4 answers
Joei
Student
2
Questions
Asked
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How Can I Start a Career in Game Design as a Teen?
Post:
Hi! I’m 14 and I love creating games. I already know C++ and sometimes experiment with simple apps or game ports like this Cuphead APK build (https://cuphead-apk.com/
) just to see how games run on different devices. I want to be a game designer in the future, but I’m not sure what steps I should take now. Can AI help me create characters or code faster? Where do most game designers earn money from, and is this career profitable long-term? Any advice for someone my age starting out would be amazing.
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4 answers
Mariana Bautista
Human Resources
4
Answers
Mexico City, Mexico
Updated
Mariana’s Answer
Hey Joei! Game design is super exciting, and even though I’m not directly in that field, as a career expert, I’ve got two killer tips that can help you get your foot in the door—and they work no matter what you want to do. Check them out!
1. Find a Role Model: Dive into social media and spot someone already rocking your dream job. Hunt down their public LinkedIn profiles to see their journey—what they studied, their credentials, first gigs, and how they climbed up. This gives you a real roadmap to follow!
2. Follow the Big Players: Check out the big gaming companies. Visit their websites, look for campus events, partnerships with NGOs, or programs they run, and stay on top of those opportunities. It’s like a treasure map to new contacts and insider info!
Mariana recommends the following next steps:
Chris Knight
Human Resources, Quality Management, and People Operations Leader
1
Answer
Bono, Arkansas
Updated
Chris’s Answer
You're already ahead of many aspiring game designers by building and experimenting with real tools. Your curiosity and eagerness to try new things will take you far.
At your age, the key is to keep creating, even if your projects are small. Completing projects teaches you discipline, problem-solving, and how to turn ideas into playable games. Tools like Unity or Unreal are great for learning because they introduce you to professional workflows.
Take time to study games you love. Think about why certain levels are fun, why a character moves well, or how difficulty increases. Game design is about understanding people as much as it is about coding.
AI can be a helpful tool, not a shortcut. It can assist with brainstorming characters, explaining tricky code, or creating placeholder art, allowing you to focus on learning core skills. Consider it a mentor that helps you overcome challenges faster.
When it comes to earning money, most designers start with studio roles, freelance work, or by releasing their own projects. It can be a stable career if you develop strong technical skills. Right now, focus on building a solid foundation that will open many doors in the future.
Keep learning, be patient with yourself, and follow your curiosity. Starting early gives you a huge advantage, and you'll be ready for the next step when the time comes.
Keep creating consistently, even if the projects are small.
Spend time studying the games you admire and ask yourself questions.
At your age, the key is to keep creating, even if your projects are small. Completing projects teaches you discipline, problem-solving, and how to turn ideas into playable games. Tools like Unity or Unreal are great for learning because they introduce you to professional workflows.
Take time to study games you love. Think about why certain levels are fun, why a character moves well, or how difficulty increases. Game design is about understanding people as much as it is about coding.
AI can be a helpful tool, not a shortcut. It can assist with brainstorming characters, explaining tricky code, or creating placeholder art, allowing you to focus on learning core skills. Consider it a mentor that helps you overcome challenges faster.
When it comes to earning money, most designers start with studio roles, freelance work, or by releasing their own projects. It can be a stable career if you develop strong technical skills. Right now, focus on building a solid foundation that will open many doors in the future.
Keep learning, be patient with yourself, and follow your curiosity. Starting early gives you a huge advantage, and you'll be ready for the next step when the time comes.
Chris recommends the following next steps:
Joey Kalitovic
Senior Game Designer / Narrative Designer
1
Answer
Everett, Washington
Updated
Joey’s Answer
Yes, you can make Game Design a career! It is helpful that you are coding too. Not all Game Designers need to code, but the more that you understand about the work your teammates are doing, the better your designs will be. Before you start making money, you will need to learn. That could be through school, online courses, or small projects.
In my opinion, game jams are one of the best ways to learn how to make things with other people. They also look great on your portfolio! You could approach a jam simply as a "Game Designer" looking for a team, but I would be ready to pivot to a specialty, in case teams already have some design aspects covered (you could also join as a programmer, but I would make it clear that you are interested in getting design experience, too). Game jams don't just show your dev skills; they show how well you work with others. And you never know who you might add to your network.
Game Design is a broad section of game development, so it could be helpful to choose a specialty that you feel especially passionate about and then branch out from there. I started as a Narrative Designer and gradually expanded into gameplay, level, systems, and economy design (you can break some of those down even further, too). Being a generalist can be great, but for a career, make it a bonus that you have broad knowledge and skills, rather than relying on finding a generalist role.
Avoid using AI for anything that you want to learn and later be an expert at. Even if you end up with a job where you use it as a part of your workflow, you need to be the one making decisions. If you rely on AI for your designs, then you will not know when it makes mistakes.
When you start applying for jobs, "court the nos." If your goal is to get as many rejections as possible (and there will be a lot of them), you will eventually get a yes. Remember that luck plays a role here, but you can only get lucky if you are prepared when an opportunity presents itself. Starting young already gives you a great advantage! Doing what you love for a living makes the difficult parts of life a lot easier. Keep learning, try lots of things, and don't be afraid to pivot. Good Luck!
Try different roles, even within design.
Join game jams (virtually or in person).
Network with people online and in person, when you can.
Build a portfolio.
Apply, often, not just for your dream company.
In my opinion, game jams are one of the best ways to learn how to make things with other people. They also look great on your portfolio! You could approach a jam simply as a "Game Designer" looking for a team, but I would be ready to pivot to a specialty, in case teams already have some design aspects covered (you could also join as a programmer, but I would make it clear that you are interested in getting design experience, too). Game jams don't just show your dev skills; they show how well you work with others. And you never know who you might add to your network.
Game Design is a broad section of game development, so it could be helpful to choose a specialty that you feel especially passionate about and then branch out from there. I started as a Narrative Designer and gradually expanded into gameplay, level, systems, and economy design (you can break some of those down even further, too). Being a generalist can be great, but for a career, make it a bonus that you have broad knowledge and skills, rather than relying on finding a generalist role.
Avoid using AI for anything that you want to learn and later be an expert at. Even if you end up with a job where you use it as a part of your workflow, you need to be the one making decisions. If you rely on AI for your designs, then you will not know when it makes mistakes.
When you start applying for jobs, "court the nos." If your goal is to get as many rejections as possible (and there will be a lot of them), you will eventually get a yes. Remember that luck plays a role here, but you can only get lucky if you are prepared when an opportunity presents itself. Starting young already gives you a great advantage! Doing what you love for a living makes the difficult parts of life a lot easier. Keep learning, try lots of things, and don't be afraid to pivot. Good Luck!
Joey recommends the following next steps:
Deven Oza
Director
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Deven’s Answer
Keep going with your coding journey; you're doing great! Try stepping out of your comfort zone to spark new creative ideas. Consider taking professional certification courses, like those from MIT, to boost your career. You've got this!