From beginners looking to learn the basics of video game development to experienced game designers seeking inspiration for their next project, there is a YouTube channel to suit every level of expertise. Whether you’re interested in indie game development, level design, finding a job in the game industry, or the overall game dev process, these channels cover a wide range of topics. Best of all, many of these channels are created by professional game designers. So, if you’re looking to make games or simply want to immerse yourself in the world of game design, let’s explore some of the best YouTube channels for game developers.
With a plethora of YouTube channels dedicated to game design, game development, and all things related to video games, creators are sharing their knowledge and experience in ways that were previously unimaginable. These channels offer insightful tutorials, behind-the-scenes looks at game design processes, interviews with game developers, and much more.
Cain On Games
Best for: insights from the games industry
Cain On Games is a YouTube channel hosted by original Fallout creator Tim Cain. Tim provides unique insights as he lifts the lid on what it’s like to work in the video gaming industry. With stories from his time designing games, including the Outer Worlds and the original Fallout. He shares candid stories about the difficulties of game development, the challenges of creating immersive worlds and realistic characters, and the creative process behind designing iconic gaming moments.
Cain also discusses the business side of the gaming industry, explaining the complexities of funding and studio politics. With decades of experience in the industry, Cain offers invaluable advice for aspiring game developers but also for gamers interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at how their favourite games were made.
Whether you’re an avid RPG gamer, an aspiring developer, or just curious about the world of video games, there’s something for everyone to uncover in Cain On Games.
Find out more and subscribe to Cain On Games.
GMTK – Game Maker’s Toolkit
Best for: analysis of the design and mechanics of popular video games
When it comes to game design YouTube channels, Game Maker’s Toolkit, GMTK, is one of the best. Hosted by game journalist Mark Brown, GMTK is a treasure trove of insights into game design. The channel mainly focuses on analyzing game design, breaking it down to its most basic principles, and then explaining it in a way that is accessible to everyone. Brown often discusses the various factors that go into making a game great, like level design, mechanics, story, etc.
Their series “Boss Keys” is another highlight, where they analyze and discuss the level design of popular games like The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls. They also regularly produce videos known as “Design Icons,” where they look at iconic elements in games and discuss why they’re effective or innovative.
One of the best things about GMTK is the Game Jam that it organizes. In this, game developers are given a specific theme and limited time to design a game. It’s a great way for beginners to get some experience and for everyone to learn from other’s work.
Find out more and subscribe to GMTK.
York Reacts
Best for: insider secrets from a former Rockstar Games Developer
York Reacts is brought to you by Mike York, a former rockstar Games Developer who previously worked on GTA5 and Read Dead Redemption 2. York is a video games animator who has spent most of his career working for studios making AAA games. With this experience, he is able to break down game trailers and give you the inside scoop on how the magic happens, including the much anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6.
Cehckout the channle here: York Reacts.
Code Monkey
Best for: beginner and intermediate Unity tutorials from a successful indie game developer
The Code Monkey YouTube channel is an excellent resource if you’re looking to learn game development. Code Monkey’s tutorials break down game mechanics into manageable steps, allowing beginner and intermediate devs to make complex games. Additionally, you’ll find that the videos have high production value and are clear and easy to follow.
Find out more and subscribe to Code Monkey.
Brackeys
Best for: beginner unity tutorials
Brackeys is one of this list’s most popular game design and development channels. Brackies Unity game engine tutorials have exceptional production quality and are easy to follow for beginners. Although Brackeys no longer produces new tutorials, its content is still relevant and has a large active Discord community.
Brackeys was founded by Asbjørn Thirslund, a Danish developer who had a passion for teaching game development. The main focus of the channel was educating the audience on the Unity game engine. The tutorials covered a wide range of topics, including basic game mechanics, advanced coding and using various tools within the Unity editor.
Besides Unity game development, the channel also features tutorials on C# programming, Blender, and Illustrator.
These tutorials are still invaluable resources for anyone interested in game design, irrespective of the experience level.
Find out more and subscribe to Brckeys.
AI and Games
Best for: learning how the AI in your favourite games works
As the name suggests, the AI and Games YouTube channel explores the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in popular games. The channel’s host, Dr. Tommy Thompson, is a computer scientist specialising in game technology. He delves into the intricacies of how game programmers implement and use artificial intelligence in their games to enhance the gaming experience.
The channel aims to educate and explain complex technical topics in a viewer-friendly manner. You’ll find everything from in-depth breakdowns of AI in blockbuster games, including “The Last of Us,” “F.E.A.R,” and “Left 4 Dead,” to a broader analysis of AI trends and techniques in the gaming industry.
If you are interested in how your favourite games work behind the scenes or are a game programmer looking for insight into AI, this channel is a must-watch.
Find out more and subscribe to AI and Games.
Design Doc
Best for: deep dives into the game design, UX design and interface design of well-known games
The Design Doc YouTube channel produces deep dives into the game design, UX design and interface design of well-known games. Through their comprehensive analysis, they dissect elements such as mechanics, aesthetics, and narratives to see how they all come together to create immersive gaming experiences.
Using popular games as examples, Design Doc illuminates the reasons why some games become successful while others fail, mainly focusing on the design perspective. The channel can be a learning resource for aspiring game designers to understand the nuances of game design and how each element can impact the player experience.
Design Doc is perfect for those who want to know the magic behind their favourite games and for those striving to create the next big hit game.
Find out more and subscribe to Design Doc.
GDC – Game Developers Conference
Best for: insightful and thought-provoking talks from veterans of the video games industry
The GDC YouTube channel hosts hundreds of talks from the annual Game Developers Conference, GDC for short. The talks are presented by video game industry insiders, including the likes of Peter Monenux, Warren Spector, and Hideo Kojima, to name but a few. The GDC talks are on a range of topics, including game design, programming, art, business management, and even diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry. Some of my personal favourites cover writing for games, such as narrative design and world-building.
The aim of GDC is to inform, inspire, and encourage creativity and innovation within gaming. Apart from providing practical knowledge and insights into game development, these talks also delve into the challenges faced by the industry and the evolving landscape of video games. The speakers often discuss their own experiences, projects, and achievements, which can be highly instructive for up-and-coming game developers or those already in the profession.
Overall, the GDC YouTube channel offers a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in learning more about the video gaming industry, from the technical aspects of game creation to philosophical discussions on the purpose and impact of video games in society.
Find out more and subscribe to the GDC YouTube channel.
Sykoo
Best for: learning level design and lighting
Sykoo is hosted by Sam, a game maker who is a master of level design and lighting. His tutorials are suited to beginners yet will help you learn how to achieve a professional quality result. Sam previously worked for Unity, and while most of his tutorials are in the Unity engine, they teach concepts and tips that apply to whatever game engine you choose.
Find out more and subscribe to Sykoo.
Jason Weimann
Best for: more advanced game programming tutorials in Unity
Jason Weimann is a professional games programmer who specialises in working with Unity. Jason’s YouTube channel is full of detailed tutorials game development tutorials, as well as countless interviews with industry insiders. There really is something for everyone.
Find out more and subscribe to Jason Weimann.
Trent Kaniuga
Best for: aspiring game concept artists
Trent Kaniuga is a video game concept artist who shares his knowledge and insights from working as a game artist. On Trent’s channel, you will find tutorials and discussions of industry trends and behind-the-scenes processes. He routinely shares his techniques in conceptual design, digital painting, and character creation.
Whether you are an aspiring game concept artist or simply interested in the world of video game design, Trent Kaniuga’s YouTube channel is an epic resource.
Find out more and subscribe to Trent Kaniuga.
Lost Relic Games
Best for: insights on current events in the games industry from an indie developers perspective
Lost Relic Games is hosted by John Stejskal, an indie developer currently working on a 2D side-scrolling game called Blood And Mead. The Lost Relic Games channel mostly focuses on providing quality game development tutorials, with a few dev logs and insights on current events in the gaming industry.
Find out more and subscribe to Lost Relic Games.
Dani
Best for: making game development fun (also milk)
Dani’s YouTube channel focuses on producing videos exploring fun game development projects he’s built, such as a clone of Among Us, but in 3D, or turning a Banana into a game controller! Game development is supposed to be fun! But sometimes, we forget that when we’re neck-deep in game code. When it comes to an example of a game developer who doesn’t take things too seriously, you can’t go far wrong with Dani.
Note: Dani is currently on a hiatus from uploading new videos; it’s believed this is while he works on his game Karlson – the most whishlisted game in the history of Steam. His community is awaiting his return, but you can catchup on all his older content in the meantime.
Find out more and subscribe to Dani.
Wannibe Manisha
Best for: inspirational game dev tutorials
Wannibe Manisha is hosted by Manisha, a software engineer and passionate game dev hobbyist. Manisha is known for her creativity, high-quality videos, and collaborations with friends, fellow developers, and her sister Adisha. Manisha’s videos have a unique, engaging style, full of creativity and inspiration. Manisha has established a notable presence in the indie gaming field, even speaking at industry events like the San Francisco GDC alongside Jason Weimann.
Find out more and subscribe to Wannibe Manisha.
Samyam
Best for: creative game development challenges
Samyam is hosted by Sam, a content creator who makes tutorials and documents her adventures with interesting game development challenges. The presentation style of Sam’s videos is fun and dynamic, with a good sense of humour.
One unique aspect of Samyam is Sam’s inclusion of her own learning experiences and challenges. She doesn’t shy away from sharing her mistakes and failures, using them as teaching moments. This openness adds an extra layer of authenticity and relatability to her content. Sam’s passion for game development shines through in every video, and her enthusiasm is contagious.
Find out more and subscribe to Samyam.
Sebastian Lague
Best for: inspirational coding adventures
Sebastian Lague is a software developer who makes videos that document creating interesting things out of code. In his series called Coding Adventures, Sabastian takes us on his journey of creating realistic clouds, a simulation of an ecosystem, and portals you can see through – to name but a few.
Find out more and subscribe to Sebastian Lague.
Thin Matrix
Best for: unique relaxing devlogs
If you enjoy watching relaxing devlogs, Thin Matrix is for you. Created by Karl, an indie game developer, Thin Matrix is a series of unique dev logs that cover the development of the nature simulation game Equilinox and a work-in-progress farming game called “Homegrown”.
One of the unique aspects of the project is that the games are made using a custom game engine built with OpenGL and Java – the development of which is also documented on the channel.
Another key aspect that makes Thin Matrix so unique and watchable is how the dev logs focus on enjoying a healthy lifestyle. You’ll often see Karl preparing vegetarian meals, caring for house plants, or walking in the nearby park with his dog. All to the tune of very chill instrumental music from Equilinox.
Find out more and subscribe to Thin Matrix.
Mix and Jam
Best for: learning how to recreate game mechanics from AAA games
Mix and Jam is hosted by Andre, a game creator who Unity Technologies hired based on the strength of his YouTube channel – it’s that good! Andre focuses on a single game mechanic from a popular game, such as the axe throw from God of War, and then he recreates it. The tutorials on this channel are exceptionally polished and interesting to watch and learn from.
Find out more and subscribe to Mix and Jam.
Snoman Gaming
Best for: game design breakdowns of popular titles
Snoman Gaming is a channel focused on exploring the design of many popular PC and mobile games to work out what makes them tick. From indie gems to AAA titles, Snoman Gaming provides deep analysis of various aspects of game design, mechanics, storytelling and art style.
Find out more and subscribe to Snoman Gaming.
Game Dev Guide
Best for: learning how to build scalable tools and systems in Unity
The channel is Hosted by Matt Gambell, an independent Game Developer (and former evangelist for Unity Technologies). Game Dev Guide videos offer easy-to-digest tips, tricks and tutorials using professional experience within a wide variety of game development topics.
With an entertaining presentation style and an engineering-focused approach to problem-solving, Game Dev Guide offers scalable solutions to your everyday development problems without wasting your time.
Find out more and subscribe to the Game Dev Guide.
Ask Gamedev
Best for: finding answers to meaty game development questions
Ask Gamedev is dedicated to making videos on the topics of how to make video games and the wider industry. Each video covers a specific topic based on a question from their community. Past videos have included how to become a game designer and how much money do indie games make. The team behind Ask Gamedev is made up of industry veterans who always do their best to answer these questions in a helpful and friendly way.
This channel is for you if you’re a beginner game developer or simply curious about games.
Find out more and subscribe to Ask Gamedev.
Makin’ Stuff Look Good
Best for: learning about shaders
Makin’ Stuff Look Good is one of the best game development channels for learning about shaders and how to create them. It is not just about creating fancy visual effects but also improving game performance. The channel owner, Dan Moran, does an amazing job of breaking complex concepts down into easy-to-understand content.
Find out more and subscribe to Makin’ Stuff Look Good.
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