Game Design

Game design is the discipline concerned with creating the systems, rules, mechanics, and experiences that define how games are played and why they are engaging. It is distinct from game programming, which focuses on code, and from games art, which focuses on visual assets: game design is about the logic and feel of play itself, the decisions that make a game satisfying, challenging, fair, and immersive. Good game designers understand player psychology, can prototype and iterate rapidly, and know how to balance creativity with the technical and commercial realities of development.

At the University of Hull, this three-year full-time programme develops your skills in game design, giving you both the creative and analytical tools to understand and create compelling play experiences. You will study the principles of game mechanics, level design, player experience, narrative design, and the history and theory of games as a cultural form. You will work with industry tools and processes, building a portfolio of design work that demonstrates your abilities to potential employers.

The programme also emphasises professional preparation: you will develop the skills to communicate your ideas in pitches, design documents, and prototypes, and to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

With a typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points, this degree attracts students who have a genuine passion for games and the analytical curiosity to understand what makes them work. Graduates move into roles as game designers, level designers, game producers, narrative designers, user experience designers, and game analysts across studios of all sizes, from independent developers to large commercial publishers. The design thinking and analytical skills the degree develops also transfer well into other technology, education, and user experience roles.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in game design, interaction design, or related creative technology fields.