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FIND THE PErfect VIDEO GAME SCHOOL FOR YOU:
FIND THE PErfect VIDEO GAME SCHOOL FOR YOU:
Want to know the video game school that will best allow you to succeed?
Explore our global ranking of the top schools, categorized by continent and country.
Curious about the video game studios that offer the highest number of entry-level positions?
Want to know the video game school that will best allow you to succeed?
Explore our global ranking of the top schools, categorized by continent and country.
Curious about the video game studios that offer the highest number of entry-level positions?
MISSION
MISSION
GAMEducation – the Global Association for Media Education – provides a comprehensive international ranking of video game schools and a list of studios actively hiring new graduates.
AI and education
AI and education
Training courses that claim to teach AI often focus on the use of AI tools rather than the creation of AI itself. With AI tools being updated almost weekly...
ASIA
ASIA
(coming soon)
AFRICA
AFRICA
(coming soon)
OCEANIA
OCEANIA
(coming soon)
☆ 2025 WORLD RANKING ☆
☆ 2025 WORLD RANKING ☆
TOP 5 BEST VIDEO GAME SCHOOLS
TOP 5 BEST VIDEO GAME SCHOOLS
based on career placement and student projects
which studios recruit the most ENTRY-LEVEL CANDIDATES?
which studios recruit the most ENTRY-LEVEL CANDIDATES?
Here are our studio rankings, by continent and country, based on graduate recruitment:
AMERICAN Studios : US & CANADA | LATIN AMERICA
ASIAN Studios : (coming soon)
EUROPEAN Studios : EUROPE
AFRICAN Studios : (coming soon)
OCEANIAN Studios : (coming soon)
what are the VIDEO game professions ?
what are the VIDEO game professions ?
Video game professions encompass a wide range of roles involved in the complete production process of a video game. These include creation and design, development, technology, art, and economics.
Certain technical professions in video game development, such as programming, may require skills in mathematics, dynamics, AI, statistics, and player data.
》 discover the video game industry 《
(work in progress)
A ranking in phase with the market
A ranking in phase with the market
Our study is primarily based on two key aspects:
1 – An analysis of the positions obtained by recent graduates who have been recruited by video game development studios in the past five years. These career paths serve as the primary criteria for ranking the schools.
2 – An evaluation of the video game projects completed by students during their academic journey. These prototypes serve as another important criterion as they demonstrate a school's ability to create immersive and professional environments. We assess the projects based on their level of completion, visual quality, gameplay mechanics, originality, innovation, and the emotions they evoke. Additionally, we consider their performance in prestigious industry competitions such as the Unity Awards and IGF Awards.
What is a VIDEO game school ?
What is a VIDEO game school ?
A video game school provides comprehensive training in one or more video game professions.
Some schools even assist students in establishing their own companies to market their games.
The first schools of this kind emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s, focusing specifically on these fields. Subsequently, around 2010, mainstream colleges and universities began offering game courses and degree programs.
VIDEO GAME PROFESSIONS ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING:
VIDEO GAME PROFESSIONS ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING:
The video game industry's evolution and gamers' new practices continually intersect with other sectors, giving rise to new professions:
Discover how video game engines are making their mark in the movie industry.
Explore how free-to-play (mobile free games) influences major game production.
Learn how the democratization of virtual reality (VR) is revolutionizing the serious games market in areas such as education, medical, security, and HR.
Understand how the development requirements of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games are amplified by the battle royale phenomenon.
Discover these new jobs > (work in progress)
☆ 2024 OVERVIEW OF THE TOP 5 GAME SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE ☆
☆ 2024 OVERVIEW OF THE TOP 5 GAME SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE ☆
#1 SMU guildhall
#1 SMU guildhall
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
604 students.
Graduate School established in 2003.
Tuition & fees (2024) per semester: Master of Interactive Technology in Game Development: $13,672 ; Certificate in Digital Game Development: $13,011.
SMU Guildhall was one of the first graduate video game development programs in the United States in 2003.
The school has developed a unique and comprehensive program of high quality based on the four pillars of game development: game design, programming, video game art, and production. Guided by industry veterans, students collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to produce games.
The school selects students who can demonstrate a strong educational background and high motivation.
ACADEMICS:
The school offers two 2-year programs providing comprehensive and solid training. The Master's program stands out with a practical Master's thesis artifact:
Master of Interactive Technology (MIT) in Digital Game Development
Professional Certificate in Digital Game Development. (Mirrors the MIT program, minus the thesis)
STUDENT PROJECTS:
Asurya's Embers (2024) A single-player first-person shooter set in an ancient Himalayan village facing the wrath of the sun god Asurya.
Fastival (2024) An arcade racing game with a cartoon style, developed by 50 students in 12 weeks.
RECRUITMENT:
Top studios recruiting SMU Guildhall graduates since 2020:
Gearbox Entertainment (TX)
ZeniMax Online Studios (MD)
id Software (TX)
miHoYo (TX)
Epic Games (NC)
Treyarch (CA)
Steel Wool Studios (CA)
Airship Syndicate (TX)
NetEase Games (CA)
These top-tier studios are globally recognized and heavily involved in high-quality game development. Gearbox Entertainment, id Software, and ZeniMax Online Studios stand out for their contributions to iconic AAA franchises. Epic Games and Treyarch provide diverse opportunities, from blockbuster shooters to innovative game engines. Studios like miHoYo and NetEase Games bring international influence, while Steel Wool Studios and Airship Syndicate showcase creativity in indie and AA productions. Together, they offer rich career pathways for SMU Guildhall graduates.
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The distribution of SMU Guildhall alumni in the video game industry since 2020 reveals a strong predominance of Game Designers, representing 43% of profiles. Artistic roles hold an almost equivalent share (41%), primarily composed of Game Artists (30%) and Tech Artists (11%). Within the Game Artist category, the predominant positions are 3D Artists (12%) and Visual Effects Artists (5%). Technical roles, embodied by Game Programmers (16%), round out this distribution, highlighting a clear specialization in design and visual creation.
#2 isart digital
#2 isart digital
Paris, France
Paris, France
1,200 students
Private school established in 2000
Tuition and fees 2024-2025: Bachelor's degree - 9,100 EUR/year ; Master's degree - 9,500 EUR/year
Created in 2000, Isart Digital is a pure player school exclusively dedicated to video game design, particularly Game Design, and animation.
One unique aspect of the school is the alternating school/work program. Practiced on a weekly basis, it serves as a source of motivation for students who work on real projects over an extended period, facilitating their integration into the industry.
The school offers 11 diploma programs divided into three categories: Video Games, 3D-FX, and Cinema Animation.
Admission is selective, especially for the Game Design program, which remains the flagship program of the school.
ACADEMICS:
Game Design (4-year combined bachelor’s + master’s degree)
Game Design & Programming (4-year combined bachelor’s + master’s degree)
Game Programming ( 5-year combined bachelor’s + master’s degree)
Game Art (5-year combined bachelor’s + master’s degree)
Producer (1 year master’s degree)
Music & Sound Design (3-year bachelor’s degree)
GAME PROTOTYPES:
The students of Isart Digital produce numerous game projects that showcase excellent mastery of animation and demonstrate high visual quality.
Valfreyja (2024) A dynamic first-person shooter set in a Nordic mythological setting, developed by 16 students.
Powertag (2024) A competitive sports game set in a futuristic arena, developed by 14 students.
》see the complete FRANCE ranking《
RECRUITMENT:
Main companies who have hired ISART Digital graduates since 2020:
Virtuos
Quantic Dream
Ubisoft Paris Studio
Sunny Peak
Dotemu
DON'T NOD
The primary recruiters since 2020 focus on AAA game production, with Ubisoft Paris Studio and Quantic Dream leading the way. These studios, while diverse in genres, share a high standard for design and polish. Virtuos excels in providing development and optimization support for major studios, while Dotemu and DON'T NOD stand out with their innovative and narrative-driven productions.
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The distribution of Isart Digital Paris alumni in the video game industry since 2020 is diverse and dominated by artistic roles (45%). Among Game Artists, the most represented positions are 3D Artists (15%) and pure Game Artists (10%). Game Designers follow with 28%, highlighting a strong creative presence, while technical roles account for 15%.
Producers and Audio Designers represent 12%, making up a significant proportion compared to other schools, showcasing a noteworthy specialization in this area.
#3 BUas - Breda
University of Applied Sciences
#3 BUas - Breda
University of Applied Sciences
Breda, Netherlands
Breda, Netherlands
6,845 students from 80 countries. 192 students enrolled in the Creative Media and Game Technologies bachelor's program at the beginning of the 2021 academic year
Government-funded higher education institute
Tuition & Fees (2024-2025, EU residents): Bachelor's degree - 12,850 EUR, Master's degree - 2,530 EUR
Founded in 1966 as NHTV, Breda offered its first game design program in 2002, followed by a game programming program in 2008.
The training for the video game industry is well-defined and focused on two high-quality HBO (Higher Professional Education) programs : the Bachelor of Science in International Game Architecture and Design, and the Master in Game Technology. All courses are conducted in English.
ACADEMICS:
Creative Media and Game Technologies / International Game Architecture and Design (Bachelor’s degree)
Game Technology (Master’s degree)
GAME PROTOTYPES:
Sicaria (2024) A third-person stealth game set in Antwerp in 1576, during the Eighty Years' War against Spain.
Hive Dive (2024) A third-person on-rails shooter against swarms of mechanical insects in the futuristic Patagonia of the 2050s.
RECRUITMENT:
The main companies who have hired Breda University of Applied Sciences graduates since 2020 are:
Triumph Studios
Vertigo Games
Climax Studios
Stitch Heads Entertainment
Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio
Hangar 13
Nixxes Software
Traverse Research
These leading recruiters of graduates from BUAS since 2020 include prestigious studios like Massive Entertainment and Hangar 13, known for AAA productions. Triumph Studios and Climax Studios represent strong AA developers, while Stitch Heads Entertainment showcases the creativity of indie game development. Vertigo Games stands out with its expertise in virtual reality. Together, these studios offer diverse opportunities, from groundbreaking AAA titles to innovative indie and VR projects, catering to various graduate skill sets.
The career distribution of BUAS alumni who graduated since 2020 reveals a diverse profile, dominated by creative roles (44%). More than one-third are Game Designers, with a similar proportion represented by Game Artists, reflecting a strong artistic focus. Among the latter, 3D Artists (11%) and Character Artists (7%) are particularly well-represented. Technical roles, such as Game Programmers, also account for a significant portion of graduates (22%).
#4 Rubika
#4 Rubika
Valenciennes, France
Valenciennes, France
900 students on the 17,000 m² campus in Valenciennes
Private school founded in 1988
Tuition fees 2024-2025: 9,450 EUR/year
Created in 2013 from the merger of the Higher Institute of Design (1988), Supinfocom (animation, 1988), and Supinfogame (video games, 2001), Rubika Valenciennes can be described as a "pure player" school. Indeed, all of its programs train students in digital technology, with half of them dedicated to video games and animation.
The school opened a campus in Montreal in 2016, and in La Réunion, and established partnerships with digital vocational schools in Montbeliard (France), Pune (India), Nairobi, (Kenya), and Vietnam. Each year, it trains over 1,300 students in total.
ACADEMICS:
Master Game Design (5 years)
Master Game Art (5 years)
Bachelor Game Programmer (3 years)
STUDENT PROJECTS:
SpellGazer (2024) Narrative adventure and exploration game set in a stunning, mystery-filled medieval ruins environment. Created by a group of 9 students.
A Dual Ascent (2024). Adventure and puzzle game with a poetic style, set in a beautifully dreamy fantasy universe. Created by a group of 9 students.
RECRUITMENT:
Main video game studios that have recruited Rubika alumni since 2020:
Ubisoft Paris Studio
Sloclap
Asobo Studio
QUANTIC DREAM
SuperGaming
UBISOFT IVORY TOWER
Oh BiBi
Bright
Carpool Studio
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The distribution of Rubika alumni in the video game industry since 2020 shows a strong predominance of artistic roles (52%) and design roles (37%). Among Game Artists, the most represented positions are 3D Artists (16%) and Character Artists (8%), reflecting a strong creative specialization. With technical roles accounting for 11%, the overall distribution is well-balanced. This distribution highlights Rubika's strong focus on artistic and creative fields.
#5 ESAT - Escuela Superior de Arte y Tecnología
#5 ESAT - Escuela Superior de Arte y Tecnología
Valencia, Spain
Valencia, Spain
About 100 students are accepted each year from 1,500 applicants
Higher Technical School with university progression, founded in 2005
Tuition fees 2025: Bachelor HND 9,750 euros / year
ESAT is a Higher Technical School with international university progression, specialized in Computer Graphics and Interactive Digital Media studies.
Its main programs are related to the video game industry, and its post-graduate programs are all in the digital field. Three of its degree programs (3 years each) have a specific focus on video games.
ACADEMICS:
HND in Computing Videogames Programming
HND in Computer Game Development
HND in Computer Game Development (Game Design)
Postgraduate Multithreaded Programming
In the final year, students can study in the UK, leading to the UK Higher National Diploma (HND). To this end, ESAT has signed agreements with leading British universities, such as Teesside University.
ESAT provides 70 graduates a year (30 programmers, 30 artists and 10 designers).
STUDENT PROJECTS:
The quality of the more than 30 video games produced by ESAT students since 2016 largely explains the school's position in this ranking.
Katto: Rising Tides (2024). A dynamic 3D platformer with a meticulously crafted environment, set in the ancient, original, and fantastical kingdom of Egatlea. Developed over a nine-month period.
Low Batt (2024). A top-down shooter set in a futuristic industrial environment.
RECRUITMENT:
Main game studios that have recruited ESAT graduates since 2020:
2K
Codigames
Keytoon Animation Studio, S.L.
Abstraction Games B.V. (NL)
Beast Burst Entertainment
The Multiplayer Group (MPG)
Brave Zebra (ES)
Zitro (ES)
The main recruiters of ESAT graduates since 2020 include globally recognized studios such as 2K, known for its AAA productions and industry prestige. Codigames, Keytoon Animation Studio, and Abstraction Games offer exciting opportunities in AA, mobile games, and animation. Beast Burst Entertainment and Brave Zebra provide creative freedom in smaller-scale projects. Additionally, some graduates have joined international studios like The Multiplayer Group, contributing to major productions, reflecting ESAT's reach in diverse sectors of the video game industry.
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In the video game industry, ESAT alumni who graduated since 2020 primarily hold artistic roles (50%). Among them, the most represented positions are 3D Modelers (17%) and 3D Artists (15%).
Technical roles account for one-third of graduates, reflecting a significant technical focus. Game Designer roles are more modestly represented, comprising 17% of positions.
This distribution highlights a balance between creativity and technical expertise, well-suited to the needs of the industry.
#6 – #9 ? >>> rankings available on request <<<
#6 – #9 ? >>> rankings available on request <<<
#10 IIM Digital School- Institut de l'Internet et du Multimédia
#10 IIM Digital School- Institut de l'Internet et du Multimédia
Paris, France
Paris, France
> 2,100 students
Private school
2025-2026 fees (Paris campus): €8,300 for 1st year, €9,500 for 5th year
IIM Digital School is a business school founded in 1995 and located in Nanterre. It offers work-study programs as well as bachelor's, master's, and MBA degrees in digital marketing, e-commerce, web design, web development, and video games.
ACADEMICS :
Bachelor Video Game
Bachelor Digital Project Management (Nantes)
Master Video Game Production and Marketing
Master Game design
Master Game Programming
Master Game Art
MBA Video Game Management
STUDENT PROJECTS :
Dying Sun (2024) A calming surfing game where you play as Hurabi, a young nomad aboard a sailboat powered by solar energy.
Obscura (2024) A first-person investigation game where you play as a medium who solves cold cases by interacting with various elements and performing rituals.
RECRUITMENT :
Major studios that have hired IIM Digital School graduates since 2022:
Ubisoft Paris Studio
QUANTIC DREAM
Focus Entertainment
Virtuos
Ubisoft Montreal
Kylotonn - KT Racing
Microids
Here is the breakdown of roles held by IIM Digital alumni in the video game industry across the last three graduating classes:
🎨 Game Art : 26 %
💻 Game Programmer : 19 %
🎮 Game Designer / Level Designer : 38 %
📢 Producer : 17 %
👉 This positioning highlights a strong specialization in game design, confirming the program’s career-oriented approach.
The artistic track also remains a major career path, while technical and production roles are stabilizing around 18–17%, indicating a well-balanced distribution across different career trajectories.
This snapshot demonstrates how well their training aligns with industry expectations.
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