Game Developer Roadmap
You make the thing people choose to do for fun - which is why competition is fierce and pay starts modest at $60-85k US. The filter that matters: finished, playable games. Three shipped small games beat one ambitious unfinished one, every studio will tell you the same.
By Carl Mills • Last updated • tap any step for guidance and free resources • progress saves in your browser • free printable PDF roadmap poster.
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Game Developer roadmap FAQ
Unity or Unreal or Godot?
Unity (C#) has the most job listings, especially mobile/indie; Unreal (C++) dominates AAA and pays more but is harder to start; Godot is a wonderful learning engine with a growing but smaller job market. For employment: Unity first or Unreal if you are C++-committed.
Do I need to be great at maths?
Working game maths: vectors, dot products, interpolation, basic trig. You can build a lot with engine helpers and learn deeper maths per need - do not let it gatekeep you before your first game jam.
How do I actually get hired?
Ship: three finished small games (jams count) beat one grand unfinished project. Studios screen for finishing ability, engine fluency and collaborative habits. Game jams are networking + proof in one weekend.
What next once the list is green?
Prove it under pressure: take the free Mock Interview, then check your application signals.
Not sure this is your direction?
Compare every tech role - what you'd build, what it pays, and who it suits - on the roadmaps hub.
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