Explore a possible path

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

How does this connect to your interests? →

A look at the work

  • Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
  • Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
  • Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
  • Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
  • Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
  • Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
  • Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
  • Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.

A selection of source-listed tasks; duties vary by role and employer.

Interests involved in this work

These source scores describe occupational work activities. They are separate from your personal test results.

Hands-on

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.8 / 7

Investigative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

4.2 / 7

Creative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

6.4 / 7

Helping people

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.3 / 7

Enterprising

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

3.9 / 7

Organizing

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

3.9 / 7

Skills to explore

Source-reported importance on a 1–5 scale. Try a course, project or conversation to learn what these skills involve.

Programming

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

2022-08

4.0 / 5

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

2022-08

3.9 / 5

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

2022-08

3.8 / 5

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

2022-08

3.8 / 5

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

2022-08

3.6 / 5

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

2022-08

3.6 / 5

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

2022-08

3.5 / 5

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

2022-08

3.4 / 5

Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

2022-08

3.4 / 5

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

2022-08

3.3 / 5

Plan a small next step

Talk to someone doing this work, look for a supervised activity, and explore the subjects that interest you. Admission, licensing and current program requirements should be confirmed with the relevant institutions.

Source preparation category: Job Zone 4 of 5 · 2022-08. This category describes typical preparation, not your eligibility.

Related study fields

Source crosswalk connections are research leads, not required qualifications.

Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia →

Computer and Information Sciences, General →

Informatics →

Human-Centered Technology Design →

Computer Programming/Programmer, General →

Information Science/Studies →

Computer Science →

Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design →

Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster →

Human Computer Interaction →

Design and Visual Communications, General →

Graphic Design →

Explore all related study fields →

Source & methodology

O*NET-SOC code 15-1255.01 · Database 31.0 · Retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Dates on individual observations describe their source periods.

How interest exploration matching works →

Data: O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. StudyIndex normalizes the presentation and adds exploration features; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions.