4 Game Art Courses to Design Stunning Visuals

Ready to learn game art as a beginner? Looking for interactive learning that covers step-by-step tutorials to become a better artist? Want to learn how the most popular animations and games have eye-catching visuals? Find your top choice here. 

The path to creating memorable game visuals requires developing two divergent skills in game design - technical and artistic. 

You can learn these with game engines like Unreal or Unity engine. Unity Learn, for example, offers free game art and programming training. 

Then you have Coursera and Udemy offering extensive specialisations and instructor-led online game development training for all types of 3D artists. 

Today, we have sourced some online game art courses that will help beginner and intermediate game artists make a professional mark in the booming gaming industry. 

1. Buried Memories: High-Fidelity Game Visuals on Unity Learn 

Game art tutorials, projects, and a course on Unity Learn are from foundational to intermediate levels. Around 27 of them include real-world projects from importing to rendering. 

While you can look into how to navigate the official Unity Learn courses as a beginner, let’s shed some light on this specific game art course - Buried Memories: High-Fidelity Game Visuals. 

Experience Level Required: Intermediate

Duration: 9+ hours

What You’ll Learn

• See how artists approached the Buried Memories: Serekh Asset Pack demo - this is used as a case study
• Master three elements that these artists used - character, environment, and lightning
• Follow along with projects and tutorials included. 

Is it free?

Yes. 

2. Art for Games Specialization | Coursera

Offered in partnership with the Michigan State University, this is for beginners who are getting into 2D and 3D art. 

To enrol, click on Art for Games Specialization on Coursera. 

Experience Level Required: None

Duration: 1 month

What You’ll Learn

• Learn principles of pixel art, and explore how artistry and technicality exist across environments, characters, and animation. 
• You learn how art is made using Unity, through which you will be able to create prototypes. 
• Make your renders photorealistic.
• Create a project for a video game concept. 

Is it free?

You can read and view course content for free. Or you can take a monthly subscription. 

3. Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization on Coursera

As one of the best game design courses that covers the popular CalArts animation programs as examples, you get in-depth knowledge of game art. 

This is perhaps the only game art course in this list that is not so technical. 

Explore and enrol - Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization on Coursera

Experience Level Required: None

Duration: 1 month

What You’ll Learn

• How art is key to building narratives 
• Allows you to not be afraid to push boundaries in game art with creativity
• Participate in capstone project to create a game design document that contains concepts and aesthetics you decide

Is it free?

You can only view course content without paying anything. Or you can take a monthly subscription to get the certificate. 

4. Complete Drawing Course: Create Video Game Concept Art on Udemy

This course is offered by the team of GameDev.tv. It is one of the best online resources for game development. 

Also, it is currently a bestseller on the Udemy platform. 

Experience Level Required: No drawing experience required

Duration: 13+ hours

What You’ll Learn

• With basics, including Stroke, Shape, Size, and Shade, cleared, you learn to create characters - from their face to hair. 
• Aspects like isometric diorama, shading depths, etc., are covered. 

Is it free?

It is an affordable course at INR 649, after discount. 

Enrol in the Best Game Art Courses to Enhance Your Game Design Career

These are among the best places to get started with game art. To master a tool, we would recommend you going with Unuty Learn’s offering. Other than that, you can focus on the beginner level one from Udemy. If you are into game design too, check out the Coursera’s courses.