Game design courses for teens

Egg Academy teaches game design through live online sessions -- mechanics, levels, and playable prototypes for NZ teens.

Egg Academy teaches game design through live online sessions and project-based challenges - teens learn how games work, build small playable projects, and share them with a like-minded creative community.

What teens learn in game design

Game design at Egg Academy is hands-on from the start. During Egg-Xplore, teens sample game design through Sid's Trials - a short challenge focused on rules, player feedback, and a small playable loop. As they progress, they can go deeper into:

  • Core mechanics and what makes a game feel good to play
  • Level flow, difficulty curves, and player onboarding
  • Prototyping and iteration - test, tweak, repeat
  • Feedback from facilitators and peers in live sessions

How game design fits Egg Academy

Game design is part of our Tech curriculum quadrant - alongside coding, digital storytelling, and interactive media. Teens do not sit in a lecture; they make playable work, share it in the community, and build confidence over time. See the full curriculum & outcomes and the creator journey from first projects to specialisation.

Many teens arrive via Minecraft or one game they already love. Sessions are about making games -- mechanics, levels, playable loops -- not playing Minecraft in class. If that sounds like your child, see turning gaming interest into something productive and Egg Academy for creators.

Related subjects

Join the creative community - learn game design with us

Your teen does not have to learn game design alone from random tutorials. At Egg Academy they make games alongside facilitators and peers - with structure, feedback, and a safe space to share work.

  • Live game design sessions Monday-Friday, 4:00-6:00pm NZ
  • Mechanics, levels, and playable prototypes through real projects
  • Moderated community - share builds, get feedback, build a portfolio
  • Egg-Xplore first · $40/month after · observe free -- contact us anytime
Sign up as Family See how Egg Academy works

Prefer to talk first? Book a guided tour or use live chat on our contact page.

Common questions

What age can my teen start learning game design at Egg Academy?
Creators aged 10 and older can join. Beginners start with guided challenges during Egg-Xplore; teens with experience can go deeper on personal game projects.
Does Egg teach Minecraft modding?
Minecraft is a common hook, not a dedicated Minecraft course. That interest maps to game design and coding through Egg-Xplore, then they can go deeper. Sessions are making games, not playing them.
Does my teen need game engines or coding experience before joining?
No prior experience required. Facilitators introduce beginner-friendly tools during live sessions and help during weekly check-ins - many teens start from scratch.
Is this just playing games?
Sessions are about making games, not passive play. Teens learn design thinking - rules, feedback loops, and player experience - by building small playable projects with facilitator support.
What game design skills do teens actually learn?
Core mechanics, level flow, prototyping, and iteration. Game design sits in our Tech curriculum alongside coding and digital storytelling - see our full curriculum.