The video game industry is needlessly secretive. For a time, there was no way to know who was responsible for your favorite games. Things are more transparent now. Players realize that entire teams of talented developers create games, not just a single superstar or a faceless corporation. However, gaining any real insight into how the game development creative process works remains frustratingly tough.
Fortunately, the democratizing power of the internet has made it easier than ever for creators to share their thoughts straight to fans. For example, you can use your eReader to buy books written by Cliffy B (Gears of War), John Romero (Doom), or Derek Yu (Spelunky). Podcasts and YouTube shows are even more direct, offering lengthy conversations hosted by gaming luminaries…and David Jaffe.
If you want to hear veteran game developers share behind-the-scenes stories on how they’ve honed their craft over the years, check out these shows and podcasts. Continue your game design journey by learning how to code and picking up top game development software.
Game Maker's Toolkit
Mark Brown’s Game Maker’s ToolkitGame Maker’s Toolkit series on YouTube has loads of great advice for aspiring game developers. Using old and new games as examples, Brown examines topics like how to balance economies, how to combine genres, and how to design Metroidvania maps. Brown even documents his first steps into game design. If you want to hear from the pros, though, the channel features in-depth dev interviews and game jam devlogs, too.
Harada’s Bar
Katsuhiro Harada is famous for designing the Tekken fighting games and for making sure fans know not to ask him for anything. Harada’s BarHarada’s Bar is his YouTube series where he casually chats with other major players in the gaming industry. So if you want to see Harada interview esports athletes or learn why people think Masahiro Sakurai is a ghost, this is the show for you.
Hideo Kojima’s Brain Structure
If you’ve played any Metal Gear game, you know that Hideo Kojima has a lot of thoughts. Konami may have tried to silence the maverick auteur, but now as a fully independent creator, Kojima can express whatever he wants in his games (Death Stranding), books (The Creative Gene), and now his upcoming podcast Brain StructureBrain Structure. Coming exclusively to Spotify in September, Brain Structure takes you on “a deep dive into his brain and shed light on his creative process.” Our beloved monsters, enjoy yourselves.
Idle Thumbs
Idle ThumbsIdle Thumbs was founded by folks responsible for some excellent recent games, such as Firewatch and Telltale’s The Walking Dead. The network features a variety of podcasts, but if you’re specifically looking for game design advice, check out Designers Notes and Tone Control for conversations with game developers on how and why they do what they do.
Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games
It’s really impressive that Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series, has become a character as popular and recognizable as the mascots in that all-star crossover. Sakurai isn’t just an entertaining host, though; he’s a genius game designer whose career stretches back to creating Kirby on the original Game Boy. On his new YouTube channel, Creating GamesCreating Games, Sakurai will share the vast knowledge he’s accrued and delightful gaming history lessons that more gamers need to respect.
Noclip
Danny O’Dwyer’s NoclipNoclip channel features professional short- and long-form documentaries with unprecedented access into the game design process. Video subjects range from indie darlings and fan projects, such as Black Mesa and Hades, to peaks behind the curtains of AAA hits, like Fallout 76 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. With a mix of design lessons and reminders that people are behind these games, Noclip is essential viewing.
Team GFB Radio
You may know developer Iron Galaxy for games like Killer Instinct, Wreckateer, and the recent Rumbleverse. Or you may know founder Dave Lang as one of gaming’s greatest menaces (we say that with love). On Team GFB RadioTeam GFB Radio, you can hear Lang and Iron Galaxy colleague Darryl Wisner “share tales from the front lines of game development.”
The Zachtronics Podcast
Under the Zachtronics label, indie designer Zach Barth led the development of offbeat titles, such as Exapunks, Ironclad Tactics, and Opus Magnum. Indie game development is a whole separate beast compared to the rest of the games industry, so you'll need to learn new lessons. On The Zachtronics PodcastThe Zachtronics Podcast, hear conversations with indie creators to learn their perspectives on the medium.
For more on games, check out our picks for the best PC games, Nintendo Switch games, PlayStation 5 games, and Xbox Series X/S games. For more in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.