Session One
15-26 June 2026
Two-hour live weekday classes within 4:00–7:00 p.m. PDT.
Online Program
Game Design Online Course
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Study how games engage players through design theory, prototyping, playtesting, and ethical monetization in Stanford’s instructor-led course.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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Game Design Online Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Grades 8–11; completed pre-algebra
Age range / Year group
Ages 13-17
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$3,200
Duration
2 weeks
Format
Online
Computer ScienceDesignEngineering
Sessions / cadence: 10 × 2-hour weekday classes; 1–2-hour daily homework
Latest verified cycle: 2026
Support model: Online office hours
Scheduling window: 4:00–7:00 p.m. PDT
Game Design Online Course summary
Stanford’s course explores what makes games engaging, combining design theory with analysis of player behavior and emotions.
Students practice communicating design ideas, prototyping, playtesting, and using design documentation, while examining ethical monetization.
It suits students who want to understand the decisions behind games and are willing to develop ideas through assignments and projects.
What is Game Design Online Course?
The Game Design Online Course is Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes’ introduction to the thinking and practices behind game development. It connects Computer Science, Design, and Engineering through questions about player behavior, enjoyment, and the effects of design choices.
Students join live online classes and complete assignments and projects independently. They study game-development history and studio teamwork, then explore prototyping, playtesting, design documentation, and ethical monetization.
Why Succeed highlights Game Design Online Course
Player-behavior analysis gives students a framework for explaining why particular game mechanics work.
Prototyping and playtesting connect design ideas with practical investigation.
Industry terminology and design documentation develop communication skills alongside creative thinking.
Ethical monetization adds a useful commercial and ethical dimension to the technical subject.
Who is Game Design Online Course for?
Best for
Students who enjoy analyzing games and want to test design ideas through prototypes, playtesting, and documentation.
Not ideal if
You want a flexible self-paced course, because live weekday attendance and daily independent work require a consistent routine.
Is Game Design Online Course worth it?
The course is worth considering if you want to move from playing games to explaining and testing their design. Its combination of player analysis, documentation, and practical experimentation can help you judge whether game development interests you.
The main trade-off is the concentrated workload: live classes sit alongside daily assignments and projects. Evaluate it for the learning you expect to gain, since Stanford explicitly separates participation from its undergraduate admissions process.
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Cost and what is included
$3,200.
Dates and time commitment
2 weeks; 10 × 2-hour weekday classes; 1–2-hour daily homework.
Provider details
Review the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: Practical work centers on testing design ideas and constructing game design documentation.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.
Online support and safeguarding
Check how online sessions are supervised, how mentor communication works, and what support route exists if the student needs help.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Game Design Online Course need?
Effort level
High for a short course.
Best started
Begin several weeks before a future session to gather application materials and plan the daily workload.
Main challenge
Balancing live attendance with independent project work.
Typical preparation
Gather recent grade reports and transcripts, and choose a work sample that meets the course’s application requirements.
Write your own responses and review every upload before submitting.
Confirm that you have completed pre-algebra and can install Unity.
Convert the Pacific-time meeting window to your local time and reserve time for homework.
Useful if
You want to develop design reasoning through practical experimentation.
What do students do on Game Design Online Course?
You learn to examine games as a designer, connecting player experience with the choices behind mechanics and systems. Practical work includes testing ideas through prototypes and playtesting and learning to communicate them through design documentation.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Learn fundamental game design philosophies and industry terminology.
- 2
Analyze player behavior, emotions, and the effects of design choices.
- 3
Explore game-development history and the roles within a studio team.
- 4
Test design ideas through prototyping and playtesting.
- 5
Practice constructing and using game design documentation.
- 6
Examine games as products and consider ethical monetization.
Game Design Online Course dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Session Two
6-17 July 2026
Two-hour live weekday classes within 4:00–7:00 p.m. PDT.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Session One | 15-26 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session Two | 6-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Be in Grades 8–11 at the time of application.
Have completed a pre-algebra course.
Attend only one Summer Institutes course if admitted.
How much does Game Design Online Course cost?
Financial aid
Aid can be awarded to domestic and international participants.
How to apply to Game Design Online Course
- 1
Create an account in Stanford’s application portal using the student’s legal name and birthdate, or sign in to an existing account.
- 2
Select Summer Institutes and indicate the courses you want to attend.
- 3
Complete your own application responses and upload recent grade reports, transcripts, and the required course-specific work sample.
- 4
Have a parent or legal guardian review and sign the completed application.
- 5
Review all materials, submit the application, and complete the required application-fee payment.
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Learning format
Each session has two-hour live online classes Monday–Friday within a 4:00–7:00 p.m. PDT window, with the third hour used for online office hours. Students also complete approximately one to two hours of asynchronous assignments and projects per day.
Students attend one course section and time; exact class and office-hour schedules are set closer to the start.
Mentorship and feedback
Two-hour live classes meet Monday–Friday.
The third hour of the meeting window is used for online office hours.
The exact office-hour schedule is set closer to the start.
Time-zone considerations
- The published meeting window is 4:00–7:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
- Live classes take two hours within that window, Monday–Friday.
- The remaining hour is used for online office hours.
- Allow one to two additional hours per day for asynchronous work.
- Exact class and office-hour times are set closer to the start.
Tech requirements
Download and install the Unity game engine.
Portfolio / outputs
Main deliverable / output
Practical work centers on testing design ideas and constructing game design documentation.
Prototypes used to test design ideas.
Design documentation for modern games.
Game Design Online Course FAQs
You will explore game design philosophies, player behavior, game-development history, studio teamwork, prototyping, playtesting, design documentation, and ethical monetization.
Yes. Completion of a pre-algebra course is required.
Participants must download and install the Unity game engine.
Allow two hours of live class Monday–Friday and approximately one to two hours of assignments and projects per day. The three-hour meeting window also accommodates online office hours.
Applicants must write their own responses. Parents or legal guardians review and sign the completed application afterward.
Yes. Financial aid can be awarded to both domestic and international participants.
No. Stanford’s undergraduate admissions process is separate from Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, and participation does not guarantee admission.
No. Scores are optional for domestic and international applicants. Applicants can also upload unofficial transcripts directly into the application.
Alternatives to Game Design Online Course
Compare these programs if you want to explore gaming, broader design, or visual art through an in-person experience.
Alternatives to Game Design Online Course
Software development and gaming study in London
Computer Science
25 May 2026
From £5995
15-18
London
In-person
Best for
Students exploring software development alongside gaming
Branding and design study in San Luis Obispo
Design
Deadline: Not announced
From $2998
14-18
San Luis Obispo
In-person
Best for
Students considering design beyond games
Art summer study in St Andrews
Art
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
13-18
St Andrews
In-person
Best for
Students drawn to visual art and design
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Welcome
- Questions: Application - SI | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
- Game Design | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official course page checked
Session dates verified
Grade eligibility reviewed
Prerequisite and software checked
Daily workload reviewed
Application requirements reviewed
Financial aid eligibility checked
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Game Design Online Course
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
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