanding into other relevant areas (such as lighting).

With this course, you’ll learn how to:

• Create player and enemy objects
• Construct a level with 3D models
• Script the camera to follow the player
• Set up the game-winning conditions
• Add collectible coins
• Build UI elements and menus

Skill level: Novice. You’ll need minimal knowledge of Unity and C#.

Duration: 2h 16m

How to access: Access the course here.

How to Make a Game – Unity Beginner Tutorial

In How to Make a Game – Unity Beginner Tutorial by Jason Weimann, viewers are taught the entire process of building a physics-based game using Unity. As mentioned many times before this is key to learning Unity in general, as it forces you to work with game assets in various ways.

What makes this course stand out is the fact it begins with a focus specifically on bringing and preparing your assets to actually be used in your game. So right up front, you know you’re learning about this aspect and how the basics work!

You’ll cover the following key topics:

• Sprites
• Importing Art
• Animation
• Background art
• Physics
• Coding
• Dragging
• Launching
• Obstacles
• Indicator
• Camera Controller
• Enemy
• Particles
• Prefabs
• Levels

Skill level: Beginner. No prior knowledge is needed.

Duration: 3h 4m

How to access: Access the course here.

Create your First 2D Game in Unity

The Create Your First 2D Game in Unity course by Zenva is similar to another entry on this list. Rather than 3D assets, however, this one focuses on 2D.

Throughout the course, you’ll work through building a 2D platformer featuring collectibles, enemies, character movement, UI systems, and more. You’ll even learn how you can manage your levels so you can easily make a multiple-level game.

Along the way, of course, you’ll master a ton of tips and tricks specifically for working with basic 2D assets, which come with their own sets of rules in comparison. Nevertheless, these are essential for preparing for certification, since these differences will be important professionally as well.

This course will teach you key coding techniques, including:

• Implementing player and enemy objects
• Scripting platformer-style movements
• Building levels with 2D tiles
• Setting up collectibles and scoring
• Controlling gameplay flow with goals
• Creating UIs for scores and menus

Skill level: Intermediate. Some basic knowledge of Unity and C# is required.

Duration: 1h 55m

How to access: Access the course here.

How to do Character Customization!

If you’re interested in something a little more advanced at this point, look no further than How to do Character Customization! by Code Monkey! This free course shows you how to build the ever-popular feature of allowing users to have a custom character for their gameplay experience.

As you can imagine, this will cover a lot about how assets are managed, changed, and rendered – all core skills you’re going to want to master in your practice to pass the User Artist Certification!

Key topics:

• Character Customization Unity Tutorial
• Sponsor
• 4 Methods to do Character Customization
• Characters with 3 different setups
• Change Material, Texture
• Change Mesh, Avatar, Keep Animations
• Add parts with SkinnedMeshRenderer
• Issues with SkinnedMeshRenderer
• Character Customization Unity Tutorial

Skill level: Novice. Some basic knowledge of Unity and C# is required.

Duration: 17m

How to access: Access the course here.

Unity User Artist Certification Wrap Up

This brings us to the end of our list of best courses for the User Artist Certification. We’ve covered a lot of ground here, and we just know these skills will open up new doors for you professionally and personally.

But… we’ve only been able to scratch the surface. There are thousands of courses out there, and what’s “best” may mean something different for you than it does for us. So, don’t be afraid to explore more Unity courses through platforms like Zenva – the more you learn, the better positioned you’ll be to pass the exam!

We wish you all the best of luck with the exam, and we hope we’ve made prepping for it just a little bit easier!

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Long story short – now is a fantastic time to learn game development – even if you intend to stay a solo indie creator. This said, for those looking to bolster their resume more professionally, you’ll need some extra “oomph” to stand out from the crowd, as plenty of other people have the same skills. Enter Unity’s User Programmer Certification, which is a quick and easy way to show you know the popular Unity engine and the programming skills needed for game creation.

As passing the exam is no walk in the park, though, in this article, we’re going to showcase our favorite Unity courses. These courses will be geared towards helping you pass that exam, and ensure you get the skills you need to be at for your career!

Let’s get started!

What is the Unity User Programmer Certification?

Unity’s User Programmer Certification is designed for aspiring game or app developers to teach them Unity’s primary capabilities and functions as a development platform. With this certification, learners are evaluated on how much they know about the fundamentals of Unity, including making projects and Prefabs and navigating the editor. Students will also be tested on C# knowledge.

The overall aim is to prove students can read, write, and understand basic code used all the time in Unity. Many receivers of the Unity User Programmer Certification go on to start postsecondary programs in game development, animation, or STEM – or alternatively, create their own successful games.

To take the exam, students must build their knowledge base of Unity and C#. Test subjects could include:

• Building projects in Unity, using C#
• Navigating the Unity interface and interpreting API basics
• Creating prototypes, debugging, and solving programming difficulties
• Programming a function state machine

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The Benefits of a Unity User Programmer Certification

The Unity game engine is used to power half of all games globally. Learning how to use and code with Unity is, therefore, not only beneficial for creating high-powered games, but breaking into the competitive game development and design industry.

The Unity User Programmer Certification is designed to help aspiring developers stand out in a busy crowd, as to receive this certification, you’ll need professional knowledge of not only Unity but programming with C#.

Here are the main benefits of receiving Unity’s User Programmer Certification.

Stand out in the job market

The game development job sector is incredibly difficult to break into. You’ll be up against hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants, all gunning for the same position. To have any chance of winning a developer position, you’ll need to stand out from the crowd and position yourself as a proven professional.

The Unity User Programmer Certification is a rare credential in the developer world and is recognized as proof that you have skills and dedication to game development – since there is significant cost and time involved in taking the exam.

In fact, many Unity-based job postings will list Unity Certifications as a (preferred) requirement, putting you in a much better hiring position.

Showcase your skill level

To qualify for the Unity User Programmer Certification, you must build a solid knowledge base of both the game engine and C#. It will allow you to not only improve your skill levels as you study to take the exam, but once you’ve obtained the certification, you can prove just how knowledgeable you are to potential employers.

Go from hobbyist to professional

Many Unity developers are self-taught gaming lovers, having fun creating their own animations and worlds. For some, the main goal is to be entertained and learn the ins and outs of Unity simultaneously.

However, teaching yourself a complicated tool can be difficult, especially without a guided learning path. While there are plenty of courses available online, it can be hard to know what to do after you’ve finished.

Unity’s User Programmer Certification allows hobbyists to follow a structured path, with certifications ranging from beginner to professional. Taking the exams in order will allow them to progress naturally, picking up the skills needed to move on to the next certification.

What courses are best to prepare for Unity’s User Programmer Certification?

Unity’s User Programmer Certification is designed to showcase an individual’s skills in Unity and C#, and it’s essential to build knowledge before taking the exam. There are many professional courses online that will teach you everything you need to know about making games with Unity.

Here are the best courses for preparing to take the User Programmer Certification.

Unity Game Development Mini-Degree

The Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, created by Zenva, is a comprehensive curriculum focused around Unity. With no experience necessary to jump in, users get the opportunity to learn a wide variety of tools. This includes basic engine functionality like object manipulation, to rarer tools such as ProBuilder and Cinemachine.

While mastering the fundamentals of Unity, students will also get the chance to build real-world projects for a professional portfolio. This includes games in popular genres like RPGs, idle clicks, and FPS games (to name a few). Plus, everything is made with expandable systems that you can practice with further to improve your skills.

Of course, for the sake of the certification exam, this curriculum has just about all the basics you’ll need in both Unity and C# to upskill yourself in preparation!

With the Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, you’ll learn topics including:

• C# coding basics
• UI systems
• Audio effects
• Cinematic cutscenes
• Special effects
• Procedural terrain
• Animation
• Genre mechanics

Skill level: Beginner and comprehensive. No prior experience is necessary.

Duration: 36h 23m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Intro to Game Development with Unity

If you’re looking just for a single course to start, then Zenva’s Intro to Game Development with Unity course is a great choice. This course is intended for ultra-beginners – i.e. people who have literally never touched Unity before in any capacity.

The course focuses on three major areas: the basic tools of the engine and interacting with objects, C# fundamentals for Unity, and combining everything to make a balloon popper game. Together, these cores will set you up for success in beginning your Unity education journey, as the skills will serve you as you move into more complicated projects.

Likewise, it is worth noting this course is suitable for younger users – as young as Grade 8. Thus, you don’t have to wait at all to start learning.

Lastly, if you’re a bit hesitant, you can try a free course sample by taking Unity 101 – Game Development Foundations, which covers the basics of setting up and using key tools of Unity.

Intro to Game Development by Zenva Academy covers key topics, including:

• How to install and set up Unity projects
• How to manipulate object size, position, and rotation
• Ways to change aesthetics with materials
• Code variables and operators with C#
• Combining various skills in order to create interactive games
• How to build and deploy your games

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 2h 7m

How to access: Access the course here.

How to Program in C#

With the name being User Programmer Certification, you might imagine there’s going to be quite a lot of C# knowledge expected. So, learning to program with C# is kind of a bit point.

In the How to Program in C# series by Brackeys, you’ll focus more specifically on C# itself and learn all the principles you’ll need to apply in Unity. These videos are also designed to keep games in mind – so you don’t have to worry about it not being too divorced from Unity either.

The series includes the following topics:

• Input and output
• Variables
• Conditions
• Loops
• Array
• Functions
• Classes

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 2h 4m

How to access: Access the series here.

Unity Mini-Projects – C# Fundamentals

Unity Mini-Projects – C# Fundamentals by Zenva is a beginner-oriented course aimed at helping users expand their Unity and C# knowledge by applying them to real-world projects. These mini-projects are designed both to build out learners’ portfolios while also teaching them a number of C# techniques.

The projects featured for the course are a balloon popper with a scoring system, an efficient object spawner, and bowling and skiing mini-games. Through these, users get the chance to play with physics and more as well, rounding out their Unity education.

This is also a great stop if you don’t feel ready to jump into full games yet, since this lets you experiment with basic interactivity first.

Broader skills will also be covered, including:

• Implementing multiple scripts in one project
• Building user interfaces
• Dealing with user inputs
• Detecting collisions between game objects
• Accessing object data through C# scripting
• Applying physics to objects.

Skill level: Novice, but some basic Unity and C# skills are required.

Duration: 1h 40m

How to access: Access the course here.

How to Make a 2D Game

Sometimes, the best way to learn Unity is just to build games and experiment with various features. As Unity is able to do both 2D and 3D games, though, it can be beneficial to learn both.

In the case of this entry, the How to Make a 2D Game series by Brackeys will cover 2D specifically. From the fundamentals of just making a game in the first place to working with Unity tools like lighting, this series has a little bit of everything. All are in line with what you’ll need for the certification exam, however, so it’s a good jack-of-all-trades series to start preparing.

With this course, you’ll learn the following key topics:

• 2D Movement
• Animation
• 2D Camera
• 2D Shooting
• Organic Levels
• Lights
• Top Down Shooting
• Melee Combat
• Making a Boss

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 2h 9m

How to access: Access the series here.

Create Your First 3D Game in Unity

As a companion to the entry above, you don’t want to neglect 3D game development either. That’s why the Create Your First 3D Game in Unity by Zenva is an excellent next step in your journey

This course covers creating a 3D platformer project that is designed to teach you some of the most common game mechanics you’ll want to know. This includes how to craft levels through the scene editor, how to add collectibles, how to add enemies that can trigger game-overs, and how to set up a simple UI. Of course, you’ll also learn 3D player movement – which is essential knowledge to have no matter what direction you go!

With this course, you’ll learn techniques such as:

• Creating player and enemy objects
• Constructing a level with 3D models
• Scripting the camera to follow the player
• Setting up the game-winning conditions
• Adding collectible coins
• Building UI elements and menus

Skill level: Novice. You’ll need basic knowledge of Unity and C#.

Duration: 2h 16m

How to access: Access the course here.

Learn Unity Beginner/Intermediate 2023

Designed to teach users how to write high-quality code by making a complex project, the Learn Unity Beginner/Intermediate 2023 course by Code Monkey is an all around master course for covering every Unity basic. With this course, you’ll make a fun arcade game while learning the complexities of both Unity and C#. This includes everything from more intermediate C# coding to working with things like sounds.

This said, it is still relatively beginner-friendly – so perfectly suited to passing the User Programmer Certification.

With this course, you’ll learn topics such as:

• Unity Layout
• Visual Studio
• Code Style, Naming Rules
• Importing Assets
• Post Processing
• Character Controller, Visual, Rotation
• Animations & Cinemachine
• Collision Detection
• Interact Action, C# Events
• Selected Counter Visual, Singleton Pattern
• Player Pick up, Drop Objects
• Cutting, World Canvas
• Music & Sound Effects
• Main Menu, Loading

Skill level: Novice. You’ll need some basic knowledge of Unity and C#.

Duration: 10h 49m

How to access: Access the course here.

Unity User Programmer Certification Wrap Up

With these Unity courses, you should be more than prepared to take on the User Programmer Certification. While the exam sounds intimidating, do keep in mind the exam was also made to be suitable for high school students to be able to take and pass as well. Thus, as the entry-level certification, you don’t yet have to be a Unity expert!

This said, we do encourage you to explore more courses. Zenva, for instance, offers far more Unity courses than we could mention here. And the more you know about Unity, the better your opportunities will be. Plus, there are even higher-level certifications to look for after this, so more preparation won’t hurt for that either.

No matter where your path takes you, we wish you the best of luck with your game development adventures!

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If you’re looking to break into the gaming industry, having VR coding skills is a surefire way to get a foothold in the door. Of course, plenty of people already had this idea – so how do you stand out from the crowd? The answer here is Unity’s User VR Developer Certification, one of the few certifications available to showcase that you have the skills you’re boasting. However, preparing and passing the exam is a challenge in and of itself – but thankfully there are resources available to save the day.

In this article, we’re going to discuss some of our favorite resources that will help you learn the VR skills you need to not only to succeed in making VR projects in general, but in passing your User VR Developer Certification exam.

Let’s dive in!

What is the Unity User VR Developer Certification?

Unity’s User VR Developer Certification is an exam-based certification designed to show employers and postsecondary programs that you have a solid understanding of VR experiences in Unity. The focus here is on showing that you understand how to consider adaptations to games for VR.

To take this certification exam, you’ll need some foundational skills in both Unity and C# programming since this is an advanced qualification. Additionally, you’ll also need to pass Unity’s Certified User Programmer Certification first.

All Unity’s certification exams were developed through careful research and collaboration with testing specialists and game development experts. Currently, the tests are administered by Pearson VUE, a renowned educational company, meaning the certifications are regarded highly by industry professionals.

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The Benefits of a Unity User VR Developer Certification

The Unity User VR Developer Certification is designed to help professionals break into the growing VR industry. Here are the main benefits of taking this exam.

Stand out in the job market

Unity’s User VR Certification shows employers that you have the knowledge and skill levels needed to succeed in a VR developer position, giving you a competitive edge over other professionals. Since certifications are rare in the gaming industry, having a Unity Certification will help you stand out against other professionals. You’ll also have a better chance of getting a Unity-based job, which will often list a Unity Certification as a requirement.

The certification is industry-recognized and can be included on your resume and professional portfolio.

Improve your skill level

This certification showcases your abilities to create VR experiences and programs using Unity. You’ll need to put in 200 hours of Unity training before obtaining the certification, improving your skill levels over time. Naturally, preparing for the exam also improves your skills by association.

What courses are best to prepare for Unity’s User VR Developer Certification?

To be eligible for Unity’s User VR Developer Certification, you must have some base knowledge of virtual reality. Luckily, there are many courses online that will teach you the basics of VR coding, development, and design.

Here are the best online courses you can take to boost your skills, all from the comfort of your home.

Virtual Reality Mini-Degree

Zenva’s Virtual Reality Mini-Degree is a comprehensive collection of courses designed to teach you everything that you need to know about VR. You’ll start from the ground up in this curriculum – first learning the Unity engine itself and then mastering a variety of VR principles and mechanics. These include working with controllers, different styles of movement, and so on.

Throughout the courses, you’ll also get hands-on experience with projects – such as a kitchen simulator – which can also be used to build out courses.

Many courses in this set also come with supplemental material to cement your knowledge, including live coding exercises, quizzes, course files, and downloadable text summaries to help you refresh your knowledge!

Overall, this is a truly comprehensive choice whether you’re new to Unity entirely or are just ready to learn the features of VR.

You’ll also learn the following key topics:

• Coding basics with C# and Unity
• Movement options
• VR-optimized UI design
• Hand-tracked controllers
• Industry best-practices
• Simulations and games

Skill level: Comprehensive

Duration: 17h 46m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

How to make a VR game in Unity in 2022

Valem Tutorials’ How to make a VR game in Unity in 2022 series is designed to give you the basic knowledge needed to get into VR development. With the focus specifically on VR (so assuming you know some Unity already), these videos cover a wide array of topics. This includes movements and controllers – even covering how to grab with two hands!

The series also includes some other important considerations as well, such as dealing with motion sickness – which is a very common issue for VR projects.

Various topics include:

• Introduction: how to make a VR game in Unity
• Input and Hand Presence
• Continuous Movement
• Teleportation
• Hover, grab, and user interactable
• Offset and distance grab
• User interface
• Two hand grab

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 3h 10m

How to access: Access the playlist here.

Intro to Game Development with Unity

If you’ve literally never touched Unity before, Zenva’s Intro to Game Development with Unity course is perfect. While there’s nothing pertaining to VR in it, as it is an ultra-level beginner’s course, you will learn all about Unity as a tool itself.

This includes how to do basic things like navigate the various windows, manipulate game objects, and so forth. You’ll also dive into C# programming and learn some basic coding principles.

So, while this course isn’t about VR itself, it’s an important step on the path. You have to learn Unity itself first before you can learn VR!

If you’re on a budget – or just aren’t sure about the course – there is a free course sample available via Unity 101 – Game Development Foundations. This will give you an idea of what to expect and help you get your feet wet without investing too much here yet.

Intro to Game Development with Unity covers topics such as:

• Install and set up Unity projects
• Manipulate object size, position, and rotation
• Change aesthetics with materials
• Code variables, operators, and more with C#
• Combine various skills to create interactive games
• Build and deploy your games

Skill level: Beginner level. No prior experience is needed.

Duration: 2h 7m

How to access: Access the course here.

How to Make VR Games in 2022

How to Make VR Games in 2022 by Justin P Barnett teaches you how to set up your first VR project on the fairly recent version of Unity, including basics on how to use the “grab interactable” tool to pick up objects in VR and the locomotion system. This fairly short but straightforward course is designed to give you the very basics you need to work with VR. While there is a lot more to explore, the foundations established here will set you on the right path forward!

Key topics covered in this course include:

• How to set up a new Unity project for VR
• How to import the Unity XR Interaction Toolkit package
• How to set up an introductory VR scene
• How to set up basic VR movement
• How to pick up objects in VR
• How to test your app on PC, Mac, or Linux
• How to add our VR template to Unity

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 26m

How to access: Access the course here.

Build a Micro-VR Game

In the Build a Micro-VR Game course, created by Zenva, you’ll explore some basic VR coding techniques while creating a small outdoor grilling VR experience. The course covers some of the most fundamental concepts – including how to grab things with controllers and how to use teleportation-style movement.

You’ll also learn how to adjust your game to be deployed on various VR devices, including Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Oculus Go, SteamVR, and more. All of this is to help prepare you to develop any VR rig.

Worth noting as well is that this course does not focus on Unity’s XR Interaction Toolkit. As this technology has become the predominantly covered aspect for VR, this course gives you the chance to explore other ways to create VR experiences that can be useful for the future!

Key topics covered:

• Understand the difference between virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality
• Create an environment for grilling and change the color of assets
• Set up Unity for a variety of VR devices
• Implement hand controllers that can pick up and place objects down
• Develop a teleportation system so players can move around the map

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 1h 56m

How to access: Access the course here.

Learn Unity – Beginner’s Game Development Tutorial

Learn Unity -Beginner’s Game Development Tutorial by freeCodeCamp.org is another entry on this list that isn’t really focused much on VR. Still, as stated in a previous item, learning the fundamentals of Unity first is not only recommended, but required if you want to learn VR.

For complete beginners, this course is a good place to start as you’ll learn the foundations of using Unity. You’ll explore a ton of C# programming fundamentals not covered elsewhere as well, so if you want a full gambit for C# this is also an excellent resource.

Key topics covered:

• Downloading Unity And Unity Hub
• Camera Follow Player
• Enemy Animations, Script, Spawner, and Collision
• Unity’s UI System
• Navigating Between Scenes
• Selecting A Character
• Static Variables
• Singleton Pattern
• Events And Delegates

Skill level: Beginner

Duration: 7h 24m

How to access: Access the course here.

Discover the XR Interaction Toolkit for VR

When it comes to Unity, the XR Interaction Toolkit is considered the new standard for building VR projects. This new system basically forgoes any form of coding. Instead, everything is component based – so making an item interactable is as easy as dragging on the right components and adjusting the settings.

In Zenva’s Discover the XR Interaction Toolkit for VR course, you’ll learn just that – how to use the XR Interaction Toolkit. This course covers all the basics you’ll need to get started, including teleportation and hand-grabbing controllers. All the while, you’ll also create a nifty kitchen simulator project to add to your portfolio!

Key topics covered:

• Set up the XR Interaction Toolkit
• Create interactable objects
• Implement teleportation-style movement
• Deal with hand-grabbing controllers
• Add particle effects based on object orientation

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate – Unity skills are expected.

Duration: 59m

How to access: Access the course here.

Unity User VR Developer Certification Wrap Up

And there we have it – the best courses to prepare for getting the User VR Developer Certification from Unity.

While we’ve given you a lot of material to work with, we encourage you to explore as many courses as physically possible. Remember, you have to pass the User Programmer Certification first, so you’re going to need to ramp up your Unity skills quickly in order to even prepare for this particular exam. So please continue to browse sites like Zenva and master all that you can. The more you learn Unity, the better position you’ll be in!

We hope these courses help you start your preparations, and we wish you the best of luck in becoming a VR expert!

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Thanks to this huge demand for those ready to jump into video games, there are thousands of online courses available – ready to teach you the skills you need to succeed. In fact, maybe there are a few too many courses to choose from. So where do you start?

In this article, we’re going to showcase six of the best game design courses you can take to upskill yourself and get ready to apply to any sort of game you want to make!

Let’s get started!

What is game design?

Game design is a broader skill set in the field of game production, referring to the use of creative design to develop engaging video games. Video game designers are tasked with creating worlds, stories, characters, and objectives for the purposes of driving the game forward and making it as entertaining or educational as possible.

Those that work in game design are creative, analytical, and problem-solvers – all transferable skills that are beneficial in other areas of life. To succeed in this constantly evolving industry, game designers need to have a passion for game production, have patience, and be quick learners.

Game designers are rewarded a good income in the US, reflecting the skill needed to get a job in the industry. On average, game designers earn $74,920 per year, with some making well over $100,000 depending on experience.

By learning game design, you’ll develop a number of transferable skills including the ability to problem solve, design skills, teamwork, and independent learning skills.

You’re also easily able to learn game design skills from home, since there are thousands of professional courses you can take online. There’s no need to enroll in university when learning game design, and many professionals in the industry are self-taught.

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What are the best game design courses?

There are thousands of game design courses available online, and it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Luckily, we’re diving into the top game design and development courses that you can take from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience in coding and game development, there’s something out there for everyone.

Additionally, we’ll also be trying to cover a wide range of tools – so you’ll get plenty of options to choose from!

Unity Game Development Mini-Degree

Unity is a massively popular game engine, responsible for powering over half of all games. It is used in over 190 countries, and it’s also one of the easiest engines to start with in terms of game development.

Why? Unity is basically the ultimate cross-platform machine, being able to make 2D & 3D games, VR games, AR games, mobile games, multiplayer games, console games, and beyond. This has made it hugely popular for both beginners and experienced developers alike, and even among non-developers for things like film.

With Zenva’s Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, students can get hands-on experience with the platform by building a number of topics. This full curriculum covers everything from the fundamentals of using the engine, to making full projects such as action RPGs, FPS games, idle clickers, and more.

While the curriculum skews a lot towards game development, game design is not neglected. Learners also get the opportunity to explore a variety of tools used when designing games, including things such as audio and animations. Beyond this, learners also get the chance to experience the full scope of project management and learn how the entire game-making process works – an important facet to being a successful game designer!

Key topics covered:

• Coding basics
• UI systems
• Audio effects
• Cinematic cutscenes
• Special effects
• Procedural terrain
• Animation

Skill level: Beginner. This is a comprehensive curriculum, meaning you’ll learn everything you need about Unity to reach an advanced skill level.

Duration: 36h 23m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Game Artwork Academy

With the development of advanced digital art tools, game makers are able to create custom assets pretty easily. For independent developers, this means they can work solo without any hiccups. For designers in bigger teams (where the main assets will get delegated out), this can still be a great boon for helping with things like storyboards and similar.

Regardless, art is an important skill to have for game design, since you’ll need to do things like help dictate the art direction and similar. And the smaller your team, well, the more these skills will benefit you to bring the game to life!

With Zenva’s Game Artwork Academy, students will learn the skills needed to start creating 2D and 3D game assets – choosing from a variety of styles including vector art, 3D models, and pixel art.

The curriculum covers popular tools, including Blender, Photoshop, GIMP, MagicaVoxel, and Inkscape, which are used by professional game designers and artists working in the industry. With a balanced approach, learners will master both the tools each program has to offer and the fundamental art skills as they create projects on the go!

Thus, you’re going to build a strong portfolio along the way as well!

Key topics covered:

• 3D modeling basics
• Voxel model creation
• Pixel art painting
• Vector art techniques
• Exporting and importing assets

Skill level: Beginner. No prior art skills are expected for these courses and are tailored to work for everyone from soloists to large teams.

Duration: 9h 5m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Game Design Academy

Game design involves a lot more than just making the stories or creating various art assets for planning purposes. A lot of game design is focused on understanding the how and why things are constructed the way they are. After all, design is about making specific choices to get a specific effect.

In the case of video games, it centers around some specific questions, such as: Are my mechanics fun? Are players able to navigate my levels easily? Are my characters engaging?

These questions are at the heart of all design – from the biggest AAA game to the smallest indie project.

In Zenva’ Game Design Academy, you’ll be taught all these core design principles and learn how to balance the creative and technical aspects of your project. Learners will not only master how to conceptualize gameplay and characters, but also create engaging stories that build a cohesive theme throughout the video game.

As you learn, you’ll also get to see how these design principles apply to real-life games – as these design techniques are the same ones used by industry professionals. In so doing, learners can gain a new understanding how these choices influence the overall engagement games possess. Plus, you’ll get to see how they work for just about any genre – whether we’re talking about an action-packed FPS game or a calming walking simulator.

Key topics covered:

• Core game loop setup
• How to guide players
• Game feel
• Level design foundations
• Storytelling techniques

Skill level: Beginner. The entire curriculum is designed for complete novices.

Duration: 3h 5m

How to access: Access the curriculum here.

Learn Unity – Beginner’s Game Development Tutorial

Sometimes, learning game design is simply about learning development and making your own games as an indie creator. Not only does this give you useful knowledge of the tools available, but the approach challenges you to put design principles into action up front.

FreeCodeCamp.org’s Learn Unity – Beginner’s Game Development Tutorial is a free course designed to give learners everything they need to develop games using the Unity game engine. The course covers everything from UIs to C# coding to working with player characters. It’s also beginner-friendly for those who have never even touched Unity before in their life.

This said, it is a bit lighter on the design aspects than other choices on this list (such as the courses from Zenva above) – so something to keep in mind when diving in. However, the skills here can still be immensely valuable as you explore the world of video game development in general.

Key topics covered:

• Introduction to Unity’s Interface
• Starting with Unity’s Basics
• Rigid Bodies and Colliders
• Audio Source and UI Elements
• Moving our Character with Code
• Introduction to Variables & Operations With Variables
• Functions, Conditional Statements & Loops
• Coroutines & Classes
• Accessibility Modifiers (Data Encapsulation) & Inheritance
• Getting Components & Importing Assets. Sorting Layers And Order In Layer
• Creating The Game Background
• Player Movement & Animating The Player Via Code, Player Jumping & Camera Follow Player
• Enemy Animations, Scripts, Enemy Spawner, Enemy Collision
• The Collector Script & Unity’s UI System
• Creating Main Menu & Navigating Between Scenes
• Selecting A Character & Creating Player Animations
• Static Variables & Singleton Pattern
• Events And Delegates & Instantiating The Selected Character
• Finishing Our Game

Skill level: Beginner.

Duration: 7h 20m.

How to access: Access the course here.

Unit: Advanced JS: Games & Visualizations

While engines like Unity or Unreal are very popular, you can still make games with plenty of other coding languages. This includes JavaScript – one of the three pillars that make up all web development. Though JavaScript isn’t the typical choice, it still makes a great backbone for web-hosted games and is used in popular game frameworks like Phaser.

The Advanced JS: Games & Visualizations course, hosted by the nonprofit Khan Academy, offers learners the chance to undertake an advanced understanding of game visualizations, demonstrated through practical learning using design programs. Users can learn how to change between multiple scenes, create clickable buttons, implement side scrollers, and learn how to use features such as translate, rotate, and scale for better manipulation of program shapes.

These principles both challenge you to think about how you design your games – such as how buttons look or similar – but teaches you the skills to unlock JavaScript for game development.

As a catch though, and as the title suggests, this is for more advanced users who have prior experience coding with JavaScript. So if you’re a novice, best to stick with some of the earlier entries such as the ones from Zenva.

Key topics covered:

• Intro to Games & Visualizations
• Scene management
• Buttons
• Making a side scroller: Hoppy Beaver
• Making a memory game
• Transformations
• 3D shapes
• Advanced development tools

Skill level: Advanced.

Duration: Taken at own pace.

How to access: Access the course here.

Unreal Engine Game Development Basic to Advanced Full Course

We’ve featured a lot of Unity and a lot of digital art tools. However, there is one more engine worth discussing that is widely used within the game development industry – Unreal Engine. Unreal Engine is an immensely popular engine, known most for its high-fidelity graphics that even indie developers can unlock with a few simple clicks. As an engine used so widely in AAA studios, it doesn’t hurt to understand the tool for the purposes of game design.

The Unreal Engine Game Development Full Basic to Advanced Full Course by Free Course is designed to teach independent learners the skills needed to start working with Unreal Engine. With a huge focus on the tools, future or current game designers can explore things such as using Quixel – the free, photorealistic assets provider – or working with sounds.

Along the way, of course, you’ll also learn about various other aspects useful to development with Unreal. Even if not pursuing that path in its entirety, knowing these techniques will give you a leg up in understanding the capabilities and limitations of the tool – which is also quite important for game design.

Key topics covered:

• Recreate the process for blocking out a 3D environment.
• Ambient and Procedural Sound
• Converting Blueprints to C++
• Creating Photoreal Cinematics with Quixel
• Bind C++ functions to user input levels and delegates.
• Core concepts and best practices of using C++ in Unreal Engine.

Skill level: This is a beginner course designed to teach you everything you need to reach an intermediate/advanced level.

Duration: 8h 55m

How to access: Access the course here.

Best Game Design Courses Wrap Up

And that wraps up our post on the best game design courses. Now, of course, there are definitely more courses out there. Plus, what’s the “best” does come up a bit down to you, reader. What aspects of game design do you want to learn? How do you learn? There’s a lot to think about.

Nevertheless, we hope this list helps and we hope you try a variety of things out. Part of learning game design is about experimentation, as it’s the best way to find out what does and doesn’t work for games. You’ll also want to experiment on whether you work best with free courses that are totally independent, or paid services like Zenva that offer more support and supplemental learning materials to help you master the topics.

Regardless of your choice, we wish you the best of luck with your game design journey!

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If you find yourself in this situation with your kids, you’re probably always looking for excellent resources to prepare your children for the future. We have to ask, though: have you considered adding game design to your homeschooling curriculum?

Teaching children game design and development not only encourages creativity, but gives them many transferable skills useful for other subjects and real life. Plus, if your child already likes video games, this is a perfect way to engage them and make learning a bit more fun for everyone involved!

In this article, we’ll dive into why game design is worthwhile for homeschooling – and help you get started in bringing it to your classroom.

Let’s dive in!

Is game design suitable for homeschooling?

Whether game design is suitable for your child depends on whether they enjoy art and design, have a creative side, and are interested in computers. If this is the case, game design and development is an excellent choice of homeschooling subject.

Game-making skills will also open your child up to a profitable career, with the global video game industry set to grow by 73.8 percent from 2020 to 2027.

Of course, game creation can be a difficult subject to learn, particularly without guided teaching and structured classes. There’s a reason why game creators are paid handsomely – it’s because it’s a highly-skilled profession that requires time and dedication.

If your child is committed to learning the art of game development, there are professionally run online courses specializing in teaching coding for children – for example, Zenva offers a huge collection of game-oriented courses in popular tools and languages like Unity.

Thus, regardless of your personal skills, teaching kids to make games can work for anyone with the right resources.

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What are the benefits of teaching game design?

Teaching your child game design and development skills early makes learning more complicated programming techniques much easier later down the line. By doing this, you could set your child up for a very profitable career in game development and give them attractive transferable skills such as problem-solving, math abilities, and creativity.

Children that learn game design and development skills could benefit from the following:

• Artistic skills. Game design involves devising unique characters and worlds, and learners of the skill will usually learn illustration, sketching, UX creation, 3D modeling, and animation. These skills are immensely useful in many different industries – so even if games aren’t for your kid, these skills can be applied just about everywhere.
• Creativity. Designing games involves coming up with engaging storylines, dialogue, character design, world-building, and more. Teaching your child game creation skills allows them to enjoy the creative process through building their own worlds.
• Problem-solving abilities. Learning to design games gives learners a fresh perspective on solving problems, since the skill involves complicated processes that will force them to learn and adapt to the problems they face. It will also teach kids to stick to a problem and to persevere until the issue is solved.
• Encourages practical learning. Game design is best taught through action. By teaching children the skill through practical learning, they’ll be able to transfer this form of teaching to other school subjects such as science and mathematics.

What game-making concepts should you teach?

Up until this point, we’ve been using game design and game development interchangeably. However, both feature some specific nuances to what they involve. So, let’s take a moment to explore concepts related to both!

What game design concepts should you teach your kids?

Game concept

In simple terms, the game concept is the vision board for your child’s supposed game. You can work with your child to develop their game vision, including the storyline and characters, the art style, and a roadmap for the future.

A fun way to help your child with their game concept is by helping them create a vision board with their own drawings and designs.

Storyboarding

Storyboards are used by professional game designers to flesh out the ideas and stories behind a game. They usually consist of flow charts and detailed illustrations for the purposes of creating a linear storyline.

During the storyboarding process, your child can envision their game characters and worlds. This not only releases their creativity, but allows them to plan a project and learn necessary design and organization skills. You could either help your child draw out their storyboard on paper, or improve their computing skills further by using online tools such as Canva or Boords.

Regardless, it can be an important step for understanding what events and sequences a game will need.

Character development

Similarly to the storyboarding process, teaching your child the ins and outs of character development will help with their creativity and drawing skills. Ask your child questions on their proposed game character: How old are they? What is their backstory? What are their relationships like?

After your child has fleshed out the story behind their character, they can start sketching what they look like. Use tools such as Paint or Photoshop to further develop their computing knowledge.

Animation

If your child isn’t quite ready for coding, learning the basics of animation can be a productive first step. Help your child to draw characters and bring them to life to inject a sense of fun into lesson time. And don’t worry if you aren’t an animator – when we get to our resources section, we’ll cover courses to help even with this topic!

What game development concepts should you teach your child?

Stages of game development

Before your child masters the principles of coding, you can teach your child the main stages involved in making an effective game. These not only replicate and enhance real-life understanding, but coincidentally teach children project management! The main stages are:

• Planning. The planning stage is fundamental to game success. Ask your child relevant questions about their project, such as: What genre will the game be? Who are the main characters in your game? Who is your game designed for?
• Pre-production. During pre-production, game designers begin creating storyboards, character designs, and prototypes. As we’ve already said, storyboarding can help your child get creative and think about the crux of the game. In essence, though, the steps in the first section cover these first two phases.
• Production. The production stage is when the magic happens and the game starts to come to life. Professional game makers spend the most time developing the game, making decisions on how the game looks, writing the script, coding the logic, and so forth.
• Testing. To make sure the game isn’t filled with bugs or lagging issues, game creators will spend time testing the mechanics of the game before it hits the market. It’s fundamental to teach your child why testing is important, and what happens if a game isn’t functional. This is where key skills in problem-solving can be taught, as even the most experienced developer will have bugs in their code.
• Launch & Maintenance. At the launch stage, the game is finally released to the public and is available to play. This is a pivotal moment for game designers and developers. After the initial launch, though, there may be multiple updates as developers fix small bugs, so teaching kids about maintenance and documentation can be conveyed during this time.

Programming Fundamentals

Regardless of the type of game your homeschooled kids want to make, the whole point of this homeschooling subject is to teach some programming.

Before you worry about it being too difficult, know that there are a ton of languages and tools out there. For example, while older kids may have the best time with Unity and C# programming – which gives them ultimate freedom – younger kids will probably do best with visual coding and Scratch.

Some programming fundamentals you’ll want to include are: algorithms, variables, arithmetic operators, conditionals, and loops.

There is a lot to programming – and in homeschooling situations, this is one where we know online resources can come to save the day!

What ways can you make game design fun?

Children learn better when they are fully engaged and interested in a subject. Try not to overwhelm your child with the complicated nature of coding and instead stick to the methods below to inject fun into the classroom.

Play games

Did you know that playing games can actually be educational?

Help your child learn the mechanics and concepts behind gaming by playing age-appropriate games such as Minecraft and Roblox, with easy-to-understand coding mechanics that your child can learn to modify.

For those less computer-oriented, there are also specialized board games available that teach kids concepts related to algorithms – which can be transferred later to computer programming if necessary.

Practical learning

Rather than overwhelming your child with long-winded lessons on programming languages, make lesson time more fun with practical learning.

Let your child play around with making their own mini-games and using design tools such as Photoshop to draw their own characters and worlds. At the very least, we highly recommend using project-based courses, as this will produce tangible results that help cement what your kids are actually learning.

Ready to teach your child game design? Check out these resources

If you’re ready to take the plunge and teach your child the wonders of game design, it’s fundamental to find the right resources to not only help you on your teaching journey, but to give your child the best learning experience possible.

Here are the best online resources you can use to teach students game design and development.

Zenva Academy

Zenva is a learning platform dedicated to teaching students valuable coding, design, and development skills. Age isn’t a limiting factor when learning with Zenva, as there are over 250 courses with different age recommendations.

Zenva aims to give all students the knowledge they need for a future in the gaming industry, teaching practical skills through game building, app development, website creation, and more. Additionally, students don’t just learn through video lessons either. Instead, many courses offer a ton of other activities ranging from live coding exercises to quizzes. Plus, with text-based lesson summaries of every video, the content can be made to suit any student’s learning style.

There are 23 homeschooling-specific courses available on Zenva, catering to children from grades 3 to 12, and offering lessons for a variety of skill sets.

Some of the homeschooling courses available with Zenva include:

• Scratch – Scratch is an online tool that features an easy, drag-and-drop scripting language. In this way, young kids can get started understanding algorithms first before jumping into syntax. Additionally, kids can learn to work with animation and basic game interactivity.
• Python – One of the most popular and in-demand coding languages out there. With the courses, students can get a real feel for programming while building digital art, mini-games, or even a medical diagnosis app.
• Unity – For older teenagers, Unity represents a great dive into teaching programming through games. Students get to build a ton of projects from mini-games to platformers and even to a mini-farming simulator. Plus, all the projects can be used to flesh out a portfolio for the future!

Code.org

An educational nonprofit platform, Code.org aims to make teaching and learning coding and game development skills more accessible for students, with courses aimed at young children to adults. While Code.org does work primarily with schools, they also provide learning resources for children learning from home.

All courses are free to access, and are designed for children from grades 5 to 12. That said, course content tends to skew younger, so something to keep in mind when using the platform!

Some available courses include:

• Computer Science Fundamentals Express Courses. Designed for children in grade 5 and above, this course is designed for students learning the basics of game development with basic learning tools such as a drag-and-drop box.
• Introduction to Game Lab. For older students, Introduction to Game Lab are short modules designed to teach basic concepts that are used in all programming languages and tools.
• Turtle Programming in App Lab. With this module, your child can use the easy-to-use App Lab and learn basic JavaScript commands by drawing shapes and images. By breaking down complicated coding issues into manageable pieces, your child can learn transferable problem-solving skills.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is similarly a nonprofit platform offering free courses for US students in-line with the curriculum. Khan Academy does not specialize in teaching coding like Zenva or Code.org, and instead teaches a range of subjects such as math, science, and economics.

Coding courses hosted by Khan Academy offer introductions to coding languages such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, but offer a limited number of courses. The courses they do provide come with easy-to-follow video tutorials and modules.

That said, where Code.org skews towards younger audiences, Khan Academy tends to skew older (so only with Zenva do you get a true all-ages range).

Homeschooling & game design wrap up

Throughout this article, we’ve tried to impart why using games is a great way to teach your kid important technology skills for the future. Letting kids focus on games while they learn programming has a ton of benefits – whether that’s getting them to get creative or teaching them to problem-solve. Either way, we feel confident in stating that making games turns boring lectures into engaging activities to grab their interest.

Fortunately, with platforms like Zenva, it’s very easy to incorporate games into your homeschooling plans, so you don’t have to become some secret game developer on the side.

We wish you the best of luck with your education journey!

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While it’s easy enough to cover typical subjects like math, English, and science, other subjects are a bit tougher to decide on. However, one you might overlook is computer science. Not only is it an important skill for kids today to master, but the job market’s demand for programmers and coders is skyrocketing.

In this article, we’ll first go in-to-depth about why you should add computer programming to your homeschooling curriculum. Then, we’ll show you how you can start getting your kids involved regardless of their age group!

Let’s get learning!

What is computer programming?

Computer programming, or coding, is the process of writing instructions specifically for devices and systems. Running a computer program translates the instructions into a language that computers are able to understand – and then execute to perform a specific functionality. Understandably, the more instructions you include, the more complicated tasks the computer is able to do!

In order to program, though, users must learn a programming language to communicate with the computer. There are thousands of coding languages in use, including Python, Java, and C-based languages. Regardless of language, though, they’re able to power everything from video games to web browsers.

Although this sounds complicated, kids from an early age are able to learn the basic skills of coding and the importance of algorithms (i.e. the instructions), making it suitable as a homeschooling subject.

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Is programming a suitable subject for homeschooling?

If your child has a passion for playing video games, art & design, or coding, enrolling them in a programming course is a fantastic idea. The video game market is set to reach $372 billion by the end of 2023, and the demand for coders is also expected to increase – with an expected 32,090 job openings in the video game design field by 2029.

Because of this, programming skills are invaluable and could lead to a profitable career in the future.

Having said that, coding can be tricky – especially without structured learning from professional teachers. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to learn programming skills from home, with available courses designed for young learners, such as the homeschooling collection provided by Zenva.

With plenty of structured courses taught by professional tech teachers, programming is a suitable subject for just about any homeschooling parent who wants to expand the subjects for their children.

What are the benefits of teaching children coding?

As we’ve already said, the programming profession is a profitable endeavor, and teaching your child how to code can get them onto the ladder of career success. However, learning to code shouldn’t just be about future prospects.

Children that learn to code can benefit from the following:

• Coding teaches creativity. Similarly to cooking or drawing, coding teaches children to craft a finished product from nothing and to inject their personality and creativity into their work. It allows children to enjoy the creative process through experimentation and questioning.
• Learning to program makes math engaging. Math and coding are sometimes one and the same, and teaching kids how to code will simultaneously teach them complicated math concepts with practical applications. With programming skills, learning math may become easier for your child later down the line.
• Develop problem-solving skills for the future. By learning to code, children can gain a new perspective on problem-solving, since coding isn’t an easy skill to develop and programs always involve some problem-solving to make. Kids will no doubt have to learn to adapt and overcome issues on their way. It also encourages them to work on a problem until it’s solved, which is a transferable skill for other school subjects.
• Coding promotes practical learning. Teaching is made easier through a hands-on and practical approach. Learning to code involves physically programming apps and games, making it a much more engaging practice for children interested in learning since it produces undeniable, tangible proof.

What programming concepts should your child learn?

While coding might seem like a massively complicated skill, it’s actually very approachable and appropriate for children of all ages. By teaching programming to your child at a young age, you’ll set them up for future success in the industry.

Here are six concepts appropriate for children as young as five years old – all of which you can wrap up in courses oriented on teaching the fundamentals of making algorithms.

Sequencing

Sequences in coding refer to the ordering of tasks, i,e. When the programmer tells the computer which tasks to perform and when. This is fairly easy for children to understand since it only requires them to order tasks within the right order. You can even begin this concept outside coding – such as asking kids to describe how they make a sandwich.

Variables

Variables are simply how we store bits of data in programs. This data can be manipulated, read, or rewritten throughout the program as we use it. For example, we can use variables to store player scores, names, and so forth. In this way, our program only needs to know the variable to perform certain functions – not the exact data that variable holds.

Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators are how we manipulate our data mathematically and generally include four basic functions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This is a key area where kids get to learn math at the same time they program, since these core concepts underly almost every program.

Conditionals & Branching

Conditionals, or conditional statements, are a type of code that allows a computer program to execute certain sections of code depending on whether a condition is true or false. For example, in the popular game Minecraft, the game is coded with conditionals to set whether the world is on daytime or nighttime.

Loops

Loops are a very common coding concept. A loop will continually perform a command only while a particular condition is true. The command is discontinued once the condition ends. An example of a condition might be whether a counter has reached a designated number or an item of data is changed.

Syntax

Children that are skilled at speaking or reading will have no issues with learning syntax. This coding method refers to a collection of rules that a programmer must follow when writing code. Every coding language has a different syntax.

How to make teaching coding fun for your child

We understand that coding can appear complicated, especially to a child who is first learning the skill. Rather than focusing on complex coding methods and sitting your student down in front of a wall of information, you should incorporate project-based learning into their curriculum.

For example, if your child is a fan of Minecraft, you might want to use gameplay as a teaching tool. Minecraft is programmed using Java, which is a common and easy-to-learn programming language that beginners can easily learn.

Here are some other ways to make learning code fun:

• Printable workbooks and worksheets detailing the coding behind your child’s favorite games (for example Minecraft, Roblox, or Fortnite). This is a fantastic way to keep them engaged and interested.
• Incorporate practical learning into their course content such as programming mini-games or drawing game characters. Zenva, for example, focuses heavily on practical skills, teaching children how to make their own animations and bots.
• Unlock their imagination with video game storyboards, character design, and plot points. This shows children the fun side of coding and how it can be used for more than making boring programs like Excel.

Ready to teach your child coding skills?

If you’re ready to start teaching your child programming skills, then you’ll need to start by finding the right resources that are the best fit for their individual needs. There are plenty of learning tools to choose from, but we’ve compiled a good list to get you going that can be used with a variety of different age groups.

Zenva

Zenva is an online learning platform specializing in teaching programming skills.

Zenva aims to make learning code simple and accessible for all with affordable courses available to individuals of all ages and abilities. The overall aim is to give students the skills they need to gain real industry knowledge by building games, apps, websites, and much more.

The learning platform offers over 250 courses, with several courses designed specifically with education in mind. The courses are suitable for children from grades 3 to 12, and cater to children with a variety of skill sets. However, the courses also work for adult self-learners too looking to expand into new skills.

Alongside the video courses, Zenva also offers a ton of other supplemental features to help make learning stick, including live coding exercises, quizzes, access to course mentors, and text-based summaries of lessons! Did we mention these courses are also entirely self-paced?

Some great homeschooling options on Zenva include:

• For grades 3 to 6. For younger students, Zenva offers courses based on the basics of how computers work, including the simple idea of what hardware and software is.
• For grades 6 to 8. After children understand flat-out basics of computers themselves, they’ll get the chance to learn some beginner Scratch projects for animation and mini-games. Scratch is one of the easiest programming languages to get to grips with, as it uses visual elements like the drag-and-drop function.
• For grades 7 to 12. Once students have learned the basics of Scratch, they will move on to learning Python, which, while slightly more complicated, is one of the most popular programming languages. As with other Zenva courses, learners are encouraged to build their own software in Python, such as a medical diagnosis bot, mini-games, and more!
• For grades 9 +. Designed for older students, Zenva offers courses on game development with Unity – a very popular engine used in the actual video game industry for games such as Genshin Impact. These take a very practical approach, featuring such projects as a mini farm simulator!

Code.org

Code.org is an education and innovation nonprofit platform, with the vision of making learning computer science more accessible for children of all ages. Code.org not only expands access to computer science in schools, but teaches children from the comfort of their homes with easily accessible and free courses.

The platform offers various free courses for children from grades 5 to 12 and beyond. These include:

• Grades 5 +. For younger learners, Code.org offers ‘Computer Science Fundamentals Express Courses’ for children starting out on their own and looking to learn the basics of computer science with easy-to-understand learning tools like a drag-and-drop box.
• Grades 6 – 12. After children understand the basics of programming they can move on to the more complex courses aimed at 9-year-olds and above. These free modules cover the fundamentals of programming while creating drawings and basic games. Programming languages such as JavaScript and Python are used.
• Grades 12 +. Code.org has partnered with schools and universities to bring older learners free beginner and intermediate courses on programming in languages such as JavaScript, Python, and C++. Free modules include ‘Harvard’s CS50 program’ and ‘Computer Science 101’ hosted by Stanford.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is another nonprofit organization with free online courses for students primarily in the US, teaching subjects such as math, science, computing, economics, and reading and language arts.

Khan Academy’s computing courses offer basic introductions to coding, teaching JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. Each course comes with video tutorials and easily navigable modules teaching one basic element of coding.

This said, Khan Academy generally skews a bit older, so we recommend this one more specifically for parents with older students in need of a coding education.

Google Classroom

If you’re looking to directly teach your child programming skills at home, you should consider Google Classroom – an excellent resource for educators to track, manage, and access learning resources.

Google Classroom has various training courses and guides for educators which can be applied to teaching coding skills to your child, including how Google Tools can be used for in-person learning.

If you decide to curate your own course for your child, YouTube has thousands of easy-to-follow videos on coding for all ages.

Of course, this is the more difficult path – but it’d be negligent for us to not mention this option for parents who want a little more control!

Programming and homeschooling wrap up

At this point, we hope we’ve made it clear why incorporating programming into your homeschooling plan is important. Programming can teach a plethora of skills that will help children both in the present day and long into the technological future. It’s also a subject that is considered a lot more engaging – given it can result in tangible projects children can be proud to show off.

Plus, with amazing resources like Zenva around to help do a lot of the teaching for you, you don’t have to be an expert yourself.

All in all, don’t miss out on this amazing topic and give your kids a chance to learn this modern-day marvel!

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When it comes to homeschooling, coding should be considered no less important than other subjects. Teaching coding, however, can be stressful and difficult – and it’s often better to find online learning resources to aid you.

Thankfully, with a general increase in demand, more and more online learning platforms are providing programming and video game development courses, including CodaKid and Zenva. So, you definitely have some options to consider when choosing!

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about CodaKid and discover how it fares against the competition in your homeschooling journey.

Let’s jump into it!

What is CodaKid?

CodaKid is an online-based coding academy teaching children to make games, apps, and mods by using coding languages such as JavaScript and Lua. All online classes provided by CodaKid are designed to be self-paced and taken individually. However, the academy does offer live support from engineering professionals. Additionally, CodaKid does offer one on one coding lessons with professional teachers, undertaken online (but obviously at a premium price).

CodaKid’s goal is to create the next generation of programmers, designers, and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to create the next big games, apps, and much more. The courses teach children the art of coding, of course, but also focus on key computing concepts to help them become independent learners and problem-solvers.

Since its founding in 2016, CodaKid has taught over 10,000 children how to code in over 15 countries.

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Is CodaKid suitable for homeschooling?

If your child is currently homeschooled (or will be in the future), CodaKid is a good choice for providing engaging, well-structured lessons that suit kids’ interests. The courses are designed to be self-paced, meaning students can take as long as they need to get through the workload.

As we’ve mentioned, CodaKid doesn’t just teach students how to create games and apps – lessons take the time to explain key computing subjects to give learners the information they need to work independently in the future. If your child does have any issues, though, help is on-hand with access to a team of engineers available to answer any questions.

Worth noting is that CodaKid’s lessons are designed with children in mind, and learners are able to level up and earn badges every time they complete a lesson to incentivize them.

This said, CodaKid is not the sole platform for homeschooling – and there are much more established platforms out there. Zenva, for instance, offers a ton of the same things, including: self-paced learning, game & app creation focus, emphasis on core foundations and programming concepts, and help through with course mentors. Zenva, however, also offers a variety of supplemental features to aid in the learning process as well, such as live coding exercises, quizzes, text-based lesson summaries to suit different learning needs, and more.

What homeschooling courses does CodaKid offer?

CodaKid offers a variety of courses taught by professional software developers, designers, and educators. Here are the main homeschooling course verticals that CodaKid offers its students.

• Minecraft Coding Courses. Using the popular game Minecraft, learners can try beginner-level coding skills in Java by creating 15 mods. Ages 8 and up.
• Roblox Coding Courses. Discovering Roblox and Lua, learners make 13 Roblox projects. Ages 8 and up.
• Game Programming Courses. With 10 courses available in Python, JavaScript, Unreal, and Unity, children create their own 2D and 3D games from scratch. Designed for children 9 and up.
• Scratch Coding Courses. With 17 courses available, kids use the online tool to create apps and game projects. Suitable for ages 7 and up.
• Speciality Coding Courses. CodaKid’s specialty coding courses stray away from gaming and instead focus on website building and drone programming. Suitable for ages 8 and up.

As was previously mentioned, if your child works better with more support, you can consider CodaKid’s private coding lessons. These lessons are suitable for children from the ages of 6 to 18 and teach many of the same topics above. However, as these are orchestrated by a professional teacher, kids get that extra bit of help to get going.

What homeschooling courses are not here?

While CodaKid has a lot to offer, there are some huge gaps. This comes mostly in the form of its much smaller collection of courses. While Scratch, Minecraft, and Roblox got a lot of love, other languages did not get the same form of attention. Certainly, they’re there, but the collection is shallow at best for any parent wishing to instill those skills in their children.

Taking a look at another platform, Zenva offers content on Scratch and Roblox as well – with a similar approach in terms of project-based, self-paced learning. However, Zenva’s much larger collection of courses (250+) allows them to cover that many more topics, including more content for Python, Unity, and Unreal. Plus, because of the larger catalog, Zenva ensures kids don’t just learn coding fundamentals, but also real-world skills they’ll require for professional jobs in the future.

Popular homeschooling courses provided by Zenva include:

• How Do Computers Work? (Grades 3-6). These two courses are designed to teach younger students the basics of computers, including introductions to digital systems and hardware and software.
• Intro to Coding with Scratch (Grades 3-7). Scratch is perfect for young children looking for an introduction to coding processes, since it’s an easy-to-learn visual scripting language. Children can learn how to animate using Scratch, with courses such as ‘Cat on Trampoline’ and ‘Fish Animation.’
• Intermediate Scratch (Grades 6-8). With intermediate Scratch lessons, students can start programming their own games such as the ‘Beach Clean up Game’ and the ‘Self-Driving Car Simulation’ course. This prepares children to move on to more complex coding languages such as Python and Unity.
• Python Programming (Grades 7-12). Older children can begin learning Python once they have built their knowledge of computers. Zenva provides Python courses including ‘Intro to Coding with Python Turtle’ and ‘Learn Python by Making a Game.’
• Game Development with Unity (Grades 9-12). Unity allows students to create 2D & 3D games. On Zenva, students can learn how to ‘Construct a Micro-Farming Unity RPG’, and ‘Create a First Game with Unity’ (to name a few)
• Data (Grades 7-12). Zenva data courses are designed to give students an introduction to complicated systems for older children. Courses include ‘Managing Data in Networked Systems’, and ‘Data Representation in Binary’.
• Web Development (Grades 9-12). If your child is more interested in website development than gaming, Zenva web development courses are designed to teach teens the necessary skills to build websites. Courses include ‘Create your First Responsive Website’ and ‘Intro to Web Development with HTML and CSS’.

All in all, though, CodaKid is great, but not the best depending on exactly what your child wants to learn.

What age range does CodaKid cater to?

CodaKid’s courses are aimed primarily at kids 7-8 and up. Most are extremely beginner-friendly, so they work well for kids in that age range and a little older.

That said, while older kids can take the courses, they may not find them suitable or engaging for a homeschooling setting. This is especially the case for high school students who generally aren’t as interested in games like Roblox. Sadly, this is one area where CodaKid’s smaller course collection truly hurts it.

By comparison, other platforms like Zenva may be a better choice. Zenva, for example, has courses for kids in as young as Grade 3, all the way up to adult self-learners. Thus, there’s a little something for everyone and you don’t have to worry about switching platforms as your kids age up.

How expensive is CodaKid?

CodaKid works on a subscription basis, and (at the time of writing this) parents can either pay $29 every month or $199 annually for access. With a subscription, you can access all courses available on the CodaKid platform and take each lesson at your own pace.

As for private tutoring, parents can pay $249 per month for 4 private classes, or $450 for 8 private classes.

If you’re unsure whether CodaKid is worth your hard-earned cash, they offer a free 14-day trial for both self-study and private tutoring courses. For private tutoring sessions, every family is offered a free session so you can assess CodaKid’s offering.

In terms of other platforms, this is fairly competitive pricing. That said, the value for the money is not necessarily comparable. For example, Zenva has similar pricing for their services. Per the previous mentions, though, Zenva has a much, much larger catalog of 250+ courses. Additionally, Zenva adds a new course (if not more) every month – so there’s always something new to learn on the platform.

Is CodaKid worthwhile?

If you’re looking for casual coding lessons for your young child to learn at home, CodaKid could be a suitable option. CodaKid has mastered making learning fun, with Minecraft and Roblox-based lessons. And when it comes to the 7-10 range of children, CodaKid is a well-established platform with a lot to offer.

However, there are a number of reasons other platforms might be more suitable. For example:

CodaKid vs. Zenva

Throughout the article, we’ve demonstrated how Zenva may suit your needs more than CodaKid. While CodaKid and Zenva shared many similarities, there are more than a few differences. This includes:

• Course collection size and variety. CodaKid has a focused but small collection of courses, while Zenva is able to offer 250+ courses on a wide variety of programming topics.
• Age group: Despite advertisements, CodaKid is more suited to younger kids than the older age group. Zenva, however, is able to cater to both with their offerings.
• One-on-one tutoring: Students can receive one-on-one classes – but for a very, very high price and without guarantee your kid will want to stick through everything.
• Real-world skills: While coding in general teaches real-world skills, CodaKid’s focuses lean more towards just being useful for education. Zenva’s courses, however, are worthwhile and include projects that can be used to build actual professional portfolios for job seekers.

The choice is, of course, up to what you and your children need for homeschooling. However, just in terms of variety, we think Zenva stands out a bit more in terms of getting the most value for the price you’re paying.

CodaKid Review Wrap Up

When it comes to homeschooling, it’s no wonder CodaKid is highly recommended. Teaching coding is especially hard when it comes to younger age groups, but CodaKid managed to pave the way in terms of how it can be done. If your kid is into Minecraft or Roblox, CodaKid is an especially good platform, then.

That said, don’t put your eggs into one basket. As we’ve shown, other platforms like Zenva have just as much to offer, and can be more suitable as your kids up, mature, and potentially re-focus their interests elsewhere.

Regardless, we hope this review has helped you take one step further in picking courses for your homeschooling activities, and we wish you the best of luck!

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Due to this demand, online learning platforms such as GameDev.tv and Zenva are offering students access to quality learning from the comfort of their homes.

So, is GameDev.tv worth it? In this article, we’ll undertake a full review of the GameDev.tv platform, and also look at how it stacks up against other competition.

What is GameDev.tv?

Gamedev.tv provides online courses for those looking to learn the art of game development. Teaching subjects such as development and design, with a specialty in indie games, GameDev.tv offers a ton of highly ranked online courses – offered through their own platform and other platforms such as Udemy.

Boasting over a million students, Gamedev.tv offers courses on Unity, Blender, and Unreal, as well as coding in C#, C++, and more.

GameDev.tv’s online courses are aimed at beginners looking to learn how to code, giving their learners the opportunity to build and design their own indie games. You don’t need to have prior knowledge of game development to start a GameDev.tv course, so it isn’t hard to see why GameDev.tv is a popular choice amongst coding enthusiasts.

What courses does GameDev.tv offer?

GameDev.tv has over 50 courses available to learners, ranging from RPG coding to 2D character design. Unlike some platforms that focus on one game engine, GameDev.tv offers courses on both Unity and Unreal Engine – along with other courses to boost your C# and C++ coding for the engines (respectively). Both options are regarded as the top choice for game developers.

However, alongside this, GameDev.tv also offers courses on related subjects. This includes a large library of 3D modeling courses with Blender – a skill many indie devs choose to pursue as solo developers. Beyond this, they also have courses on other practical skills, such as math for games or finding professional careers.

Every GameDev.tv course comes with a beginner-friendly introduction with details on how to install the game engine. Each course features comprehensive lesson segments from qualified instructors and gives learners access to the community support forum for additional help. GameDev.tv also offers a Discord chat server, where you can sometimes enjoy live community events.

Some of the courses available on GameDev.tv include:

• Blender Environment Artist. A hands-on Blender class focusing on landscape environments with 3D models.
• C++ Fundamentals: Game Programming For Beginners. A course teaching everything you could want to know about C++ (and how it works for games).
• Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D Online Course. This course focuses on teaching the foundations of 2D development with Unity.
• Unity Mobile C# Developer Course. A course focused on mobile development, going from scratch to publishing an monetization.
• Unity Visual Scripting: Learn Programming The Easy Way. A course focuses on Unity’s visual scripting service so you can make games with no coding.
• Complete Drawing Course: Create Video Game Concept Art. A course showing you how to design game art from scratch using traditional drawing fundamentals.
• Unity Multiplayer: Intermediate C# Coding & Networking. As the title suggests, this course focuses on some of the more complicated aspects of multiplayer development.

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How do GameDev.tv courses compare to others?

All this said, it’d be a disservice to say GameDev.tv’s course offerings are one of a kind.

Zenva, for example, also specializes in courses on Unity and Unreal Engine, and includes other courses for game art with tools such as Blender and Photoshop. Zenva even offers whole curriculums such as the Unity Game Development Mini-Degree, Unreal Game Development Mini-Degree, and Game Artwork Academy. In so doing, they take the guesswork out of “where to go next” in terms of your learning path.

However, Zenva goes beyond this, and also offers courses on popular topics such as Godot, Python, web development, and more!

Likewise, Zenva offers comparable features to GameDev.tv, including:

• Access to expert course mentors for assistance with courses
• Beginner-friendly courses
• Highly qualified instructors – including Unity Certified instructors and industry professionals

Did we also forget to mention Zenva has 250+ courses for you to learn from?

Regardless, while GameDev.tv has a lot to offer, course variety is actually not its strong suit.

What age range is GameDev.tv designed for?

GameDev.tv caters to people from all ages and backgrounds – from complete novices to established coders. All communities operating on GameDev.tv are PG-13 friendly, with the team describing themselves as ‘an all ages community’.

However, in practicality, much of GameDev.tv’s content may be too high-level for younger learners. And yes, this includes both their intermediate/advanced courses and their beginner-level courses.

To example, while Unity is often very popular in formal schools, most teachers won’t even touch it until grade 8 – and even then it’s usually older high school students who are considered skilled enough to handle Unity even from a beginner’s perspective. This is not to mention topics like C++, which is generally considered a language often too difficult even for high school students.

Of course, this is not a universal truth. Some kids excel at coding right away (just as some adults never click with coding in their lifetimes). As a general rule of thumb, though, it is still worth keeping in mind that the courses are not necessarily made for kids.

This said, not all is lost. For example, and as mentioned, learners that need extra support can benefit from excellent community support from fellow course enrollers. The courses can also be taken at whatever speed is needed, so younger learners can take time to go through each module.

Before we move on, it’s worth noting this is one of the areas where course variety really hurts GameDev.tv. To example again, because Zenva is able to offer courses on more than just Unity and Unreal Engine, their courses are much more suitable for younger audiences. In particular, their Jr Coder Mini-Degree, which focuses on Scratch and even includes some game development aspects, is suitable for kids as young as grade 3. Thus, GameDev.tv has fierce competition in this area.

Is GameDev.tv suitable for homeschooling?

The short answer: yes.

GameDev.tv courses are designed to be taken at home at your own pace. With a structured learning environment and designated instructors to guide you through the process, GameDev.tv is perfect for learners that need a pathway to guide them through their learning objectives.

GameDev.tv also offers bundles that include multiple courses, making it easy for parents to collect several courses at once to cover a full semester or two of learning.

However, as a cascading effect, because GameDev.tv is not the most suitable for every age group, it may not be a great platform unless your children are already in high school.

Similarly, other competition may be better in this arena. Zenva offers much of the same that GameDev.tv can offer in terms of homeschooling, including:

• Self-paced, at-home learning
• Structured learning paths
• 250+ courses for coverage

However, due to the wider library, Zenva also excels a bit more in this area because it can reach younger kids – making it a better platform for multiple different grades.

Again, though, GameDev.tv is a great choice depending on your circumstances, so this may come down to your personal needs.

Is GameDev.tv expensive?

GameDev.tv courses are can range from inexpensive to expensive depending on your learning needs and when exactly you look. At their default retail price, courses range from $27-$200 depending on topic – with heavier-duty game development courses running for more. Bundles on average cost a little north of $400 – again depending on how many courses are in the bundle.

That said, this depends on the when you look – GameDev.tv often runs deep, deep sales, thus it’s very easy to pick up courses for less than $50.

How does GameDev.tv’s cost compare to other platforms?

GameDev.tv is fairly average compared to other platforms in terms of price. However, it may not be the most cost-effective for your needs. While many people prefer to “own” their courses, costs add up quickly when you need to purchase several courses in order to get what you need.

In comparison, other platforms like Zenva – which offers a low monthly or yearly fee for their entire 250+ catalog, may be a more suitable option.

Is GameDev.tv worth it?

In our opinion, GameDev.tv is only worth it for learners that are looking for Unity, Unreal Engine, or Blender-related content. This is where the platform’s specialty lies, and it’s where their courses tend to be well-received. While they do have a ton of useful features – like their community support areas – these are only worthwhile if those are features you want.

Plenty of other platforms out there are often better suited, such as:

GameDev.tv vs Zenva

As we’ve covered throughout the article, GameDev.tv and Zenva are both excellent learning platforms with guided learning and structured modules by professional instructors. Both platforms:

• Offer course support – GameDev.tv through community support forums and Zenva through expert mentors
• Have a variety of courses on Unity, Unreal Engine, and game art
• Have self-paced, online learning to suit any schedule
• Are beginner-friendly while also working for experience developers
• Cater to many different age groups

However, there are key differences between the two, namely:

• Zenva has a much wider catalog of content
• In terms of age, Zenva has a clear advantage for younger audiences
• The pricing structures are vastly different
• Offers extra features we didn’t mention previously – such as text summaries of the videos so you can learn how you want

While the choice always depends on your needs, we believe Zenva stands a bit stronger from the wider catalog and more courses in general comparatively to learn from. The more languages and tools developers have, the more appealing their results often are.

GameDev.tv Review Wrap up

GameDev.tv is a strong contender in today’s world for anyone wanting to learn game development. Honing in on the two most popular platforms – Unreal Engine and Unity – there is a lot to be learned that can get you started as a game developer. Their Blender collection is also quite astounding and focused to help you get all the skills you need even as a solo indie artist.

However, it’s not the only platform out there. If you’re interested in other languages like Python or JavaScript, for example, Zenva has a lot more to offer in that realm. Zenva also has courses on Godot – which is quickly becoming a strong competitor to Unity and Unreal Engine.

Your learning journey is yours to decide – but we hope this review helps ease the way!

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