If you are considering getting into the exciting and rewarding world of video game development, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive straight in and take a look at five simple tips on how to code video games and become a video game developer.

What is a video game coder?

A video game coder or game developer is essentially a computer scientist, software programmer, or engineer whose job is to develop codebases used in video games or software directly linked to video games, such as game development tools.

Becoming a successful video game coder/developer requires getting qualified in many specialized fields of expertise, having a proficient level of C, C#, and C++ programming language, and having in-depth knowledge of certain game engines (Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot).

Today’s best game developers must be creative, able to work alone and in teams, have excellent communication skills, and have a natural gift for problem-solving technical issues. Having a broad knowledge of gaming trends and a passion for playing video games also helps.

The main three video game coders are gameplay programmers, graphics programmers, and back-end systems software engines, and some of the typical duties include the following:

• Writing game code based on concepts dreamt up by video game designers and using various features and tools inside today’s biggest game engines to build video games
• Constant systems testing during the video game development process
• Searching for, identifying, and fixing bugs and other technical issues to improve the end product
• Working closely with other video game developers who specialize in the animation side of things, such as graphics designers
• Frequently attending meetings with team members to share expertise, discuss current progress, and resolve issues together.

When entering the field of game development, fields you may like to pursue are animation, art, video games, technical art, audio, design, programming, level design, game production, quality assurance, and software engineering.

Some of you may want to learn how to code the more graphically demanding triple-A video games. Others might like to code feature-rich slots for the iGaming industry, which are called “Fixed Prize” games or “Progressive Jackpot’ games.

Alternatively, others might like to create what are called casual games, Indie games, social multiplayer games, puzzle games, MMORPG and MMO games, and so on. There’s so much to choose from.

Top 5 tips for becoming a video game coder

Becoming a video game coder takes a lot of hard work and determination and isn’t something that can be learned overnight. Becoming a good game developer takes years, and it’s one of those careers where you constantly learn new things, but it comes with great job satisfaction when projects have ended.

Here are five useful tips that are fundamental to becoming a video game coder:

1. Get qualified with basic coding/programming skills
2. Choose which of the major game engines you want to master and learn it well (Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot)
3. Use your time to start developing your first video game prototype
4. Engage with others and share expertise
5. Set plenty of clear goals and objectives

You will also need to start with a decent plan. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you encounter any difficulty. Try not to take negative feedback or criticism personally. Instead, use it to your advantage to create better games.

Remember that it’s not easy to code and build an excellent game from the ground up. Many of today’s games are incredibly complex and require teams of people to get it right. Each game requires a lot of background code, which is often too difficult to do alone and relies on huge teams working together in harmony.

You will need to refine your physics and math skills, expand on your current understanding of certain software and systems, and consider taking more online courses to further educate yourself.

You must stay on top of a wide range of gaming trends and have an analytical mindset when undertaking specific tasks and projects.

What are the most popular new games to play in 2024

If you want to see what the industry’s best coders can create today, don’t forget to check out some of these hit titles that are currently new and huge in 2024.

Examples to keep an eye out for include Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma II, Princess Peach: Showtime, Tekken 8, Avowed, Persona 3 Reload, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

There’s also Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Another Code: Recollection, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, to name just a few.

Final note

When you first start your journey as a video game coder, things can seem a little overwhelming, especially considering how much there is to learn.

There are many ways to learn diverse coding elements, including web development, Python, Scratch, and the major game engines, so perhaps enroll yourself in a course (either at college or online) that can bring you up to speed in no time.