Course
Games Design
Registration opens March 1, 2026.
Stay tuned!
Specializes and transforms ideas into memorable gaming experiences
ETIC_Algarve’s Games Design Specialization Course is a professional and specialized training program that takes your Animation and Video Games skills to the next level. Ideal for those with a basic education and looking to specialize, this course allows you to deepen your knowledge and achieve internationally valued qualifications.
During this specialized video game training, you will develop advanced skills in:
- Narrative and plot development for video games
- Gameplay design and mechanics
- Concept art and visual creation of characters and places
- Investigation and critical analysis methodologies applied to game design.
The course combines theory, research and practical experience with real projects, preparing you for a successful career in the video game industry, both nationally and internationally.
This specialization is recognized and validated by Teesside University, allowing you to pursue an academic path that can lead to obtaining an internationally recognized degree.
When you finish this Specialisation Course, you have the opportunity to participate in an ERASMUS+ European mobility project, living an enriching international experience through an internship.
PREREQUISITES
- Completion of the 2-year Video Games Technical Course at ETIC_Algarve, or Certificate of 120 credits that have been completed and whose equivalences can be assigned. In both cases, the average shall be equal to or greater than 13 values
- Portfolio in the specific area of the course
- Proficiency level in English with the required scores in the application process.
Support for Trainees
Concern for the well-being of trainees is a constant, which is why ETIC_Algarve has been providing its community with various services that contribute to their personal and human growth.
Whether in support of Insertion into the Labour Market, or in Support of Personal Development, or through financial supports granted through the recent Training Grant, there are several ways we make available to trainees to facilitate and promote their growth.
Training Grant
Jump Internship
Personal Development
Specialized Training
1 year
Classes from September to June
Post-Work Hours, Monday to Friday, from 7pm to 10pm
Number of Trainees
Maximum 16
And after the course?
Erasmus+
With the completion of this training you will have the possibility to participate in our ERASMUS+ European mobility project.
ETIC_Algarve provides the possibility of carrying out a 320-hour internship for those trainees who meet the requirements of JUMP – Support for Professional Integration.
Career oppurtunities
- Video game designer
- Level Designer
- Narrative Designer
- Designer UI/UX
- Character Designer
Contents
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Narrative Design and Integration
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In this module, you will have the opportunity to explore the theory and application of Narrative concepts in Games.
You will analyze various aspects of Narratives in Video Games, including Narration, Character Creation, Narrative Arches, Point of View, Voice, Time, Cutscenes, Narrative Texture / Environmental Storytelling, Backstory, Narrative through Affordances and Signifiers, Worldbuilding, and Emergent Narrative. You will be challenged to develop your skills as a Narrative Designer through various strategies.
Practical activities and exercises will be used to stimulate the development of your own narrative voice and individual style in writing and/or visual storytelling.
For the evaluation, it will be necessary to create an individual narrative and/or a world-building plan, accompanied by a demonstration within a game engine.
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Beta Arcade
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This module is designed to provide you with work experience as a member of a Game Development team, closely reflecting industry practices.
You will collaborate in teams to develop and present a game demo.
The evaluation will be conducted as a group, and each trainee will also be evaluated by their peers based on their individual participation. As part of this process, you will create a “Making of” Design/Art Book in electronic format.
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Games Projetct
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This module functions as a kind of thesis, where you will carry out a large-scale study under supervision.
The project involves creating a significant artifact related to your course, culminating in a written report and a live version, which includes the presentation, demonstration, and discussion of your work.
You will receive guidance to develop appropriate work discipline, combined with a professional mindset.
You are expected to take responsibility for the planning and execution of an expanded project, taking into consideration legal, social, ethical and professional issues.
This project allows you to explore in depth an area of interest of your choice, potentially the one in which you wish to specialize. It will demonstrate your ability to analyze, synthesize, and creatively apply the knowledge acquired throughout the program, while also highlighting your critical thinking and professional awareness.
Trainees will be assessed individually through two components: a research report on their chosen design and a proof of concept based on their research.
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Masterclasses
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Throughout the course Masterclasses are planned with international professionals who can bring added value to the trainees’ projects.
Trainees
Resources and Equipment
- Room equipped with one computer per trainee, with Windows environment
- Huion Kamvas and Wacom drawing tablets;
- Meta Quest 2 Virtual Reality Glasses;
- Softwares: Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, Audition, After Effects, etc.; Spriter; Blender, Unity; Reaper; FM Mod, Unreal Engine, among others.
Portfolio
Application Process
Registration takes place between April and the start of classes, the 2nd half of September, as long as there are vacancies in the courses.
They may be made after the admission conditions have been verified and upon payment of registration and presentation of:
- 1 passport-style photograph in digital format
- Portfolio suitable for the specific area of the course
- Certificate of Qualifications
- Certificate of Completion of the 2-year course in Video Games/Completion of the 2-year course in Video Games at ETIC_Algarve or a Certificate of 120 credits that the Candidate has completed. In both cases, the average shall be equal to or greater than 13 values
- Applicant and Guarantor Documents (Identification Document + Taxpayer Card + Proof of Address: water, electricity, telephone bill or driving licence)
- Letter of Recommendation in English
- English proficiency level with scores from one of the following tests is required: DUOLINGO, minimum 115 (95 in all components); IELTS, minimum 6.0 (5.5 in all components); TOEFL IBT, minimum 80 (20 in all components)
- Completion and signing of the registration form and the training contract.
Are you interested?
Registration will reopen on March 1, 2026.
If you are interested in this course, please fill out the form.