Game Design Academy with Unreal Engine 5

  • Price: Starting at $4,599 (payment plan available)
  • Age: Ages 13-18
  • Skill Level: Beginner-Advanced
  • Format: iD Tech Academies | Small-Group, On-Campus
  • Duration: Two-week program

Premier Teen Program

Step into the role of developer, designer, and tester as you build from initial concept to a polished, playable game. You’ll follow industry techniques behind award-winning games like Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Week one, build a solo project in Unreal Engine. Graybox a level and grow it into a playable world, scripting mechanics like projectiles, collectibles, and health systems. Use the skills you’ve learned to dive deeper into specialties like 3D modeling, lighting, animation, and scripting.

Week two, join a dedicated studio team. Name your team, research ideas, and outline your plan in a detailed game design document. Combine everyone’s specialties to build one game together. You'll meet daily for instructor-guided critiques and playtesting with peers.

Create a game trailer, then announce your game at the Launch Party in a conference-style event and earn your iD Tech Academy diploma and transcript. Come away with a polished game and capstone for your portfolio that can help boost your college and internship applications.

You'll learn to:

  • Collaborate in a studio-like environment with peers and instructor-guided critiques
  • Research and analyze market trends to inform your decisions
  • Graybox a level and develop it into a complete, playable game
  • Script custom events such as projectiles, enemy AI, and health systems
  • Explore industry pathways like 3D modeling, lighting, animation, and scripting
  • Create a game trailer and showcase your game at the Launch Party

Course Format 

This course is part of an intensive 2-week summer program running Monday through Friday (overnight at most locations with the option to stay the weekend within the two weeks). Your teen will learn in a lab on an inspiring university campus with a balanced daily schedule of assignment-driven workshops and outdoor/recreational activities. Courses are led by experienced instructors in a small-group setting. Learn more below. 

Sample Schedule

In this course, students will explore game design to build a game prototype in Unreal Engine 5.

Here’s a sample of what each week in the course could look like! Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of the key material and overall student experience.

Week 1: Game Design in Unreal Engine 5

Stepping into Unreal Engine 5, students will learn the software's basic tools and build an environment complete with platforms.

Building off the basic structures they created, students will customize their landscape in Paint Mode to add materials and lush details. Then, they’ll dive into Unreal’s Blueprints Visual Scripting system to create custom classes and interactions.  

Next, students will take their blueprint-crafting skills to the next level by creating advanced game mechanics, such as collectibles, keybindings, and custom UI elements.

Students will put their skills to the test in their final project—a custom game of their own design! They’ll apply game design principles to build upon their weeklong project or create a new level prototype.

To wrap up the week, students will add finishing touches to their games and beta-test their projects with their peers and instructor.

Week 2: Create a Game Prototype

Lights, camera, action! Students will collaborate on a studio team to plan a prototype game they’ll build throughout the week. They’ll brainstorm ideas and create a game design document to set their goals and scope their project.

Students will begin designing their prototype game by creating core Blueprints and mechanics. They’ll plan, iterate, and implement each feature, using a debug level to find and fix errors.

Next, students will focus on customization, art, and story. They’ll add custom assets, such as models they sculpt themselves in Blender, or 3D models from the Marketplace.

Students will refine and polish their game, adding any final touches needed before they wrap up. They’ll collaborate in a playtesting session to iron out any bugs and make improvements to their game.

To bring everything together, students will export their final game and create a portfolio presentation to showcase their individual contributions.

Portfolio-Boosting Diploma & Transcript

At the conclusion of your teen's course, they will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining the skills they learned over the session—which can help boost high school, college, and internship applications.
 

Get advice from our experts

Our goal is to make planning and registering easy, so you can focus on what matters most—giving your teens a summer to remember. Our team of experienced Program Specialists can answer any and every question, including finding the perfect location and course for your teens. Call us at 1-888-709-8324 or email hello@idtech.com. 

Elite Staff & Experienced Instructors

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your student. With 25 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. Each year iD instructors go on to be hired by the most prestigious tech companies in the world like Google, EA, Disney, Microsoft, and more. When your student learns from the best, they’ll unlock opportunities to become their best. 

  • 100% USA-based, adult instructors

  • Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU

  • Rigorous background and reference checks

  • Robust training programs and certification

  • Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

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Summer '27 registration opens this November!

In the meantime, join us online for private lessons, running right now! Led by our elite instructors, your child can dive into topics they love including coding, game dev, design, and more. Need help choosing the perfect program? Contact us.

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Get more info

Summer '27 registration opens this November!

In the meantime, join us online for private lessons, running right now! Led by our elite instructors, your child can dive into topics they love including coding, game dev, design, and more. Need help choosing the perfect program? Contact us.

Sign up for our emails to be the first to hear about new courses, programs, and partnerships–plus receive exclusive promotions!

By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy

FAQ

As video games get more and more advanced, they’re beginning to look as visually sophisticated as blockbuster films. That means there is a lot going on behind the scenes! By combining a gamer’s eye for design and game mechanics with Unreal Engine's Visual Scripting, teens can level up their STEM skills.

iD Tech Academies offer intensive, assignment-driven programming workshops in various course topics including machine learning, virtual reality, game development, robotics, and more. Programs are designed to be a rigorous, pre-college experience that provides industry insights for teens interested in pursuing STEM fields in college or as a career.

All graduates will leave their academy with a portfolio tailored to their course topic - which is invaluable for college applications, internships, and jobs - along with their iD Tech Diploma. 

This course is taught by iD Tech instructors.

Yes! Every iD Tech experience contributes toward leveling up along the iD Tech Pathway. This course is worth 4,667 XP— learn more about the iD Tech Pathway here.

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

In addition to specialized skills, teens leave their academy with a new network of friends and mentors, resilience, critical thinking opportunities, and official certification that stands out to admissions officers.

At the conclusion of the academy experience, teens will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining everything they learned during the program. They’ll also take home a USB with their course project files, along with access to installation and setup guides so they can continue working at their own pace.

Yes! You can register today for as little as $460 per student, and pay the balance in convenient monthly installments. 

You can also save by registering for multiple sessions (save $50 when you buy a second course in another topic or for a sibling), or by inviting friends to join at camp (earn a $25 credit for each new referral; your friends save $25 too). 

With our weeklong summer camps, teens can strike the perfect balance between STEM skill development and summer fun, experiencing collegiate life and learning on-campus at a prestigious university. (Overnight options available at select locations.)

Additionally, with online programs including private lessons, teen academies, and virtual camps, there is a program that fits your teen’s interests, skill level, goals, and importantly, schedule. Learn more.

Our Program Specialists are here to provide you with the best experience. Looking for a personalized course recommendation? Need help signing up? We’ve got you covered. Call us at 1-888-709-8324 or email hello@idtech.com. 

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Registration for Summer ‘27 camps and academies opens to the public November 8th! Start planning an unforgettable summer by downloading our ‘26 brochure today. 
 

 
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