VIDEO GAME SCHOOLS

2023 WORLD RANKINGs

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? 

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.

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The most comprehensive ranking of game schools in the world based on postgraduate career placement. We analyze the game industry around the world and identify the best schools through academics and alumni careers.

ASIA

(coming soon)

AFRICA

(coming soon)

OCEANIA

(coming soon)

☆ 2023 WORLD RANKING ☆

TOP 5 BEST VIDEO GAME SCHOOLS 

based on career placement and student projects

which studios recruit the most ENTRY-LEVEL CANDIDATES?

Here are our studio rankings, by continent and country, based on graduate recruitment:


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, including 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

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, and even innovation, as well as 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 ?

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 started offering game courses and degree programs. 

VIDEO GAME PROFESSIONS ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING:

The video game industry's evolution and gamers' new practices constantly intersect with other sectors, giving rise to new professions: 

 Discover these new jobs > (work in progress)

☆ 2023 OVERVIEW OF THE TOP 5 GAME SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE ☆ 

#1 DigiPen
Institute of Technology 

Redmond, Washington, USA

DigiPen Institute of Technology was the first school to offer a video game programming training program in 1994, with the support of Nintendo Co., Ltd. In 1998, the Institute opened a campus in Redmond, WA, in partnership with Nintendo Software Technology, a video game developer. Almost all of its programs are closely related to video games, making it the most specialized American institution in this field.

Originally, DigiPen focused primarily on computer engineering and programming, but over the past decade, it has expanded to include game art and 3D animation. The Bachelor's program in Digital Art and Animation focuses on artistic creation in video game and animation production pipelines.

The Institute opened a campus in Singapore in 2008 and in Bilbao, Spain, in 2011.

ACADEMICS: 

Video game programs fall into five categories:

STUDENT PROJECTS:

Cyrah's Ascent (2022). 3D action third-person combat game. An immersive game with stunning environments and polished graphics.


Sorcerer Standoff (2022) A magical third-person duel game with intricate gameplay and a diverse range of meticulously crafted environments.


》see the complete USA ranking《

RECRUITMENT:

 

 Top companies that have hired alumni from DigiPen Institute of Technology who graduated between 2018 and 2022:



Unsurprisingly, all of these studios have excellent reputations, especially Nintendo, Microsoft, and Ubisoft. But even smaller-sized studios like IllFonic, Kooapps, and PlayEveryWare, which mainly produce AA games or games for mobile, are important players in the video game industry. 

The profile of these top employers reflects DigiPen Institute of Technology's ability to provide the necessary education to succeed in this industry and create high-quality games.


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The distribution of graduates from DigiPen Institute who entered the video game industry since 2018 shows a slight predominance of artistic roles (34%) over technical roles (33%), with Game Designers (28%) being prominent as well. The proportion of Audio Designers (5%) is particularly high compared to graduates from other schools. 

There is also a strong representation of 3D modeling fields, with 12% consisting of 3D Artists, Generalists, and Modelers.


This distribution reflects the industry's needs and market trends in the video game industry since 2018, as well as the academic profile of the school, which is remarkably well-balanced between technical, artistic, and design disciplines.

#2 isart digital 

Paris, France

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 PROTOTYPES:

The students of Isart Digital produce numerous game projects that showcase excellent mastery of animation and demonstrate high visual quality.

Air Splitter (2022). A high-speed racing game featuring flying vehicles amidst the towers of a futuristic and airborne city. It presents a perfectly executed innovative concept and boasts sumptuous graphical polish.


Twin Cores (2022) A visually stunning space combat game involving synchronized drones.

》see the complete FRANCE ranking《


RECRUITMENT:

Main companies who have hired ISART Digital graduates since 2018: 



These primary recruiters mainly produce AAA games. Ubisoft is the largest, followed by DON'T NOD, Amplitude Studios, and Quantic Dream. Each operates in different genres but all demand a very high level of design and polish from their collaborators. And Virtuos is a provider of development and optimization assistance for major studios.

In the intermediate range, Microids (A-level and mobile games) and Fortiche Production (focused on 2D/3D mixed media animation but working in partnership with game studios) also offer interesting opportunities on diverse projects with greater creative freedom.

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Since 2018, graduates from Isart Digital who were recruited in the gaming industry have shown a balanced distribution among different specialties. While design roles dominate with 39% being Game Designers, artistic (25%) and technical (26%) roles are equally represented. Within the artistic functions, the most prominent positions are Game Artists (8%) and 3D Artists (7%).

The school also provides a high proportion of Audio Designers compared to other institutions.

#3 BUas - Breda
University of Applied Sciences

Breda, Netherlands

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:


GAME PROTOTYPES:

Dune Strider (2022). Adventure and strategy game with an original concept of ships navigating through a mystical desert, accompanied by exquisitely designed and visually stunning landscapes.


Remnants in the Sand (2022). Adventure game set in a distant and ancient city in ruins. A high-quality project with polished gameplay and breathtaking visuals.

RECRUITMENT:

The main companies who have hired Breda University of Applied Sciences graduates since 2018 are:


The profiles of these main recruiters vary, ranging from prestigious studios (Massive Entertainment, Guerrilla Games) to indie studios (Stitch Heads Entertainment, Studio Red) and studios specializing in VR (Vertigo, StickyLock). However, they all share a common trait: they develop and publish high-quality games that demand substantial production resources and cater to an audience of gaming enthusiasts. Furthermore, they all offer fulfilling opportunities for aspiring professionals to kickstart their careers.


The distribution of graduates from Breda University who have entered the gaming industry since 2018 shows a well-balanced career profile. 37% of graduates are Game Designers, 29% hold technical positions, and 35% are Game Artists, which is a significantly high proportion compared to other schools. Among these, the 3D Artists (14%), Character Artists (7%), and Game Artists (5%) are particularly well-represented.

This distribution not only aligns with the industry's needs but also reflects the school's ability to train competent professionals in all disciplines..

#4 Rubika

  Valenciennes, France

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, Canada, in 2016 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: 


STUDENT PROJECTS:

Rubika Valenciennes students have developed very successful games during their studies, often comparable to those produced by professional studios, and have received regular awards in various competitions such as GDWC (Game Development World Championship), Ping Awards, Unity Awards, Imagine Cup...

The school has released more than 60 student game projects since 2019, demonstrating impressive talent and mastery level.


The Fowler (2022). A narrative game of musical combat inspired by JRPGs and set in a stunning medieval setting. The concept is original and executed with great mastery of character design and animation.


Escape Abstraction (2022) This puzzle game offers a stunning immersion inside abstract art paintings that deconstruct into volumes to be reassembled in order to find the exit of the museum.

RECRUITMENT:

Main video game studios that have recruited Rubika alumni since 2018: 


These studios are all of high quality and offer a wide range of career opportunities in the gaming industry. Prestigious studios like Ubisoft and Asobo Studio, known for producing AAA games, have accounted for nearly half of the recruitment of Rubika graduates since 2018. Sloclap and Don't Nod, developers of high-quality AA games, have accounted for nearly a quarter. 

In different genres, Zynga (a major mobile and hypercasual games studio) and Fireplace Games (a young indie studio) also provide excellent opportunities to apply talents and creativity.

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Graduates from Rubika Valenciennes recruited since 2018 in the field of video game industry have primarily chosen design roles, with a high percentage of Game Designers (61%). 

For the rest, the artistic (21%) and technical (18%) roles are remarkably balanced and among the Game Artists, the predominant professions are 3D Artists (6%) and Character Artists (4%). 

The school also provides a significant portion of Audio Designers.

#5 THE University of utah

 Salt Lake City, USA

The University of Utah created its first video game training program in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Entertainment Arts & Engineering (EAE), followed in 2010 by a Master's degree in Computer Science including video games, which in 2013 became a Master's degree in Entertainment Arts & Engineering focusing specifically on video game design. A Bachelor in Game was added in 2017.

ACADEMICS:


STUDENT PROJECTS:

Sword of Atlas (2022). Tactical RPG combining fast-paced real-time strategy with grid-based combat.


Splinters of Regret (2022). Action game with bullet hell elements and atmospheric aesthetics. A true visual success.

》see the complete USA ranking《

RECRUITMENT:

The primary studios that have hired University of Utah graduates since 2018 are:


These major recruiters of recent University of Utah graduates are all globally renowned studios making substantial investments in their games. In this list, Epic Games and Respawn Entertainment can be placed at the top for the sophistication of their AAA productions. 

While Blizzard Entertainment and Riot Games develop AA and mobile games, they are significant studios offering great career opportunities.

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The distribution within the video game industry of University of Utah alumni who graduated since 2018 is well-balanced as all functions are represented, with a strong emphasis on artistic roles (48%). Within this category, the predominant positions are 3D Artists (14%) and Visual Effects Artists (9%). The percentage of Audio Designers (5%) is also one of the highest observed in our various rankings for 2023.