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Extracurriculars for a Career in Game Developer

11 high school activities and programs that build real experience toward a career in game developer.

Congressional App Challenge
United States House of Representatives · Multiple · In-Person

App development skills directly apply to creating games and interactive software experiences.

UConn Pre-College Summer
University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT · In-Person

Computer Science and Digital Media combine to teach interactive media development.

NYU High School Academy
New York University School of Professional Studies · New York, NY · In-Person

Video Game Design course provides overview of game development and testing processes with knowledgeable industry instruction.

National High School Game Academy
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · In-Person

Students develop original game prototypes using industry best practices and create portfolio-quality pieces.

Day of AI Festival
Day of AI USA · Cambridge, MA · In-Person

Students create AI-driven visual and narrative projects exploring technology's creative potential.

Summer Academy – Global (Online)
Boston Architectural College · Virtual · Virtual

Program mentions aspiring game designers and teaches digital design and ideation skills applicable to game design.

Animation Summer Program for High School Students
Interlochen Center for the Arts · Interlochen, MI · In-Person

Animation skills and digital animation software experience are foundational tools used in game development and interactive media.

Rex Academy Online Summer STEM Camps
Rex K-12 · Virtual · Virtual

Dedicated courses in 2D/Unity game programming, Kodu, and Minecraft modding teach game creation.

iD Tech: Virtual Tech Camps
iD Tech · Virtual · Virtual

Courses cover game design in Roblox, Minecraft, Unity, and Unreal Engine 5—core tools professional game developers use.

Octavia Project: Summer Institute in Brooklyn
Octavia Project · Brooklyn, NY · In-Person

Program bridges interests in gaming, coding, fantasy, and digital media creation.

Camp Integem: AI Robot, Holographic AR Coding, Game Design
Integem · Multiple · In-Person

Students create interactive AR games with AI characters, 2D/3D worlds, and Minecraft/Roblox projects.