Game Development BA(Hons) (Online)

You’ll explore what makes games work, from the ideas and theories behind play, to the tools and teamwork that bring them to life. You’ll learn how to design and balance systems, manage projects in collaborative teams and build playable prototypes that connect mechanics, story and player experience. 

Understanding Games 

Games are one of the dominant cultural products of our time. They shape how we interact, tell stories and experience entertainment, blending technology, creativity, and social dynamics in new ways. 

In this module, you’ll explore the theoretical and critical discourse relating to the mechanics, aesthetics and narrative of games.  

Game Tools & Technologies 

Games are created through a production pipeline that brings together every element of the finished digital artifact, from code and art to audio, narrative and animation.  

In this module, you’ll use a modern game engine such as Unity or Unreal to explore each stage of that process and understand how these elements combine to form a playable experience. You’ll also develop a working knowledge of essential production tools, including version control, to help you collaborate effectively in a professional development environment. 

Game Systems & Mechanics 

The interplay between game mechanics and systems forms the foundation of every engaging player experience.  

In this module, you’ll create small prototypes to explore how these elements interact and influence player behaviour. You’ll also examine the player experience in detail, learning how to design systems that shape emotion, challenge and enjoyment. 

Introduction to Teamwork 

Games are created by multidisciplinary teams, and it’s rare for a single person to make one alone.  

In this module, you’ll learn the project management techniques used across the games industry by taking part in a series of short, fast-paced projects inspired by game jam practices. After each project, you’ll reflect on your process, evaluate what worked well, and apply those insights to your next piece of work. 

Narrative Design  

A narrative has the potential to capture players' imagination and live beyond the confines of its digital form.  

In this module, you will build on your experiences in ‘Systems & Mechanics’ and to layer in a narrative context to designed systems, and ground them in a constructed reality. 

Building on your growing expertise, you’ll take on your first large-scale game project, creating a world, developing a playable prototype and refining it into a polished vertical slice.  

You’ll explore how narrative, environment design and player experience shape meaningful gameplay, using formal playtesting to guide your decisions and improve your work. 

User Interface & Experience Design  

Game systems are built from many interconnected variables. To create a balanced, challenging and engaging experience, you need to understand how these systems interact and how to adjust them effectively. In this module, you’ll build on what you learned in ‘Game Systems & Mechanics’ to explore the art of balancing gameplay.  

You’ll also discover how user experience design helps players read and understand these systems, making your games more intuitive and rewarding to play. 

Collaboration 

You’ll explore what effective collaboration looks like and build the soft skills that support it, including communication, negotiation and reflective practice. Through lectures, webinars and creative skills exchange sessions, you’ll learn how groups work, how to contribute confidently and how to apply reflection to your own development. 

You’ll then join a team of creatives from different online courses and respond to a set challenge based on a real problem. Together you’ll research, plan and create a final output in a format that suits your project.  

The Player Experience 

Up to this point, you’ve been making decisions based on intuition or trial and error. In this module, you’ll learn formal methods of playtesting that will help you make informed choices throughout the development process. 

Game Production 

In this module, you’ll begin your first large-scale game project. You’ll start by building a world to guide your creative and technical decisions, applying techniques from ‘Introduction to Teamwork’ and ‘Game Tools & Techniques’. 

You’ll follow the production process established in earlier modules, reflecting on your own and your group’s decisions to refine your practice. 

Level Design 

Spaces in video games are designed with intent. This can include guiding the player, helping them learn the game’s mechanics and systems, exploring a narrative, or providing space for conflict.  

In this module, you’ll apply lessons from architecture to build virtual environments that engage and challenge players. 

In your final year, you’ll apply your skills to briefs that reflect real industry practice, explore how game development extends beyond games, and build a professional portfolio.  

You will develop commercial awareness by pitching a prototype in ways that reflect how studios speak to investors. You will then take your major project from concept to completion using production methods that mirror industry practice. 

Transferability 

Games development techniques and tools are increasingly being used outside the games industry, in fields such as film, visualisation, health, education and business services.  

In this module, you’ll explore how your game development skillset can be applied in real-world contexts. You’ll do this by working on live briefs from non-games clients, such as charities or researchers, and by exploring these topics through a problem-based learning approach. 

Professional Portfolio 

To make the transition from education to industry, you’ll develop your professional identity alongside a portfolio of work.  

In this module, you’ll use a continuous professional development approach to assess your current skillset and career goals. You’ll then create a development plan and build a portfolio that showcases your progress. 

Major Project: Prototyping 

In this module, you’ll develop your commercial awareness and entrepreneurial mindset in response to opportunities within the digital economy, with a particular focus on the creative industries. This can include, but is not limited to, games or immersive experiences. 

You’ll begin by critically evaluating market opportunities, exploring how businesses operate, and comparing how intellectual property can be managed through granted rights, contracts, trade secrets and incorporation.  

Contexts will vary, but may include products and services across a wide range of digital sectors. You’ll then develop a prototype of your chosen product or service before delivering an investor-style pitch. 

Major Project: Production 

In this module, you’ll continue your project from Major Project: Prototyping.  

The goal is to deliver your product to market, applying the production methodologies learned in previous stages. You’ll use the lessons gained throughout the course to anticipate challenges, refine your approach and complete your final piece of work. 

Games & Culture 

Games are now one of the most influential cultural forms, shaping how people create, communicate and share stories. Their reach is wide and they deserve to be studied with the same care we give to film, art or literature. 

This module builds on the cultural grounding you developed in your first year and gives you space to look outward. It helps you connect your own interests with the bigger picture of contemporary video games. 

You will explore how games affect players and society, examine the ideas and communities that surround them, and grow a more confident sense of where your work sits within today’s fast moving games culture. 

On this accelerated degree you'll learn through a blend of recorded learning content, learning activities, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, see course announcements and access extensive learning resources. 

What support will I have? 

You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly learning activities and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, a dedicated Student Advisor team will be on hand to help. You'll also have access to Falmouth University's Employability Service. 

What will my study hours be? 

Based on the total learning time for the accelerated online courses, an average study week for part-time students can be up to 33 hours. As our online courses are intended to be flexible the actual time required to study will vary based on the level of study, the module week, and individual learning pace. 

What does accelerated study mean? 

An accelerated degree condenses your degree modules into three years on the part-time route. This means you'll be working across three study blocks per year, instead of two, including through the summer. Typically, there is a break of around two weeks between submitting your final assignment for each module and the start of the next study block. You will also get breaks on public holidays, for around two weeks at Easter and for around three weeks in December. 

Find out more about learning online 

Assessment methods 

Assessments are 100% coursework, submitted in an electronic format to the virtual learning environment, and designed to reflect professional practice. Assessment methods include: 

• Projects 
• Portfolios 
• Pitches 
• Reports 
• Essays 

Assessment provides the course team with a means of offering tailored guidance alongside advice on how to progress your knowledge and skills in key areas. The course team will support you throughout your time on the course; helping address your academic strengths and weaknesses. 

• Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE)
• Accessible online audio / visual content
• A Student Advisor to support you throughout your studies and access to our Student Support Services
• Access to our Employability Service
• 24/7 access to Falmouth's extensive online library of contextual books, journals and resources
• Access to online software tutorials at LinkedIn Learning
• Students' Union community
• Optional in-person events
• Invitation to attend alumni events

Although online students don't have access to on-campus facilities as part of the course, you can hire equipment and access facilities by paying a charge. Find out more about availability and prices here.

Rough price range: £1,300-£1,500  

Processor: 14th gen Intel Core i5-14600KF or AMD Ryzen 5 7600X / 7700  

Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 4070 or AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT  

Memory: 16GB - 32GB DDDR4/DDR5  

Main Storage: 1TB or higher m.2 nvme storage  

Secondary Storage: 1TB or higher SSD storage  

Operating System: Windows 11  

Webcam Example: Logitech C270 HD Webcam (£19.99)  
Headset Example: Razer Kraken X Lite Ultralight Gaming Headset (£29.99)  

Rough price range: £1,500-£,1800  

Processor: 14th gen Intel Core i9-14900HX or AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D  

Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 4070 / NVIDIA GeForce 4080  

Memory: 16GB - 32GB DDDR4/DDR5  

Main Storage: 1TB or higher m.2 nvme storage  

Operating System: Windows 11  

Headset Example: Razer Kraken X Lite Ultralight Gaming Headset (£29.99)