Game Development BSc (Hons)

You will have the opportunity to participate in game jams, hackathons, and other development competitions, alongside optional events like the uk's major game development conference in brighton. Upon graduation, you will have a compelling portfolio, positioning you well for an exciting career in the games industry. 

Considering the many opportunities offered by the thriving games industry? This course is a great choice for aspiring game developers.

• You will be creating and making games throughout your degree course, experiencing all aspects of game development from the initial design, prototyping and through to production and publishing. You will use industry-standard game engines like Unity and Unreal across various platforms, including PC, mobile, tablet, and the Sony PlayStation 5, using programming languages such as C++ and C#.
• You will also gain expertise in artificial intelligence, generative AI, 3D graphics, multi-player games, and console game development. The course will equip you with the skills to create real-time strategy, puzzle, stealth, first-person, and educational games. Additionally, the course covers essential computer science concepts like requirements analysis and computing systems.
• Please note: this course was formerly known as Computer Games Programming BSc.
• Kingston is second in London for Animation and Game Design (Guardian League Table, 2025).

Reasons to choose Kingston University

• Kingston University is ranked No.2 in London for Animation and Game Design (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
• Graduates from our course have found roles in games companies such as Rebellion, King, Sony, Mediatonic, Mojang, Rare, Rockstar, BossAlien and others
• Kingston is a PlayStation licensed developer, and you will be able to create games for the PlayStation 5.
• In our games inKUbator, you can learn directly from the industry via our regular programme of talks and activities. Speakers have been from Sony, Splash Damage, Rebellion, Minecraft, Aardvark Swift, Interactive Selection, CryTek and Unity.

Year 1

• In Year 1 you will be introduced to the fundamentals of game development, including programming skills and the prototyping of new game ideas. Specialist modules guide you through the 2D game development in C++ and 3D games prototyping together with the science that underpins it. You will also broaden your knowledge in computing, including requirements analysis and design.

Core modules

Programming I: Thinking Like a Programmer

• Game Science
• Games Programming
• Requirements Analysis and Design for Games Programming

Year 2

• In Year 2 you will create games using engines such as Unity and Unreal. You will have the opportunity to further develop your C++, C# and 3D graphics and shader programming knowledge. You will learn how to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) in your games including for real time strategy, racing and combat games as well as more serious and educational games. Underpinning this will be computer science concepts such as computing systems, parallel processing and new topics such as artificial intelligence and neural networks.

Core modules

• Computing Systems
• 3D Graphics Programming and Artificial Intelligence
• Professional Game Development Environments

Optional modules

• Introductory Digital Media and Computer Generated Imagery
• Multimedia Authoring and Design
• Optional professional placement year

Year 3/4

• In Year 3 you use agile team-work to develop a game in a multidisciplinary team from initial concept to the publishing stage with the aim of releasing the finished product on platforms such as the Google Play Store or itch.io. You will also develop skills in real-time console and multiplayer game development as well as rapid prototyping making use of generative artificial intelligence. In addition to the capstone project, which has a games theme, you may choose from a range of option modules.

Core modules

• Multiplayer and Game Console Programming
• Individual Project
• Game and Media Creation Processes
• Optional modules
• Modelling and Animation
• Mobile Application Development
• Digital Entrepreneurship

Please note

• Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Foundation year

• If you would like to study computing at Kingston University but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen degree.

Future Skills
Knowledge to give you the edge

• Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.
• As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.