what is game development?
Game development is the process of designing, building, and releasing a video game. you need a unique set of coding, problem solving, and creative thinking skills.
games can be created by one person or literally hundreds of developers.
You are reading: Books for game development
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tldr: best game development books🔥 best overall 🔥game programming patterns💸 best value 💸invent your own computer games with python💥 best for newbies 💥level up! the guide to great video game design🎖️ honorable mention 🎖️blood, sweat, and pixels
best game development books
1. game programming patterns
With an average rating of 5 stars, Game Programming Patterns is one of the best game development books on the market.
↘️ ideal for: experienced game programmers↘️ topics covered: game loops, patterns
Game Programming Patterns is a cookbook of classic design patterns that you can use to maximize the performance of your game. In addition to learning how to write solid game loops, you’ll be able to:
- organize entities using components
- use cpu caching to improve performance
- learn how scripting engines code behavior
and more.
game programming patterns contain a collection of proven patterns to optimize your games.
2. invent your own computer games with python
invent your own computer games with python is one of the best game development books for absolute beginners.
↘️ Ideal for: newbies to programming↘️ Topics covered: programming, math, game building
invent your own computer games with python takes a hands-on approach to game creation. you’ll work on tons of games including:
- hangman
- guess the number
- three in a row
then you’ll work on more advanced games, such as a text-based treasure hunt game and an animated collision avoidance game with sound effects. 🏎️
invent your own computer games with python teaches you how to create games while learning the fundamentals of python programming and math.
what game developers are saying about this book
this book is a wonderful dive into both python and game development…
🔥 Geena’s no starch press hot take turns out nothing but hits, including invent your own computer games with python. We love them and they can’t go wrong! If you are a programming newbie who wants to learn how to create games, get this book. get this book. You’ll learn the fundamentals of programming and math, all while building tons of fun and familiar games that you can immediately show off to your friends.
3. level up! the guide to great game design
level up! is one of the best game development books out there, and its price is nothing for the price of a game controller. 🎮
↘️ Ideal For: Game Developers↘️ Topics Covered: Monetization, Mobile Games, Development
In Level Up!, you’ll explore how to develop marketable game ideas. In addition, you will discover frequent errors during the pre-production, production and post-production of a game. then you’ll find a host of creative ideas including:
- learn how to design exciting levels and twisted enemies
- create games for mobile and consoles
- monetize your games
- write effective design documents
and beyond.
level up! offers professional designer advice from pac man world, maximo and spongebob squarepants.
4. blood, sweat and pixels: the triumphant and turbulent stories behind how video games are made
Blood, Sweat and Pixels is one of the best game development books that conveys wild stories about how some video games are made.
↘️ ideal for: game developers of all levels↘️ topics covered: challenges, demands of the market, technical impossibilities
Blood, Sweat and Pixels chronicles various game development stories featuring some of the most popular games in the industry:
- dragon age: inquisition
- stardew valley
- destiny
- diablo iii
and more.
You will read heartbreaking stories of overworked game developers. you will discover a wall of artistic challenges and technical impossibilities. and you’ll learn how these developers overcame these obstacles to bring you perfectly packaged, fully functional masterpieces.
Blood, sweat and pixels take you on a hellish journey of traps, challenges and mishaps from some of the biggest games in the industry.
what game developers say about blood, sweat and pixels
…a great look at the creative mayhem that produced some of the biggest video game hits to date, including diablo iii, stardew valley, and the witcher.
5. game engine architecture, 3rd edition
game engine architecture is one of the best game development books that explains the technologies and techniques used in aaa game studios.
↘️ Ideal for: new and experienced game developers↘️ Topics covered: technologies, techniques
Game Engine Architecture is a comprehensive beginner’s guide to the theory and practice of game engine software development. Author Jason Gregory draws on his decades of experience at companies like Midway, Electronic Arts, and Naughty Dog.
You will start by learning technologies and techniques used by AAA game studios. then it will get under the hood and examine:
- compiler optimizations
- c++ language standardization
- 2d user interfaces
- computer hardware and cpu and memory caches
and much more.
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Although geared towards beginners, the game engine architecture also contains content for experienced engineers.
6. Game Design Workshop: A Game-Centric Approach to Creating Innovative Games, 4th Edition
game design workshop is one of the best game development books for newbies with no programming experience.
↘️ ideal for: game development novices with no programming experience↘️ topics covered: creative process , accessible guide
the
game design workshop does not assume any previous experience in programming or art. Inside these beginner pages, you’ll find a non-technical approach to learning how to design games.
As you learn about the creative process with a clear and accessible guide, you’ll find:
- examples of popular games
- design techniques
- exercises
and more.
Understanding how game systems work, you’ll gain the skills and tools to create engaging games.
The game design workshop uses a playful approach to create clever games.
7. the art of game design: a lens book, 3rd edition
↘️ Ideal for: game designers of all levels↘️ Topics covered: fundamentals of different types of games
the art of game design was written by jesse schell, who has worked on games like:
- pirates of the caribbean online
- pixie hollow
- toontown online
With over 100 questions, you will discover different ways or approaches to look at game development. Starting with the deeper fundamentals of game development, you’ll learn how different tactics (board, cards, athletic games) also work in video game production.
The art of game design is meant to give you different perspectives that you can apply to your own game development.
what game developers are saying about the art of game design
If you’re new to game development, this book is an amazing guide. it’s like having an instructor at hand…
8. unity game development cookbook: essentials for every game
the unity game development cookbook is one of the best game development books for learning unity.
↘️ Ideal for: beginning and intermediate unity developers↘️ topics covered: 2d and 3d graphics, animation , scripting
The
Unity Game Development Cookbook is a practical guide that teaches beginning and intermediate Unity developers:
- 2d and 3d game development
- scripting
- tricks in gameplay, behavior and animation
and much more.
you will learn with a series of recipes that teach specific features of the software. you’ll also find a collection of shards that you can use for common game scenarios.
The Unity Game Development Cookbook is a one-stop shop for tips and tricks to navigate Unity efficiently and effectively.
9. Fundamentals of Game Engine Development, Volume 1: Mathematics
game engine development fundamentals is one of the best game engine development books for learning the math required to create complex games.
↘️ Ideal for: Game developers who need help with math↘️ Topics covered: Algebra, geometry, etc.
Fundamentals of Game Engine Development is not an easy read. Rather, you’ll investigate all the kinds of math you’ll realistically need to be a successful game engine developer. this includes, but is not limited to:
- linear algebra
- transforms
- geometry
- grassman algebra
- geometric algebra
and much more.
trying to build the next unit? you need this book.
10. unity in action: cross-platform game development in c#
↘️ Ideal for: experienced c# developers↘️ Topics covered: best practices, 2d games and 3d , creating custom ai scripts
unity in action teaches you how to write and implement games with unity. With extensive examples and hands-on practice, you’ll learn to:
- create custom ai scripts
- create 2d and 3d games
- make characters run and jump
- connect your games to the internet
and beyond.
As you progress, you’ll progress from app coder to game developer.
unity in action teaches c# programmers how to use unity to improve gameplay, graphics, and user experience.
11. learning c# developing games with unity 2020
↘️ ideal for: newbies to programming↘️ topics covered: programming fundamentals in c#, unity, ia
learn c# developing games with unity 2020 is a fun and intuitive way to start learning c# and unity simultaneously. You’ll start by learning the basics of C#. then you will learn how to create and implement scripts in unity.
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After that, things get interesting. you:
- create basic game mechanics like shooting projectiles
- solve complex programming problems
- explore the basics of game AI and use it to control enemy behavior
and much more.
Learning C# through game development with Unity 2020 is a bit backwards: it teaches you C# through the lens of Unity, not the other way around.
12. 2d game development with unity: standalone game programming with c#
↘️ Ideal For: Experienced C# Developers↘️ Topics Covered: Creating a 2d RPG
developing 2d games with unity is a hands-on approach to taking your c# programming skills and applying them to unity. will delve into concepts of unity such as:
- sprites
- slice
- tilemap
Using unity-specific tools, you’ll create a flexible and extensible game architecture. you will also learn how to implement your games on your desktop.
developing 2d games with unity will teach you how to create a 2d role playing game (rpg) as you go through the book.
13. fun theory for game design
↘️ Ideal for: Game developers of all experience levels↘️ Topics covered: How to maintain the attractive games, the concept of fun
A Theory of Fun for Game Design is written by veteran game designer Raph Koster. this book is entirely devoted to identifying the features that make games fun.
You will also learn how video games:
- get boring quickly or conversely keep players engaged
- serve as learning tools
- teach primitive survival skills
and beyond.
A Theory of Fun for Game Design examines the key elements that make video games fun and engaging.
14. gamedev: 10 steps to make your first game successful
gamedev is one of the best game development books for novice developers.
↘️ ideal for: novice game developers↘️ topics covered: skills, aspects of game development
gamedev was written by wlad marhulets, the developer of darq. Capitalizing on his own success, he created a 10-step process for making your first game successful.
you will review the steps to create a commercial game, including learning:
- mindset
- pre-production
- funding
- development
- publishing
- distribution
and more.
As the title suggests, gamedev is dedicated to giving you 10 steps to turn your first game into a success.
15. drive from zero to proficiency
↘️ Ideal for: unity newbies↘️ Topics covered: main functions, 2d and 3d creations
With unity from zero to proficiency, you will learn the fundamentals of unity with a series of hands-on exercises.
By the end of this book, you will be able to:
- apply transformations
- create a 3d maze
- create a 2d platform game
- use cameras and vehicles
- export your games to the web
and beyond.
unity zero to proficiency teaches unity newbies the fundamentals of unity.
16. programming for kids: python: learn to code with 50 amazing games and activities
coding for kids: python is one of the best game development books for kids or newbies.
↘️ ideal for: absolute beginners↘️ topics covered: learn python with 50 games
While Coding for kids: python is aimed at kids, it’s also useful for absolute newbies.
I should know, I got it.
It’s great because you’ll learn python while creating 50 fun and tangible games. this includes creating code blocks, drawings, and more.
Coding for Kids: Python uses easy-to-follow instructions and visual lessons to teach the absolute basics of Python by creating 50 games.
best game development books: conclusion
Today we review the best game development books, including:
🔥 best overall 🔥game programming patterns💸 best value 💸invent your own computer games with python💥 best for newbies 💥level up! the guide to great video game design🎖️ honorable mention 🎖️blood, sweat, and pixels
Regardless of your needs, we think these are the best game development books for just about anyone.
game developer looking for game development books also read:
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