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Game designer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.,

Lisa TenHulzen

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical game designer skills. We ranked the top skills for game designers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.0% of game designer resumes contained unity as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a game designer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 game designer skills for your resume and career

1. Unity

Unity is a universal power word that has the same meaning of strength for everyone, regardless of race, nationality, or gender. It connotes equality, togetherness or oneness, and synchronized thinking and opinions to ultimately achieve a specific goal or mission.

Here's how game designers use unity:

Animated prefabs using Unity animation tools.
Developed game prototypes by learning Unity development (C#), game and level design, Animation (traditional).

2. UI

Here's how game designers use ui:

Developed scripts for enemy AI, item collection, objective tracking, and UI event handling in C#.
Program UI, special effects, logic, audio and game physics in Unity3D game engine with C#.

3. Game Development

Here's how game designers use game development:

Participated and cooperated in all lines of game development/production.
Created player personas that informed game development, drove increased play in the market and generated positive gamer response.

4. Game Mechanics

Here's how game designers use game mechanics:

Created and maintained design documents delineating game mechanics, mission objectives and assets required from artists and programmers.
Researched topics for the project, such as the art style and game mechanics from similar games.

5. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how game designers use c++:

Created and tested mathematical outcomes to assure quality and that accurate calculations are achieved through excel and c++ programming.
Developed a firmware for user interaction in C++, which included a video-generating algorithm.

6. Math

Here's how game designers use math:

Helped facilitate original and modification math development with in-house statisticians.
Created over 500 illustrations for 8th grade math problems as well as assets for GUI and game characters.

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7. Prototyping

Here's how game designers use prototyping:

Mentored youth through in-person camp activities in coding, electronics and prototyping.
Developed product strategy using international market research, consumer behavior studies and rapid prototyping.

8. Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine refers to a software framework responsible for several well-known video games, such as Fortnite, Borderlands 3, and Hellblade. This software excels in 3D rendering and realistic animation for video games, making it one of the most popular game engines for game developers today. This framework can also be used to develop 3D renderings of still spaces, such as potential apartment furnishings and completed construction sites.

Here's how game designers use unreal engine:

Studied the art pipeline in the Unreal Engine with a focus on texture, lighting, materials and creating art assets.
Develop user interface through the use of Unreal Engine 4 Widgets, ActionScript 2.0, and Adobe Flash.

9. PC

Here's how game designers use pc:

Contract programming for several PC games including Rise of the Triad (Apogee) and Duke Nukem (3D Realms).
Produced all art for and directed PC alternative controller game that was shown at ALT.CTRL.GDC 2016 and Experimental Gameplay Workshop GDC 2016

10. Art Assets

Here's how game designers use art assets:

Designed and created all the art assets for our game that followed the theme of Ritual.
Created game design, UI/UX design, and art assets for game Name That Dinosaur!

11. Level Design

Here's how game designers use level design:

Innovated level design and production processes; formalized design documentation standards; introduced milestone production methodology and supervised its implementation.
Design documentation, level design team coordination, design documentation, story and writing.

12. User Interface

The user interface (UI) is the area or point where a person communicates with or transfers information to an electric computer or application. The user interface enables applications to offer precise product details to their intended customer without causing any misunderstanding. Customers want modern technology to behave in a certain manner for their convenience, so it is advised to create a user interface that is simple to use, precise, and predictable so that customers are fully pleased with its services. It can make a significant difference in converting visitors into customers.

Here's how game designers use user interface:

Worked with the engineering team to modify proprietary User Interface tool to deliver new Front End and presentation elements.
Created mock-ups and flowcharts to ensure top quality User Interface and User Experience design.

13. Animation

Here's how game designers use animation:

Performed multiple roles ranging from Lead Designer, Content Integration Manager, Location Layout Design, to Animation Scripting.
Assumed a leadership role in developing an animation style that became the standard in the department.

14. Combat

Combat is a violent conflict between two parties. Combat can be held by using weapons or unarmed. The fighting between the armed forces of different countries can also be called combat and the main purpose of the combat is to eliminate and stop your opponent from achieving their goal.

Here's how game designers use combat:

Created game fiction, character statistics, combat formulas, micro-transaction content, and other major features for both titles.
Adjusted object population and collision hull information where necessary for AI navigation or combat flow.

15. QA

QA, or Quality Assurance is a procedure that entails all of the steps taken to avoid any errors in the manufacturing process or in the production of the goods that a company produces. It can also include ensuring the consistency of the services rendered. Quality assurance ensures that the quality of the service delivered to consumers meets or exceeds the promised expectations. This greatly aids in the prevention of any complications that might arise after the goods or services have been distributed. It makes sure that customers are satisfied.

Here's how game designers use qa:

Assisted in game design, art, QA, and other areas as needed.
Slot Designer, QA Lead, Writer, Competitor research for Hit it Rich!

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What skills help Game Designers find jobs?

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What skills stand out on game designer resumes?

Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The retail industry is robust and requires many skills. Content and industry-related knowledge are essential, including comfort with computer applications like Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Excel. Beyond knowledge of the industry, job candidates need excellent communication skills in written and oral forms. It's also highly recommended that job candidates have work experience in their area of interest, which could include an internship, job shadow, or part-time position.

What game designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Lisa TenHulzen

Assistant Professor of Scenic Design, Albion College

What skills need to be enhanced really depends on the area of the theatre they traditionally worked in. For makers and artisans, I would suggest pursuing any hobby or job that will continue to stretch your creative side. You do not want to go for an extended period of time without making something with your hands. The same goes for the directors and actors, but find something where you can use your creative analysis and presentation skills. Start a podcast, read new plays, make videos, etc. The skill of a theatre artist can stagnate if it is not used. Take advantage of the time you have, and pursue a personal creative project.

What type of skills will young game designers need?

Bennie F. Johnson

Executive Director, AIGA, the professional association for design

Our Design Futures research from 2018 covered this topic in some detail. Some highlights of needed skills include an understanding of business models, complex systems, and data. One of the seven Design Futures trends is "Bridging Physical and Digital Experiences," which has become even more important in a COVID world. Of course, mastering craft and specific tools remain important, especially for entry-level work, but so is a general ability to "learn how to learn," as the rate of technical change (and obsolescence) is only getting faster.

In May of 2020, AIGA conducted an industry pulse check survey around the impact of COVID-19 on the design community and found, not surprisingly, that adaptability skills continue to be the most critical for design professionals, and collaboration made the list of top five skills for the first time.

Do you want to know more?

List of game designer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a game designer resume and required skills for a game designer to have include:

Unity
UI
Game Development
Game Mechanics
C++
Math
Prototyping
Unreal Engine
PC
Art Assets
Level Design
User Interface
Animation
Combat
QA
Facebook

User Experience
Game Systems
Game Engine
AAA
Lua
Android
Python
Concept Art
JavaScript
Content Creation
UX
Game Content
Maya
Virtual Reality
Card Games
RPG

Game Balance
IP
Creative Vision
Game Projects
Video Games
System Design
Content Design
Adobe Photoshop
F2P
Unity3D
Fiction
Game Concepts
Art Direction
Augmented Reality
Graphic Design

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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