Video Game Designer vs. Game Developer: Choosing Your Path

When you picture yourself working in games, do you imagine dreaming up worlds, stories, and gameplay—or building the code that brings those ideas to life? Video game designers and video game developers both play essential roles in creating a finished game, but they focus on different parts of the process. Designers tend to concentrate on the player experience and overall vision, while developers handle the technical side and make the game function.

In the sections that follow, you’ll explore how these roles differ in day-to-day career focus, the skills and tools they rely on, and the education and training that can help you prepare for each path. You’ll also take a closer look at career growth and salary potential, as well as how designers and developers collaborate on real projects — so you can decide which direction is the best fit for your goals.
 

What Is a Video Game Designer?

Video game designers serve as the creative vision behind a project. They tend to be more focused on the overall look, theme, and feel of the game than on its technical aspects.

Working in video game design can be an excellent career path for those who enjoy creative work and storytelling. Specifically, video game designers tend to be most focused on the game's aesthetic, developing storylines, building characters, and making the gameplay experience as enjoyable as possible for all users.

Key Responsibilities of Video Game Designers

So, what do video game designers do? The exact roles and responsibilities of a video game designer can vary greatly depending on the scope/size of the project and other factors. In general, video game designers are responsible for such things as:

• Conceptualization - Creating a story and building a world around it.
• Character Creation - Developing specific characters (playable and non-playable) to incorporate into the experience.
• Plot Development - Creating a plot that will keep users engaged and entertained.
• Gameplay Mechanics - Determining how players will move and interact with the world around them.
• World Building - Designing scenery and other elements of the game, including sound.

Skills Video Game Designers Need

Video game designers need to possess a wide range of skills, including both core competencies and more technical skills, to perform their jobs well. Some examples of the most common skills video game designers need to use on a regular basis include:

• Creativity - The success of a video game concept often relies on the designers' creativity, so being able to come up with new and exciting ideas is an essential part of the job. Creativity is especially key when it comes to setting a new game apart from others already on the market.
• Effective Communication - Video game designers often need to collaborate with other designers, developers, and artists to help their visions become reality. Effective communication (both verbally and in written form) is a critical part of the job. This is crucial for keeping everybody up-to-date and working toward the same goals.
• Problem-Solving - Any given video game project will run into obstacles and problems along the way, so video game designers need to be prepared to problem-solve creatively and adapt as needed.
• Artistic Vision - A strong sense of creative vision is another must for any video game designer, including the ability to see an idea through from its earliest phases to its complete execution.

Job Outlook for Video Game Designers

According to recent data, a 2020 market analysis of the video game industry valued the global video game market at more than $167 billion, with growth projected to reach more than $291 billion by 2027. As the demand for new video games and their market size continues to grow, it makes sense that the demand for creative and innovative video game designers will increase as well.

What Is a Game Developer?

Video game developers are the professionals who handle the technical aspects of turning designer concepts into functioning video games. They are less focused on the creative side and more proactive about making things happen, which usually means writing lines of code and using special software development tools to optimize the user interface.

Key Responsibilities of Game Developers

Much like the job duties of a video game designer, the responsibilities of a game developer can also differ depending on the scope of the project, the specific employer, and other factors. Still, some of the most common responsibilities carried out by video game developers on the job include:

• Coding - Much of the work of turning a video game concept into a reality is done using different coding languages, including JavaScript, Python, and C++.
• Game engine utilization - For some projects, video game developers may need to create custom game engines or use existing game engines to ensure that different components of the game run as smoothly as possible.
• Sound and Art Integration - Video game developers also tend to be responsible for incorporating the design elements (including sound, graphics, and art) into the game seamlessly.
• Testing and Debugging - Video games encounter many bugs and other issues, especially in the earliest phases of production. Video game developers are responsible for testing, identifying problems, and debugging them along the way.
• Optimization - Throughout the video game production process, developers constantly look for ways to optimize the game for use across different platforms. Depending on how many platforms the game will be published on, this process can be a full-time job.

Essential Skills for Game Developers

Game developers need to have a wide range of both technical skills and core competencies to do their jobs well, with some of the most essential skills including:

• Programming Languages - Proficiency in languages like C++, Java, Python, and any other languages used in video game development.
• Problem-Solving - Video game production comes with inherent challenges and obstacles, so developers need to be prepared to solve problems creatively and efficiently throughout each project.
• Attention to Detail - Even something as seemingly minor as a missing line of code could cause a lot of problems with video game production. Developers must possess a strong eye for the smallest details to keep things running smoothly.
• Collaboration - Video game developers' work doesn't happen in a bubble. They must be in constant contact with other team members (including designers and other developers) to keep projects on schedule, solve problems, and ultimately create the best game possible.

Job Outlook for Game Developers

With the ever-increasing demand and market size in the video game industry, it makes sense that the demand for experienced and knowledgeable video game developers will also continue to grow. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is expected to grow 25 percent between 2022 and 2032 alone. This projected growth is much faster than the national average for all occupations.

Video Game Designer vs. Game Developer: Key Differences

Understanding the differences between video game designers and game developers is essential for anyone considering a career in the gaming industry. While these roles work closely together and often overlap, each plays a distinct part in bringing a game from concept to reality. The sections below break down how their responsibilities, skills, training, and career paths compare — helping you better determine which path aligns with your interests and strengths.

Career Focus

Game designers concentrate on what a game is and how it feels to play. They focus on concepts like gameplay mechanics, level layouts, storylines, progression systems, and how to keep players engaged. Game developers focus on how a game works behind the scenes, writing the code that powers gameplay, physics, artificial intelligence, user interfaces, and more. While designers are typically more involved in creative decision-making and player experience, developers are more immersed in technical implementation and problem-solving to make the game function smoothly on different platforms.

Skill Sets and Tools

Game designers rely on strong creative, analytical, and communication skills. They often use tools such as game design documents, whiteboarding software, level editors, and prototyping platforms to test gameplay ideas. Familiarity with basic scripting or game engines (like Unity or Unreal Engine) can also help designers communicate more effectively with development teams. Game developers, on the other hand, need strong programming skills and a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals. They commonly work with languages such as C++, C#, or Python, and use integrated development environments (IDEs), version control tools, and game engines to build and optimize the game’s systems and performance.

Education and Training

Both roles can benefit from a degree in game design, game development, computer science, or a related field, but the focus may differ. Aspiring game designers often study subjects like game theory, interactive storytelling, user experience (UX), and level design, building portfolios that showcase prototypes, design documents, or mods. Those pursuing game development typically take more technical coursework in programming, algorithms, software architecture, and graphics or physics programming. In either path, hands-on projects, internships, and building a strong portfolio are critical for demonstrating your abilities to potential employers.

Career Growth and Salary Potential

Game designers and game developers can both advance into senior and leadership roles, though their paths may look different. Designers may move into positions like lead designer, creative director, or design manager, overseeing the overall vision and gameplay direction for projects or studios. Developers can grow into senior developer, technical lead, or engineering manager roles, taking on responsibility for core systems, performance, and technical strategy. Salary potential is influenced by experience, specialization, studio size, and location, and in many cases, highly experienced technical roles may command higher pay — especially for developers with expertise in areas such as graphics, networking, or engine programming. However, both career paths offer opportunities for strong earning potential and advancement over time.

Collaboration Between Roles

In practice, game designers and game developers work closely together throughout the production process. Designers pitch and refine ideas, create documentation, and adjust gameplay based on testing and feedback. Developers collaborate with them to determine what is technically feasible, estimate timelines, and implement features in the game engine. Effective communication and mutual respect between these roles are essential, as designers rely on developers to bring concepts to life, and developers rely on clear direction to build systems that deliver a fun, polished player experience.

Choosing Your Path in the Gaming Industry

Is a career as a video game designer or developer better suited for you? There are a few things to consider as you make this important decision.

Assessing Your Strengths and Interests

Start by assessing where you currently stand. Do you tend to be more interested in the creative aspects of video games, such as character development and storytelling? Or are you fascinated by the technical expertise that goes into making a great game? Should the former apply to you, then video game design may be a more suitable path.

Understanding Your Career Goals

When determining your path, consider your long-term career goals. Both video game design and development careers require a great deal of skill and expertise. While a formal degree may not be required to get into this field, it is highly recommended and can help you set yourself apart in the job market. For this reason, it's crucial to think about where you see yourself down the road so you can choose a degree program that will prepare you for real-world work as a designer or developer.

Pursue Your Passion With Chaplain College Online

Both video game design and video game development can be exciting and rewarding careers. If you're looking to break into the gaming industry, pursuing a degree is a solid starting point.

At Champlain College Online, we're proud to offer both a bachelor's degree in interactive game design and a bachelor's degree in game development to suit your interests and goals. Both programs are offered 100% online for your convenience so that you can pursue your degree on your schedule. 

Get in touch to request more information and learn all about what Champlain College Online has to offer. You can also get started with your free online application today.