awesome-learn-gamedev

Awesome Learn Gamedev is a curated collection of learning resources for people who want to make games. It is organized by discipline rather than by tool, and it deliberately focuses on building general knowledge and problem-solving skills instead of step-by-step tutorials for specific problems. The list is maintained by Hazel Kennedy, a technical artist and gameplay programmer, and states that most resources are free, with paid items clearly marked and included only when endorsed by a working industry professional. Two markers are used throughout: a starred marker for resources considered best for beginners, and a purple marker for resources considered most useful, including influential courses, books and other mega-lists. Main sections include: - General: entry points for newcomers, overviews of studio roles such as "The Door Problem", MIT Open Courseware, and many other large resource lists. - Programming: computer science study plans, engine-specific courses for Godot, Unreal and Unity, Python and C++ coursework, data structures and algorithms, game programming patterns, math for game programmers, performance optimization, data-oriented design, engine architecture, Git, design patterns, tool development, and retro console programming. - Gameplay: interview preparation material and free volumes on game AI. - Graphics: graphics programming mega-lists, WebGL fundamentals, GPU Gems, rendering courses, graphics pipeline write-ups, API comparisons, 3D file format research, signed distance fields and ray marching, and rendering breakdowns of shipped games. - Networking: multiplayer courses, netcode articles, Valve documentation on Source networking and latency compensation, replication series, deterministic netcode, the TRIBES networking model, and client-side prediction material. - Fun: lighter reading such as music for programming, essays on laziness in engineering, a Destiny bug breakdown, and the Sigbovik proceedings. - Technical Art: tech art resource lists and communities, course materials, a Crash Bandicoot rendering retrospective, and procedural art breakdowns. - Shaders: HLSL and GLSL introductions, The Book of Shaders, Unity shader tutorials, Shadertoy, RenderDoc, and shader graph guides. - Rigging: live-streamed lecture catalogues and related material. - VFX: effects-focused resources. - Art: 2D/illustration, 3D, animation, and resources aimed at non-artists. - Design: level design, UI/UX, and reference material. - Audio, Writing, Production, Marketing and Business, Job Hunting and Career, and Other. The README notes that the list generally avoids tools and assets, except where a course or asset is needed to learn a role, and that it avoids tutorials and design analysis videos in favor of material that supports active learning. It also points readers to the broader Awesome gaming category for tools, assets and communities, and invites contributions through pull requests and issues.