In the minor Game Design & Development you work on the design and realization of video games in multidisciplinary teams. The program is aimed at preparing you for a job at a small, independent (Dutch) games studio or to start your own. The approach is to publish a successful game by looking at market trends and player feedback, to increase the chances of success. After this minor you will have launched 2 game projects and reached an audience of players worldwide.

It is important to note that our minor is not a substitute for a full 4-year long program on game design / development. Each year we have students coming in with raised expectations and dreams of a career in video games. We can (and will) help you get started and prepare you for a job in the Dutch games industry. But we won’t be teaching you step-by-step tutorials on every piece of software imaginable. Therefor it is necessary that you can work ánd learn independently under guidance of a team of experts. And that you dare to critically analyze your own ideas and, most importantly, your view of your profession. If this does not suit you, please consider another minor because you will be very disappointed by our approach.

Projects from the minor Game Design & Development can be found on all major platforms like itch.io, Google Play and Steam.

Oh! Bees (Android, Bumblebee Games)
Under Construction (Androidm Constructed Realms)
We Were Here (Win/MacOS, Total Mayhem Games)
Beavers Be Dammed (Win/MacOS/Linux, Wallflower Games)
Porcelain Tales (Win, Oohoo Studio)

Content & program
The program consists of 2 projects. You carry out the first project with a small team of around 5 people. The goal is to make a 2D game for mobile devices. Parallel to this project, workshops are offered on the Unity game engine, pixel art, marketing and game design.

After the first project, the program changes to a more student-driven approach. This involves realizing a 3D game in a team of around 15 students. Workshops are again offered, such as 3D modeling (Blender), texturing and animation as well as advanced development topics and a deep dive in game design and play testing.

Learning goals

• Design a game concept (game designers)
• Document a game concept in a Game Design Document (game designers)
• Produce animated 2D sprites (artists)
• Produce animated 3D models (artists)
• Build a 2D and 3D game in Unity (game developers)
• Package and submit a game for publication in an online store (game developers)
• Produce a successful 3d game in a multidisciplinary team (all)

Learning method
Our approach in the minor Game Design & Development is practice-oriented. Outside the scheduled workshops (one or two every week, depending on your role in the project), you are expected to work on your game with your team on site in Rotterdam. You work on site from Monday to Friday from 09:00 – 17:00 h (Wednesday you work online), so that the project supervisors and teachers can come by to look at your game with you, to play and improve. Due to this approach, the minor is not suited to be combined with a part-time job, (professional) sports or other school projects / classes in the same hours. Please consider a different minor if this is the case in your situation or join us when the program fits your current situation better.

The minor Game Design & Development is primarily intended for students who have experience in designing and/or developing multimedia products and who have an affinity with games. Students of the Creative Media & Game Technologies and Communication & Multimedia Design study programs from outside Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences are directly admissible with a learning agreement from their Exam Board when the 3rd year internship has been successfully completed and at least 90 EC of the 3rd and 4th semester have been acquired. Students from any other study program with the ambition to learn about the field of games can be admitted in consultation with the minor coordinator.

• Zimmerman, E., Salem, K. (2003). Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals. MIT Press.
• Rogers, S. (2014). Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design. Wiley;
• Schell, J. (2014). The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. CRC Press.
• Bartle, R. (1996). Hearts, Clubs, Diamond, Spades: Players Who Suit MUDS.
• Hunicke, R., LeBlanc, M., Zubek, R. (2004). MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research.

Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 h (Wednesday online).

Project

GENERAL
The main language of this minor is English.

A laptop is required to participate in this minor as there are no computers on site. Please make sure you have a model that is no older than 3 years to run the required software adequately.

Visiting external events and purchasing software are a part of the study program, please account for around €70 of expenses.

Students are expected to follow the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences' holiday schedule.

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Minor Choice Week | 2–5 March 2026

Minor fair
This minor will be present at the minor fair. Will you join us? View the programme and register here.

Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
Time: 4:00–7:30 p.m.
Location: Kralingse Zoom

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APPLICATION PROCESS (KOM)

Are you a student from another educational institution and would you like to follow a minor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences? If so, you must apply in two steps:

Step 1

• Register for the minor of your choice via the blue Apply button. You can find this button at the top right of the minor’s page.
• Download the learning agreement and complete it.
• Submit this learning agreement to the examination board of your study programme.

Once the examination board has granted approval, register for the minor in Step 2 no later than 01-07-2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Step 2
After approval, register via OSIRIS Application of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences using the link below (first create an account).
https://osiris.hr.nl/osiris_aanmeld_hrprd/Welkom.do?proces=KOM2609&opleiding=MINOR-CMI-VT 00

Part of the application process is uploading the following documents:

• The learning agreement, signed by you and by your institution;
• A scan or photo of your passport or ID card.

You will be informed by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences whether your application has been approved.

In OSIRIS Application, you must also upload the Proof of Paid Tuition Fee (BBC) for the academic year in which you wish to follow the minor. This can be done from 01 May 2026 onwards. You can request the BBC from your institution after you have signed or issued an authorization for the payment of the tuition fee for the relevant academic year. You may also choose the option for your institution to send the BBC directly to collegegeld@hr.nl.

You will receive a notification from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences once your application has been approved.