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Game programmer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Junping Sun Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical game programmer skills. We ranked the top skills for game programmers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.2% of game programmer resumes contained unreal engine as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a game programmer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 game programmer skills for your resume and career

1. 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 programmers use unreal engine:

Created PBR materials for use in Unreal Engine 4.
Implemented a navigation subsystem in Unreal Engine 3, involving real-time geometry analysis, A* pathfinding, and motion planning.

2. Game Development

Here's how game programmers use game development:

Prepared documentation related to game development and bug fixing.
Performed SDLC in gaming that include - Game development, Game management, Game porting, Game testing.

3. Math

Here's how game programmers 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.

4. Object Oriented Programming

Here's how game programmers use object oriented programming:

Changed procedural code to use object oriented programming techniques with abstraction for different hardware components on the robot.
Introduced ColdFusion (version 8) CFC's (the basis of ColdFusion Object Oriented programming) to the code base.

5. PC

Here's how game programmers use pc:

Worked primarily on the Star Trek franchise, but also worked on other types of PC games as well.
Worked remotely with a small team to develop and publish video games to mobile and PC platforms.

6. Animation

Here's how game programmers use animation:

Collaborated with artists and implemented animation assets.
Created systems in C++ to aid in Blueprinting including time keeping and animation control.

7. Prototyping

Here's how game programmers use prototyping:

Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with senior management.
Mentored youth through in-person camp activities in coding, electronics and prototyping.

8. Multiplayer

Here's how game programmers use multiplayer:

Redesigned UI to support Multiplayer UI & added supporting features such as Tournament Mode and AI Bots.
Helped complete One Must Fall: Battlegrounds, a 3rd person multiplayer fighting game.

9. C

Here's how game programmers use c:

Implemented Lua management library to assist team in using Lua without them needing to learn the Lua C API.
Designed and developed add-on tools for WordPerfect using Microsoft C and character-based windows.

10. 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 programmers use c++:

Developed animated applications in C++ to control plug-ins to Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Populate DB2 database using Visual Age-generated C++ function calls for in-house analysis of Lotus Notes event log and server performance data.

11. 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 programmers use unity:

Developed game in Cocos2dx using C++ with Xcode IDE on MAC OS X and converted game from cocos2dx to unity.
Animated prefabs using Unity animation tools.

12. Game Design

Here's how game programmers use game design:

Co-developed a 2D video game as part of the class: Intro to Video Game Design.
Key Responsibilities: o Game Design and framework including game state machine and flow structure.

13. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how game programmers use windows:

Developed for Windows and Macintosh using Unity3D and coded using C# in Visual Studio and MonoDevelop.
Developed an XNA 3D game prototype for Windows Phones that won a Microsoft sponsored competition.

14. Game Engine

A game engine is a type of game framework where a 3D Artist creates animation, graphics, three-dimensional models, visual effects, and models with special effects using computer software and program.

Here's how game programmers use game engine:

Fast-paced conversion of current library of games to operate with new game engine architecture.
Supervised multiple 2D and 3D game titles built using Torque Game Engine.

15. Debugging

Here's how game programmers use debugging:

Fixed bugs within the game (debugging) Applications were developed in Unity for IOS and Android
Experience with android debugging tools like Hierarchy viewer and Traceview.

What skills help Game Programmers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

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

Junping Sun Ph.D.

Professor, Nova Southeastern University

Computer Science and its applications in various fields are very dynamic and constantly evolving, and anyone in the fields needs to prepare to be adaptive by lifelong learning.

Do you want to know more?

List of game programmer skills to add to your resume

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

Unreal Engine
Game Development
Math
Object Oriented Programming
PC
Animation
Prototyping
Multiplayer
C
C++
Unity
Game Design
Windows
Game Engine
Debugging
UI

API
User Interface
Artificial Intelligence
JavaScript
Prototype
Video Games
Python
Game Mechanics
Android
Java
QA
Photoshop
Maya
Unity3D
Lua
JSON

Xbox
HTML
PHP
NPC
Game Logic
OpenGL
Game Code
XML
CSS
MMO
Sony
SQL
GUI
Microsoft Visual Studio

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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