Disclosure: Lloydtown may earn a commission if you enroll through links on this page. It doesn't change the price you pay. Course details come from each course's Coursera page, checked on the date above.
Quick comparison
| Program | Best for | Engine | Length* | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Design: Art and Concepts (CalArts) | Ideas, story, characters and art | None needed | 5 courses | 4.7 (4,188) |
| Game Design and Development with Unity (Michigan State) | Building real 2D and 3D games | Unity, C# | ~2 months | 4.7 (673) |
| Epic Games Game Design (Professional Certificate) | Level design and world-building | Unreal Engine | ~3 months | 4.3 (658) |
*Coursera's estimates at about 10 hours a week. Ratings are the average across each program's courses, with the number of reviews in brackets.
CalArts: Game Design: Art and Concepts
Specialization · 5 courses · Beginner · 4.7 from 4,188 reviews · 66,000+ enrolled
The most-reviewed game design program on Coursera, from the California Institute of the Arts. It focuses on the creative side: turning an idea into a game concept, choosing a story style, designing characters and planning the look of your world. It focuses on design rather than programming.
Pick it if you care most about ideas, art and story, or you want to design games before learning an engine.
See the CalArts programMichigan State University: Game Design and Development with Unity
Specialization · 5 courses · Beginner · 4.7 from 673 reviews · 36,000+ enrolled
A hands-on program taught by Brian Winn that walks you through designing and building both 2D and 3D games in Unity, using C#. You learn the full game development process, from prototype to finished game, and come out with games you made yourself.
Pick it if you want to actually build and ship games, especially for mobile or indie releases where Unity is common.
See the Unity programEpic Games: Game Design Professional Certificate
Professional Certificate · 8 courses · Beginner · 4.3 from 658 reviews · 40,000+ enrolled
Made by the company behind Unreal Engine and Fortnite. It covers game ideation and balancing, Unreal Engine world-building, level design, and Blueprint scripting, Unreal's visual way of adding interactive elements without writing code.
Pick it if you want to work with Unreal Engine, care about level design, or want a career credential from a name game studios know.
See the Epic Games certificateUnity or Unreal?
Both engines are free to start with and widely used. In general:
- Unity is common for mobile, 2D and indie games, and you script it in C#. The Michigan State program teaches it.
- Unreal Engine is known for high-end 3D graphics, and its Blueprint system lets you build gameplay visually. The Epic Games certificate teaches it.
Not sure yet? Start with CalArts for the design thinking, then add whichever engine matches the games you want to make.
What they cost
These programs are paid by monthly subscription, so the total depends on how fast you finish. Each one has a free trial, so you can start the first course before you're charged. Coursera Plus, a single subscription that covers all three, is worth it if you plan to take more than one. Coursera shows prices in your local currency, and financial aid is available on many courses.
Start with a free trial
Try the first course of any program before you pay.
Start with CalArtsWe may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and terms are set by Coursera.
Sources: Coursera course pages for Game Design: Art and Concepts, Game Design and Development with Unity and Epic Games Game Design, checked October 1, 2026.