Introduction to Game Design

Fran Krause uses simple games to introduce how rules produce an experience. Four modules move through discovery, story, allies and opponents, supported by creative assignments and peer feedback. The low-tech approach makes it possible to concentrate on a mechanic before committing to an engine or large asset library.

What you will learn

• Explain the relationship between rules and player choices
• Develop a simple game prototype
• Refine a concept using peer feedback

Who this suits

This Beginner course requires no prior experience or programming. It is particularly useful when a learner has ideas for games but needs a manageable way to test their basic structure.

Before you enroll

Coursera estimates six hours, with additional time sensible for prototyping and peer review. The curriculum teaches design principles rather than coding a commercial game. Use your own drawings and rules for the exercises, and document changes between versions so the learning is visible beyond the final presentation.

Coursera offers paid enrollment or subscription access. Check the enrollment screen for assessment and certificate terms, trials and any financial-aid options. Provider access terms can change; review them before paying.

Put it into practice

Invent a game that fits on one sheet of paper. Test two versions of one rule, compare the choices players make, and explain why you kept or discarded the change.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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