The Game Design master's degree programme at the Ohm has a standard duration of four semesters and is structured in four phases: The first semester is designed to align students’ differing academic backgrounds and establish a common level of knowledge across the cohort. The second and third semesters focus on advancing both theoretical knowledge and practical experience through two project phases. The fourth semester is devoted to the master’s thesis (§ 8 of the SPO).

Structure of the degree programme

Semester 1 (summer semester): 
Foundation and alignment phase – Modules 1-5 (Evaluation Project, Team Building, Game Engine 101, Game as a System, Required Elective Modules: Basics)

Semester 2 (winter semester):
Modules 6-10: Project Part 1, Mentoring, Community Building & Pitching, Game Analysis Seminar, first ‘deep dive’ Required Elective Modules

Semester 3 (summer semester): 
Modules 11-15: Project Part 2, Mentoring, Game Science, Business Basics, additional ‘deep dive’ Required Elective Modules

Semester 4 (winter semester):
Modules 16-19: Master’s Thesis incl. Colloquium (defence), Publication and Marketing, Project Polishing & Portfolio Building

Programme modules

As described in the Appendix to the SPO (Total credits: 120 ECTS):

1. Game Design Loop– 5 ECTS (required)
2. Team & Project – 2.5 ECTS (required)
3. Game Engine 101 – 2.5 ECTS (required)
4. Game as a System – 5 ECTS (required)
5. Required elective modules ‘Basics’ [FWPF] – 15 ECTS (3 of 4 modules, examination board determines which for each individual) Programming and Media Technology 101 – 5 ECTS, Aesthetics 101 – 5 ECTS, Story and Worldbuilding 101 – 5 ECTS, Game Mechanics 101 – 5 ECTS
6. Project Part 1 – 10 ECTS (required)
7. Subject-specific Mentoring, Part 1 – 2.5 ECTS (required)
8. Game Analysis Seminar – 2.5 ECTS (required)
9. Community Building & Pitching – 5 ECTS (required)
10. ‘Deep dives’ required elective modules [FWPF] – 10 ECTS (students select)
11. Project Part 2 – 10 ECTS (required)
12. Subject-specific Mentoring, Part 2 – 2.5 ECTS (required)
13. Game Science Loop – 5 ECTS (required)
14. Business Basics – 2.5 ECTS (required)
15. ‘Deep dives’ required elective modules [FWPF] – 10 ECTS (students select)
16. Master’s Thesis – 20 ECTS (required)
17. Thesis Seminar – 2.5 ECTS (required)
18. Publication and Marketing – 2.5 ECTS (required)
19. Project Polishing + Portfolio Building – 5 ECTS (required)

Further details about the modules (lecture hours, teaching format, assessment formats, etc.) available in the Appendix to the SPO and/or the module catalogue.

Specialisations

The programme does not have pre-defined specialisations. Students may choose freely from a broad catalogue of advanced required elective modules (‘deep dives’), such as: Management & Leadership, Game Feel and Flow, Level Design, Procedural World Design, 3D Essentials, Game Audio, Game Engine Development, Multimodal Interaction, AI for Games + Interactive Systems, Intelligent NPCs, Simulation + Rendering, Virtual Reality, Serious Games, Ethics in Game Development, Game Theory, Multiplayer Games, Gamification, etc. (see the module catalogue for a complete list). 

Students do not freely choose from the ‘Basics’ required elective modules (including Programming and Media Technology, Aesthetics, Story and Worldbuilding, Game Mechanics); the examination board determines which of the electives must be completed on an individual basis.

Master’s thesis

At least 60 credits must have been completed, in order to begin working on the master’s thesis (20 ECTS). Topics are assigned by professors teaching in the programme and may either build on project topics from previous coursework (Project Part 1/2) or address an entirely new subject. Under normal circumstances, the thesis should be completed within six months of continuous work; the period between when the topic is registered and the submission of the final thesis may not exceed nine months. Theses are generally submitted in English and evaluated by two independent examiners. The thesis must subsequently be presented and defended in a colloquium that is open to members of the university (15-45 minutes duration). The master’s thesis should prepare students for subsequent professional practice or qualify them for doctoral studies (§ 14 of the SPO).

Fields of work and job profiles

As a game designer, you will work at the intersection of creativity, systems thinking, and team leadership. You will develop game concepts, define rules and game mechanics, design core loops, progression, and reward systems, and are responsible for a game’s narrative structure and pacing. Game designers turn creative vision into a finished game, much like a director guides a film or theatre production from concept to completion.

With a Game Design master’s degree, many career opportunities in the games industry will be open to you: 
Graduates can pursue careers as game designers, systems designers, level designers, or narrative designers in organisations ranging from small independent studios to major international game development companies. Many game designers also work as creative directors or lead game designers, where they are responsible for the overall creative leadership of a production, from the first concept to release. The programme’s emphasis on conceptual excellence and systemic design makes its graduates especially well suited for positions involving the creation, balancing, and strategic direction of game systems, going beyond the implementation of individual gameplay features.

A key objective of the programme is to strengthen the German indie games sector: 
Students learn how to design and deliver fundable proof-of-concept projects, prepare pitch presentations, collaborate with funders, and make well-informed entrepreneurial decisions. As a graduate, you will be qualified for employment in established game studios and also for start-up ventures like founding an indie game studio or collective – an increasingly viable career option supported by dedicated funding programmes and professional networks in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Beyond the games industry, your skills in systems design and player-centered design are highly valued across a range of sectors: 
Career opportunities also extend to gamification projects in education, health care, mobility, and corporate communications, roles in UX and service design teams, or the development of game-based products and services in agencies or start-ups. In a world shaped by digital experiences, the ability to conceptualise, develop prototypes of, and iteratively improve complex interaction systems has become an essential professional skill.

The programme is taught in English and its international design equips graduates for careers in globally networked production environments. Students work with the methods and terminology used across the international games industry, develop a portfolio that showcases both digital and analogue game projects, and learn how to document, justify, and communicate your design decisions professionally, an essential pre-requisite for securing positions in game studios and working effectively in distributed development teams.

Educational opportunities following the master’s degree

The master’s thesis should prepare students for subsequent professional practice or qualify them for doctoral studies (§ 14 (1) line 4 of the SPO).

• Graduates are well prepared for roles in game studios such as game designer, systems designer, level designer, or narrative designer, with clear career pathways leading to positions like lead designer or creative director.
• Founding an indie studio or collective: Developing fundable prototypes, pitch decks, and production plans for the German and international indie games market.
• Use of game design expertise in gamification, UX, and service design to create engaging products and experiences for the education, health care, and mobility sectors and in corporate communications.
• Work in internationally networked teams with systems design expertise and a portfolio comprising both digital and analogue game projects.

Counseling on your way from studying to career

To support your transition from university to employment, the Ohm’s Career Service offers a variety of offerings designed to prepare you for your future career.