Different Between Game Design and Game Development

Games Design is more about what the game is and how it plays, while Games Development is about how it functions and is built technically.

Games Design focuses on the creative and conceptual side of game creation. This includes designing game mechanics, levels, narratives, and the player experience. Students in Games Design study how to make games fun, engaging and accessible. They learn about storytelling, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), playtesting, and balancing gameplay. While some light scripting or use of engines like Unity or Unreal may be involved, the emphasis is on design thinking and creative planning rather than technical implementation.

Games Development is more technical and engineering-focused. It involves programming the systems that make a game run. This includes coding gameplay logic, graphics, AI, physics, multiplayer networking, and performance optimisation. Students learn programming languages such as C++ or C#, software engineering principles, and how to work with game engines on a deeper level. The goal is to bring the design concepts to life through robust, efficient, and scalable code.

In practice, games designers and developers work closely together in studios. Designers create and test gameplay ideas, while developers turn them into working systems. Some degree programmes combine both disciplines or allow specialisation in later years.

If you’re more interested in creativity, storytelling and user experience, Games Design may be the better choice. If you enjoy coding, problem-solving and building systems, Games Development might suit you more. Many university courses include elements of both so you can explore your interests before choosing a focus.