Best Online Schools and Colleges to Learn Game Design & Development

Savannah College of Art and Design prepares talented students for creative professions through engaged teaching and learning in a positively oriented university environment. SCAD is continually recognized for educational and professional excellence, affirming our commitment to the highest standards of achievement in art and design in the U.S. SCAD constantly researches and reimagines programs to instill the critical skills and knowledge students need to succeed in their chosen careers. SCAD consults industry leaders, gathers data on business and design needs and collects student feedback to inform the genesis and evolution of every degree taught at the university. SCAD offers more programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the U.S., with 40 undergraduate, and 61 graduate degree programs. SCAD is one university and offering degrees in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, and online via eLearning, with additional study abroad opportunities in Lacoste, France. Each SCAD location provides a new experience, and students can choose to study in any location, at any quarter during their education. At every location and online, in every discipline, SCAD students are educated through comprehensive curricula and sophisticated technology so that they may create their most ambitious visions. Designed to exceed the leading-edge resources found in top design firms and global headquarters, SCAD resources instill in-demand technological agility. With licensure for more than 100 software packages and remote access to next-gen programs.

Residing at the intersection of creativity and technology, CG Spectrum and CG Spectrum Institute are global online training providers for the film, video game, and creative industries, delivering an industry-standard education.

They provide online, expert-led courses and accredited degrees and diplomas in animation, VFX, game development, digital painting, virtual production, and 3D visualization, along with career development services and access to a vibrant online community of over 4,000 students, alums, and industry professionals.

CG Spectrum is an Unreal Authorized Training Center, Unreal Academic Partner, SideFX Certified Training Provider, Toon Boom Authorized Training Center, and Chaos Academic Partner.

CG Spectrum at a glance:

- 170+ film and game industry mentors
- 80% job success rate for advanced course graduates
- Students across 90 countries
- 1-on-1 mentorship options
- 2-week, 3-month, 6-month, and 9-month courses

CG Spectrum Institute is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), combining academic excellence with real-world industry practices to ensure students receive a high-quality education.

CG Spectrum Institute at a glance:

- 4 unique accredited degrees and diplomas
- FEE-HELP available for eligible students
- Partnered with world-class film and game studios
- Fast-tracked degrees (full-time bachelor’s students graduate in 2 years)
- Teaches technical skills balanced with industry concepts and interpersonal skills

FX Barcelona Film School is a multidisciplinary school that combines audiovisual creativity, digital art and new technologies to train digital artists and audiovisual content creators of the present and the future of this thriving industry that is entertainment in film, series, video games, animation and virtual reality among others. The cross-disciplinary training in all areas allows its Master's and Career training programmes to be unique and highly valued by companies in the sector. That is why our graduates have a 99% job placement rate: the school offers them international job opportunities, paid internships and in-company trainings guaranteed and managed by the school.

Founded in 2010, MAGES has been leading the Creative Technology industry by setting benchmarks and achieving them spectacularly. As one of the Top 50 Design and Media Schools in the World and the Top 10 in Mobile Games Production by Rookies (2020, 2021,2023 respectively), MAGES has conquered education in the dynamic game design landscape with the help of a growing community of the world's best, experienced and qualified lecturers.

MAGES provides high-quality tertiary education in the fields of Game Design & Technology, Augmented & Virtual Reality, Concept Art & Game Art, Motion Graphic Design, Data Science, and Web Development. MAGES maintains a low student-to-lecturer ratio, prioritizing individual student attention, and is in the unique position of first-hand experience by having our own Production House - MAGES Studio Pte. Ltd.

MAGES Mentors/Lecturers are Industry Professionals who work as developers or Artists or in leadership roles at technology/Creative Tech companies and who would like to support students to succeed in their respective creative tech fields.

Animum is an internationally recognized graduate school committed to excellence. We offer the highest level of specialization in each of our masters, with a 100% professional training, with the highest rigor and commitment to quality. Some of the disciplines we teach in our school are 3D Modeling, 3D Animation, Illustration and Concept Art, VFX, Compositing and Lighting.

Escape Studios is one of the UK's leading animation, games and VFX schools, supplying the industry with studio-ready talent. Our courses are designed and delivered with industry experts within a welcoming, close-knit and successful community.

Our world-class industry partners include Industrial Light & Magic, PlayStation London Studio, Framestore, The Mill, DNEG, Milk VFX, Creative Assembly, Cinesite, Blue Zoo and MPC. Through our partnership with Epic Games, we were the UK’s first Unreal Authorized Training Center and are an Unreal Engine Academic Partner.

Approved and endorsed internationally as a Rookies and Houdini certified school, we offer a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and short courses. Our Escapees have worked on award-winning TV series Stranger Things and Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Oscar and BAFTA nominated films such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Batman, Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick, The Banshees of Inisherin and bestselling games Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted 2 and Forza Horizon.

Defined by the spirit of innovation and enterprise, the University of Hertfordshire has been an innovative, vocation-first educational force for more than 70 years.

From our start as a leading educator within Britain’s aeronautical industry to our extensive offering today, we have always specialised in providing the environment and expertise needed to power every kind of potential.

For our thriving community of more than 30,000 students from over 140 countries, that means high-quality teaching from experts engaged in ground-breaking research with real-world impact. Access to over 550 career-focused degree options and a chance to study at more than 170 universities worldwide, using outstanding, true to life facilities. And industry connections that offer professional networking opportunities which take talents even further.

We are Herts. Herts. Beats Faster.

With campuses in Stockholm, Malmo, Boden, Skellefteå, and Karlstad (Sweden) and Warsaw (Poland), Futuregames offers a diverse range of educational programs at various levels. From short courses for seasoned professionals to full-time programs for aspiring game developers entering the industry, we cater to different interests and aspirations.

Boasting nearly 20 years of experience, Futuregames has consistently ranked among the top game education institutions worldwide. Our alumni, comprising over 14% of the Swedish games industry, excel in fields such as game art, game design, programming, VFX, QA, and more.

We take pride in our commitment to bridging the gap between education and the professional industry. Collaborating with renowned game companies like Avalanche Studios, CD Project Red, Coldwood Interactive, EA DICE, Epic Games, Fatshark Games, King, Glorious Games Group, Level Eight, NEAT Corporation, North Kingdom, Paradox Arctic, Starbreeze Studios, Star Stable, Turborilla, Ubisoft, Zordix, and many others, we provide an immersive learning environment.

Voxel School, University College of Digital Arts, was created as a cross-cutting model of communication within areas of key importance for Digital Economy: the videogame sector, animation, VFX, Architectural Visualization and design, all of them in their different dimensions.

The institution is managed by professionals from the entertainment industry, videogames, cinema, VFX, and new technologies heavily connected to university management and training for more than a decade.

Voxel School aims to be a useful tool for the society in developing new areas in the field of digital arts, aligned with the current working scenario. To achieve its goals, the school focuses on recruiting top teaching professionals as well as on providing a high-performance experience to their students. The University School has significant strategic partnerships to connect university and industry. In addition to other top players in the industry, the partnership with Sony PlayStation Iberia for teaching university studies sets the standard, which ensures joint work for the integration of Voxel School students in the professional environment of the videogame.

Since 2016 Voxel School is an Associated Center of the Complutense University of Madrid for the delivery of its own university graduate degrees and is a recognised academic institution part of Deusto University as well.

For nearly 15 years, The Game Assembly (TGA) has been educating highly skilled game developers for the global games industry.

At our campuses in Malmo and Stockholm, Sweden, we provide education for Game Animators, Game Artists, Game Programmers, Level Designers, Procedural Artists, and Technical Artists. Each program spans 1.5 to 2.5 years, with a significant portion dedicated to a game company internship. Our approach divides your time between specific courses for your field and collaborative, cross-disciplinary game development. We primarily focus on creating 3D games and emphasize the use of agile methods and regular feedback.

Since 2022, in partnership with Kaplan, we also offer an apprenticeship master program in the UK for in-depth game programming exploration.

We closely collaborate with the games industry, both in Sweden and internationally, to ensure that our education aligns with employers' expectations. During your time at TGA, you will have the opportunity to meet guest speakers, attend workshops, and receive feedback from industry experts. Our graduates are now spread worldwide, forming a fantastic network benefiting both the school and our students.

A degree from TGA is your ticket to a creative and exciting profession, with the entire world as your field of work.

For over twenty years, Gnomon has educated many of the world’s best digital artists. Called “the MIT of visual effects” by Fast Company magazine, Gnomon offers a variety of educational options to help students reach their goals in the entertainment industry, with both degree and vocational certificate programs, specialized courses for high school students and over 100 individual courses for professional enrichment. Visual effects artists launched Gnomon with the support of the entertainment industry to help meet the demand for well-trained creative talent in the growing field of digital entertainment. Our graduates are professionals working on the latest blockbuster films and games, and have positions at film and video game studios around the world.

Since 2005, Think Tank has been offering an unmatched learning experience that emphasizes collaboration and feedback with professional supervisors and mentors from across the VFX, Animation, Game Art, and CG world. Consistently ranked as one of the top schools worldwide, Think Tank's Online, Campus, and Hybrid programs offer artists a specialized and hands-on education that primes them for an exciting career in the Film, TV, and Games. Go directly from school to studio with the latest software, professional mentorship, job readiness training, and an industry-ready demo reel. Most artists who want to get into the CG industry rarely know what job position or discipline they want to end up in.

Think Tank believes in supporting your journey to discover your true passion and unique point of view. Work with Advisors, Instructors, and Personal Mentors who are themselves experienced in CG to establish exactly the type of work you want to do. Once your specialization is determined, you’ll develop an industry-ready portfolio alongside your mentor that is catered towards a particular career, and ofter, a specific studio. This means that when you’re looking for that first job, your work will already be elevated above the average generalist. Up for the challenge? Think Tank is here to help you take the next step.

ARTSIDE is a private higher education institution founded by Digital Art professionals, with a strong desire to offer innovative training that meets the expectations of International studios. More of 70 teachers come from the largest international studios and share this desire to train future talents. They offer with Artside a professional education and share their workflow and tools used in production and offer our students a complete professional network. Our students develop an in-depth understanding of 3D production/Concept Art pipelines and a mastery of technical and artistic applications. Our program is based on 3 specialisations in order to train in the trades of Concept Art, 3D Character Art and 3D Environment Art for video games and extends over a 4-year Bachelor through comprehensive programs covering all production issues from current studios. A 14-month online training is also possible for those who already have artistic and technical fundamentals depending on the desired specialisation.