So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer (So You Want To Be A...)
About
WINNER of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award
You have played the level a hundred times. But somewhere in the back of your mind, you were not just playing it. You were taking it apart. Asking why the jump feels that way, why the music shifts at that exact moment, why you keep coming back even when it beats you. That is not a gamer’s instinct. That is a designer’s eye.
So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer takes young readers ages 10–14 inside one of the most creative and most technically demanding professions of our time — not the fantasy version, but the real one. The years of iteration that happen before a single player ever touches the controller. The specific craft of building a world that feels alive, that responds, that makes a person feel something they did not expect to feel. The team of artists, engineers, writers, and sound designers who make ten thousand invisible decisions so the player never has to think about any of them. The version that almost worked — and the one that finally did.
This is a book about what video game designers actually do: the game mechanics they prototype and rebuild, the storytelling structures they construct from scratch, the user experience principles that determine whether a player stays or quits, and the relentless problem-solving they bring to a medium that is still defining what it can be. It’s also a book about what the work costs, what it demands, and why the people who do it say they are building something no other art form can touch.
Inside, young readers will discover:
- What a real game designer’s process looks like — from concept sketch to gold master
- The blend of art, code, psychology, and storytelling that goes into every great game
- The collaborative demands of a development team — and what each role actually contributes
- The history of the industry and the visionary designers who invented the language we all now speak
- What young people can do right now to discover if this might be their calling
Honest, specific, and genuinely illuminating, So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer doesn’t talk down to young readers — it brings them all the way in. Because the child who wants to know what this work is really like deserves a real answer.
For readers who feel the pull toward something that lives at the intersection of imagination and engineering. For the kid who finishes a game and immediately starts thinking about how they would have made it differently.
The next great game doesn’t exist yet. It’s waiting for someone to build it. Maybe that someone is you.
Ages 10–14 · Nonfiction · Careers & Professions · Illustrated
Praise for this book
"Video games are awesome, right? But do you know who makes these games so much fun to play? It's the video game designers. Linda Soules brings young readers a book that delves into the world of video games with So You Want to Be a Video Game Designer. By being a video game designer, you can bring entire worlds to life with your own set of rules. This book explains how video game designers play the roles of architects, storytellers, psychologists, and scientists. Additionally, you will learn about in-game mechanics, the tools of the trade for a designer, the best aspects of being a designer, as well as its hardest aspects. You will also observe the daily life of a video game designer.
This is one of the best books for any preteen or young teenager who is a video game aficionado. It will help you learn how some of your favorite video games are made and by whom. Linda Soules has a knack for delving into the technical aspects of some unique career choices for professionals. So You Want to Be a Video Game Designer is another great example of that. It is short, to the point, and very informative. Young readers will learn to develop an interest in the fundamentals of being a video game designer. On top of it, the illustrations are colorful and capture the essence of the narrative to perfection. It's an enlightening book that sheds light on the world of video game creators. Highly recommended."
"So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer is a solid starter book for kids who love video games and have started wondering what it would be like to actually make them. It does a nice job showing that game design isn't just sitting around playing games all day. The book breaks down the real work behind the scenes, from building mechanics and stories to working with artists, engineers, writers, and sound designers. For a kid who is curious about creating games, it gives a much clearer picture of what the job actually involves.
One of the best things about this children's book is that it stays positive and inspiring without pretending the career is easy. It talks about the fun, creative parts of game design, but it also covers the harder parts, like problem-solving, teamwork, revision, and all the trial and error that happens before a game is finished. I especially like that it includes practical details, like what a day in the life of a game designer might look like. That kind of information helps kids understand the career in a real way instead of just imagining the cool parts.
The book also works well for a pretty wide age range. Even though it is aimed at ages 10-14, younger kids can still enjoy the illustrations and big ideas, especially if a parent reads it with them. Older kids and even adults can get something out of it too, because it explains the industry, the skills involved, and the history behind game design in an easy-to-follow way.
The artwork in this book is wonderful and detailed on every page. Each scene has a consistent look, feel, and color style that makes the whole book flow together beautifully. I loved all the small details tucked into the illustrations, like little toys on the desks of the video game developers, because they make the world feel fun. The characters are expressive, and the colorful scenes really pop, making the world of video game design feel exciting, creative, and almost like a fantasy.This is a great pick for any kid who talks about wanting to make video games someday. It gives them encouragement, but also gives them a realistic look at what it takes. I like that it offers ideas for how kids can start preparing now, whether that means learning new skills, paying closer attention to how games work, or just thinking more creatively. It's educational, interesting, and inspiring, and it may help a young reader decide whether game design is something they really want to pursue."
"The latest installment of Linda Soules's So You Want To Be A... series focuses on a relatively new and evolving field: So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer. From the first page, Soules hooks readers by showing a clear respect for the profession with the claim that 'a video game designer is part architect, part storyteller, part psychologist, and part mad scientist.' Each section of the book pairs brief informational passages with colorful artwork, providing a clear and concise introduction to this career path for pre-teens. Informational topics covered include where video game designers work, what their responsibilities are, famous designers, rewards, challenges, and different roles in game development (such as programmers, composers, and narrative designers).
Soules clearly researched many aspects of the profession, yet the book never feels bogged down by details. She distills important information into digestible chunks that are infused with excitement for the job, making the text compelling for readers across a range of ages. While the book is advertised for 10-14 year olds, slightly younger gamers may also enjoy it as a read-aloud while older teens may find the straightforward advice helpful with career planning. One section shares exercises to try anywhere (plus free resources to explore) as a way to start developing game-designing skills immediately. Another section busts myths (no, it's not just playing games all day) and highlights the needed skills people might not expect, sharing a realistic look at the profession. Although a glossary at the end of the book explains some vocabulary, it is definitely written for readers who are already familiar with basic video game conventions and terms.
Beyond the instructional content, what really makes So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer stand out is the aspirational tone. Playing video games is sometimes looked down on by adults, but Soules clearly appreciates the activity and craft behind it. Animated images that focus on the delight and wonder of gaming support the text (Soules notes these are AI-created; yet she does effectively ensure a consistent illustrative style, and the pictures match the book's tone and content). Communicating her admiration for the creative, complex, and meaningful work that designers do may result in some young readers feeling excited and confident in pursuing game design. Meanwhile, because Soules focuses on the very specific skills needed and challenges to expect, other readers may realize this career path is not for them and yet still come away with a deeper understanding of how the games they love are developed.Through a combination of practical information, actionable skill-building advice, and passion for the role, Linda Soules's So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer successfully provides a helpful career guide for pre-teens who love gaming."
"Video game design takes open-mindedness, teamwork, IMAGINATION, creativity and determination, and focus. It's a frustrating but amazingly rewarding undertaking."
"My youngest son has really gotten into video game design lately so we read this together. It gave him some really good ideas and answered some questions he's been asking me that I couldn't answer."
"Great book for anyone (kids or adults) interested in creating video games. A lot of information on what the job really is."
"I think these would be great to have available in libraries for teens as they really do give a lot of useful information!"
"It is so educational and informative. It gives children the best run down of what it takes to become a video game designer and exactly what they do and how it contributes to the world around them."
"I would definitely recommend this book to kids or adults who are interested in game development. The language used is not too complicated, so it's good for people with little to no experience."
"The author approaches it from a business perspective but also a creative perspective. There are so many things that go into video game design that my son learned... I think this made him appreciate the game developers overall and the complexity of how games are made from the ground up."
"A must-read for every aspiring game creator...As someone who grew up playing games, I found 'So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer' to be one of the most honest and illuminating guides for young people."
"It’s a brilliantly structured manual that respects the reader's intelligence and provides a clear roadmap for the next generation of creators."
"A fantastic book giving every detail of how a game designer works. I really like how this book gave other job options that are available to children that is inside the gaming industry. Very intuitive and explains every detail so a child can understand. No big words that are confusing which is great."
"Full of great information about video game designing. It includes a detailed overview of the role to learn if someone is truly interested in becoming a designer. It includes what is best, hardest, and surprising about the role as well as a day in the life. It also has great illustrations!"
"There is more there than I had originally thought. The few video games I have played and still play are more enjoyable now that I know all the work behind it.
"Very informative and age appropriate. First off, excellent illustrations throughout the book. I would say 10-14 is an accurate age range...Highly recommend for anyone who wants to get into the field of video game design."
"I liked that the author de-bunked the myth right away that it's all about 'playing' video games."
"Gives a lot of details on both what a Video Game Designer is, and isn't... tools of the trade, best and hardest parts of the job, what a day in the life would look like, and who you'll be working with."
"My kids loved this book! My oldest loved what it was about while my youngest loved the pictures in the book. They both are huge gamers and were interested in this!"
"If you have ever thought about wanting to become a video game designer this is the book you need to read."
"A great educational book for kids who may be interested in learning to program a game. I love that it has resources listed for kids to learn more, from books to websites. Highly recommend!"
"This is a fantastically written book about a potential career in game design. It goes through the good and the bad, describes the type of person that would excel, delivers on key concepts in project management such as working through iterations, and says it all in an age appropriate voice. The target audience is pre-teens to young teens and it absolutely hits the mark on being a sophisticated yet age demographically appropriate. As an adult with an interest in video games, I enjoyed learning about the creation process as well."
"It's definitely a MUST READ for me! Enjoyed it!"
"The wording is rather inspiring and positive even when talking about the not fun parts of the job. It goes over skills you would gain and why it's a field worthy of your time."
"Video game design is hard work!! I love this book because it tells you ALL the ins and outs of game design no matter how good or bad they are. The illustrations are amazing, and the book really held my kiddos attention."
"So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer is a fun and informative book that gives kids a great introduction to the world of video game design. It explains the creative process behind making games in a way that’s easy to understand and engaging for young readers. From storytelling and artwork to coding and testing, it shows how many different skills come together to create the games we love. A fantastic read for any child who dreams of designing their own video games one day!"