Game-Developer Roles
There are a lot of roles on a Game-Development team, here are a few of them, and some of the software that they use!
Small teams often require developers to fit one or more of these roles. Producers and Data Analysts typically form part of larger teams, since they are key support roles.
Game-Designer
Like figuring out what makes things fun? Like making up rules for games?
Part inventor, part scientist. You come up with ideas for how games work, then test them to see if they're actually fun.
If you've ever made up rules for a game with your friends, or thought "this game would be better if..." - that's game design.
Tools:
Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets)
Level Editors
Game Engines
Programmer
Like solving puzzles? Enjoy figuring out how things work under the hood?
You make things actually work. When a designer says "the player should double-jump" or "enemies should get harder over time," you write the code that makes it happen. You're building the machine under the surface - physics, AI, menus, saving progress, everything.
If you enjoy logic puzzles, like taking things apart to see how they work, or get satisfaction from fixing something that's broken - this is you. Every mechanic in every game exists because a programmer built it.
Tools:
Code IDEs (Visual Studio Code, Jetbrains Rider)
Game Engines
Audio-Designer
Like making music? Ever notice how sounds make scary moments scarier, or victories feel bigger?
You create everything players hear. The thwack of a sword, the creak of a door, the ambient hum of a spaceship, the music that kicks in when the boss appears. Sound is invisible, but it's half of what makes a game feel real or exciting.
If you mess around making music, notice how horror games use silence, or get chills when the soundtrack swells - this is you. Games without good audio feel hollow. You're the one who fills that space.
Tools
Garageband
Audacity
LMMS
FL Studio
Artist
Like making things look cool? Drawn your own characters or imagined your own worlds?
You create everything players see. Characters, worlds, UI, effects, the glow on a magic sword, the way fog rolls through a forest. If you like drawing, painting, 3D modeling, or just obsess over how games look - this is you. Artists also handle animation, bringing characters and creatures to life.
If you've ever paused a game just to look at something beautiful, or sketched your own version of a character, you're already thinking like a game artist.
Tools:
Blender
Krita
Photoshop
Data Analyst
Like finding patterns? Prefer proof over guessing?
You figure out what players actually do - not what they say, not what you hoped, but what the numbers show. Where do they quit? What's too hard? What feature is everyone ignoring?
If you like spreadsheets, spotting patterns, or enjoy proving a point with evidence instead of opinions - this is you. Designers guess, analysts know. You're the one who turns millions of player actions into answers.
Tools
Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets)
Tableau
Producer
Like organizing people? The one who makes the plan and keeps everyone on track?
You keep the team on track. Who's doing what, what's due when, what's blocking progress, what do we cut when we're running out of time. Games are made by groups of people, and someone needs to make sure those people are working on the right things and talking to each other.
If you're the friend who organizes the group project, makes the schedule, checks in on everyone, and keeps the chaos under control - this is you. Without producers, games fall apart before they ship.
Tools
Project Management Tools (JIRA, Trello)
Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets)
Make a game - this weekend!
Making a game doesn’t need to take a long time. You can do it this weekend!
First step: Pick a game-engine.
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Used by numerous professional game development studios, Unity has a large asset store, community, and many tutorials you can follow.
C# is the coding language used in Unity. Learning it will allow you to not only make games in Unity, but also use C# outside of Unity.
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An open-source game-engine, Godot is used by numerous independent developers, and has a strong growing community, and pool of tutorials.
Godot’s coding language is a bit easier compared to Unity, but that doesn’t make it less powerful or capable.
Second step: Pick a tutorial to follow.
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Learn how to make a simple game akin to ‘Flappy Bird’ - all the while learning how to use the Unity game engine
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Learn how to make a simple platformer - all the while learning how to work with the Godot game engine.
Third step: Complete the tutorial.
Fourth step: Experiment with the completed project! Make it your own! Add new levels, new mechanics, new art. Share it with friends and family.