Game Design

The program allows you to immerse yourself in the process of inventing the history and rules of the game and unlock your creativity.

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Game Design Education

Game Design is about describing the world within which the game is played. This could be a futuristic first-person shooter or a strategy taking place in the Middle Ages. Game Design defines everything from the story to the game mechanics, i.e. how the player interacts with the world around them.

Depending on the size of the studio or project, game designers can work on major or particular tasks. A major task would be the world design – the game’s backstory, setting and overall end goal.  A more specific task would be the battle design i.e. the ways characters fight and under what conditions they win or lose.

Why choose Game Design?

The overall aim of the Game Design program at ARC Academy is to build the skills and knowledge to create exciting game stories needed to become a successful member of a game studio. The program’s highlight is the final semester when students from all programs (Game Design, Concept Art, 3D Art and Game Programming) come together to create a game prototype with a studio producer. Studying takes place on-site at our campus, with classes mostly on evenings and weekends to suit anyone with a busy schedule.

What you get?

We believe that innovative and practice-oriented education is the foundation for a person’s future professional success. By applying to the Academy, you receive:

Certificate recognized by the game industry

Professional lecturers from game studios

Personalized feedback

Halls equipped with the necessary software and hardware

Working on a real game prototype with a studio producer

Strong Portfolio, ready to be used for job applications

Who is the Game Design program for?

Our Game Design program is suitable for people who have a strong sense of telling a story and a desire to create exciting experiences for players. If you are interested in shaping worlds and defining game mechanics, i.e. how the game is played, this might be the right fit for you. This is a good opportunity for people who are not passionate about visual arts but are willing to pursue a career in the game industry.

Learning Outcomes

By the time you finish this course you should have acquired the following knowledge and skills, which you’ll be able to use right away in your work or add to your resumé:

  • You will master the fundamental principles of game design – from developing game mechanics and progression systems to interface design and game balancing. You will create engaging games that captivate players.
  • You will learn to design and create game levels that offer exciting and challenging experiences. You will refine your skills in designing objects, puzzles, enemies and atmospheres in games.
  • You will master visual programming languages and use tools to easily develop game systems and functions. You will create game scenarios, manage game objects and interact with players.
  • You will work with Unreal Engine and learn how to use its functionality to create interactive game environments.
  • You will gain knowledge of the entire game creation process, from the concept to the realization of a prototype (demo).
  • You will be fully prepared to face the challenges of the industry as a game designer and start a successful career in this field.

What would you study?

Curriculum

The Game Design program at ARC Academy is two years (4 semesters). Within the education, you will acquire knowledge, skills and techniques for working in the field of game design, learning to create the story, mechanics and levels in games.

Select way of study

First semester

Game design is the process of inventing the content and rules of video games. It defines the goals and challenges in a game, through which it builds a connection between the characters and the player. In this course, you will learn different methods that will direct your creativity to develop a working game design.

  • Intro
  • Production
  • Game Design (Intro)

Second semester

During the second semester, you will learn about every aspect of creating content and rules in video games. You will immerse yourself even deeper in game design and some of its sub-disciplines such as:

  • Assistance
  • Soft Skills
  • Game Engines (Intro)
  • Game Design
  • Economy Game Design
  • Level Design

Third semester

During the third semester, you will have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge.

  • Project Structure
  • Game Engines (Advanced)
  • UI/UX Design
  • Game Design (Advanced)
  • Economy Game Design (Advanced)
  • Level Design (Advanced)
  • Visual Scripting

Fourth Semester: Game Lab

The program ends with a practical phase – Game Lab. In it, the students unite in the creation of a real video game, where everyone contributes with the acquired skills and career roles that they seeks to develop. Students with a Game Design profile are at the core of the project, setting the genre and parameters of the game and are involved in creating the mechanics and rules, levels and missions. Working during the Game Lab is like being in an indie studio and allows you to learn through your own experience what the process of developing a video game is.

Lecturers in the program

Our classes are taught by seasoned professionals who are willing to transfer industry know-how to the younger generation. The teaching process is interactive and mostly practice-oriented. That is why lecturers closely follow each student’s progress and provide personalized feedback.

Stefan Vassilev Senior Gameplay Programmer, Bloober Team

Plamen Kokanov Senior Programmer

Evgeny Tenev Lead Game Producer

Alexandre Lainé Studio Lead Game Designer

Ivan Atanasov Game Designer

Radoslav Koynov Staff UX Designer, Fortis Games

Ivan Spassov 3D Artist, Snapshot Games

Nikolay Stanchev Senior Technical Artist, UPP a.s.

Lyubomir Dinekov Lead Level Designer, Mission Director

Rossen Cholakov Lead Game Designer, Snapshot Games

Alexander Nasonov Videogames Producer, iTales VR

The application process

To reach the admission with us, you need to go through the following steps:

Step 1

Application form

The application includes: personal information, your CV and a motivation for studying at the Academy.

Step 2

Personal meeting

It is an opportunity to tell us about yourself and your future desires, for your plans for career and education. During the meeting, the following application documents will be reviewed: portfolio and proof of English.

Step 3

Practical Task

As a final step, you will be given a task with specific conditions, depending on the program you have chosen.

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Foundations in Digital Arts

  • 5 months
  • Preliminary course
  • Distance

This program combines traditional art (anatomy, perspective, composition and color theory) with digital techniques in Adobe Photoshop and Blender. It is an ideal preparation for aspiring artists who want to build a strong foundation before specializing.

Learn more

Tuition fees

Learn more about Fees and funding

On-campus learning (4 semesters)

On-campus

€ 2 400/per semester EU students

€ 2 880/per semester Non-EU students

One-time admission fee: € 350

Distance learning (3 semesters)

Distance

€ 2 880/per semester One-time admission fee: € 350

Contact us to learn more about the possibility of a refund within 1 month after the start of the program.

Learn more about Fees and funding

Alumni stories

Thousands of students have gone through the ARC Academy experience. Here are a few of their stories:

All Stories

Teodor Kalamov

Concept Artist, Haemimont Games

“Our tutors were professionals with experience in the field and they introduced me to the expectations and realities of the industry. I was kind of armed with the knowledge to figure out how to prepare and what to put in my portfolio, which ultimately helped me land a job.”

Mihail Ivanov

2D Concept Designer, Evolution Engineering Bulgaria

“I started working even before I graduated from the Academy, but the professionalism of the lecturers, the advice and knowledge they gave me during the training unlocked in me the desire to develop, learn and improve every day. With this attitude comes self-confidence and confidence in what you do and you show it when you apply for a job position. Everything else is a matter of a lot of work and a little luck.”

All Stories

Game Lab

ARC Academy students complete their studies with a practical project, developing a video game as a team. Each participant contributes with their acquired skills, taking on a role that aligns with their career goals—ranging from designers to 2D and 3D artists. Under the guidance of mentors, they create their first game by following the real workflow of an indie studio. This approach not only enhances their technical and creative abilities but also prepares them for the dynamics of the professional environment.

All projects

Yunache – Game of Class 2024

Candy Chaos – Class of 2024

Actia – Class 2023

Mesozoic Mayhem – Class 2023

Chainer – Class of 2022

CAIM – Class of 2020/2021

All projects

Partners

Apply now and start your gaming and creative career with ARC Academy!

Apply during Early Admission (until March 31) to take advantage of the special opportunities for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Ready to take your education further? Head to our secure application process and submit an application for admission.

More about our Admissions

Got a question?

Book a free consultation with the ARC team

If you’d like more information on the application process, admission requirements or enrollment, feel free to write to us and a team representative will get in touch with you shortly.

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