Compare 150+ game design and development camps across North America by location, age, skill level, and game engine. Help your child turn screen time into real technical and creative skills—with hands-on projects you can see and play.
Search Camps by Your Priorities
Use the filters below to find programs that match your family’s needs. Most camps don’t require prior coding experience, but interest in games, building, or storytelling is a good sign.
- Location: Find camps near your home, or consider university-based residential programs.
- Age: Game camps run ages 8–18, with carefully calibrated curriculums for each age band.
- Format: Day camps (commute home each afternoon), half-day options, or week-long residential programs.
- Game Engine: Unity (industry standard), Unreal Engine (AAA-level graphics), Roblox (instant results, built-in audience), or Minecraft-based.
- Experience Level: Most camps accept beginners. Advanced programs welcome experienced coders.
What Game Design Camps Teach (That Traditional Coding Camps Don’t)
If you’ve heard of coding camps, you might wonder: what’s the difference? Traditional coding teaches programming fundamentals—variables, loops, logic—which are essential building blocks. Game design camps build on that foundation to add creativity, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving.
Is Game Design Camp Right for My Child?
Ages 8–10: Visual Programming & Confidence-Building
Programs at this level use block-based visual programming (Scratch, Construct 3) or beginner-friendly engines like Roblox Studio. Focus is on building logic, spatial reasoning, and confidence. No prior coding experience needed.
Ages 11–14: Genre Exploration & Real Programming
Campers learn text-based programming (Python, JavaScript) while building complete 2D or 3D games. They explore different genres (platformers, puzzles, RPGs) and experience different tools (Unity, Godot, Roblox). This is where “serious hobbyist” skills develop.
Ages 15–18: Professional Path Preparation
Advanced campers work in professional-grade engines (Unity, Unreal Engine) and tackle complex systems (networked multiplayer, procedural generation, AI). Many programs partner with universities or industry studios, offering genuine portfolio-building opportunities.
Does My Child Need Prior Coding Experience?
No. 84% of camps accept complete beginners. What matters is genuine interest. If your child:
- Already loves games (especially games they try to understand or modify)
- Enjoys building or creating (LEGO, Minecraft, art, storytelling)
- Is curious about how systems work
- Shows persistence when facing challenges
…they have the mindset for game design camp success. Experience comes at camp.
What Campers Leave With
A Finished, Playable Game Project
Not code snippets or incomplete exercises. By the end of camp, campers have a finished, working game they can play, show friends, record on video, and add to college portfolios. For college admissions, a portfolio piece from a university-affiliated or well-known camp is worth more than the cost alone.
Real Technical Skills
The specific skills depend on what they build—puzzle game developers learn algorithmic thinking, platformer builders learn physics and iteration, RPG creators learn database and narrative design. By exploring multiple genres, campers build versatile problem-solving skills that rival university CS courses.
Confidence & Resilience
Campers experience the challenge-struggle-success cycle. They debug code, iterate on designs, see their ideas come to life—and realize that problems are solvable. This builds genuine confidence backed by real accomplishment.
Peer Community
Many campers find “their people”—peers who speak the same language and share creative ambitions. These connections often extend beyond camp week through online communities and collaborative projects.
Game Design Camps & College Admissions
College admissions officers recognize game design camp experience as a marker of:
- Technical Competency: You didn’t just study CS—you wrote real code, debugged real problems, and shipped real projects.
- Applied Learning: Your portfolio demonstrates hands-on skills beyond classroom work.
- Teamwork & Communication: Game development inherently involves collaboration, interdisciplinary thinking, and managing disagreements toward a common goal.
- Self-Direction: You chose to spend summer building games, not lounging. This signals genuine curiosity and motivation.
For CS, engineering, or digital arts applicants, game development experience is a significant advantage. For other fields, it still signals technical literacy and creative problem-solving—increasingly valued across all disciplines.
Cost & Practical Considerations
Typical Price Range
- Day Camps: $700–1,500/week (5 days, 9am–4pm, commute from home)
- Half-Day Camps: $400–800/week (combine with other activities)
- Residential Programs: $2,500–5,500/week (includes housing, meals, instruction)
- Online Programs: $300–700/week (asynchronous or live sessions)
What’s Typically Included
- All software licenses and development tools
- Instruction from experienced professionals (industry veterans or university instructors)
- Project files, documentation, and portfolio materials
- Some programs include: meals, T-shirt, certificate, final showcase event for parents
Next Steps
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