How to become a game UX tester

Is becoming a game UX tester right for me?

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Overview
What do game UX testers do?

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How to become a Game UX Tester

Becoming a game UX tester involves a combination of education, skills development, and practical experience. Here’s a roadmap to entering the field:

High School Diploma or Equivalent
Entry-level game tester jobs often require only a high school diploma, as many employers focus more on technical skills, attention to detail, and experience rather than formal education.

Associate or Bachelor’s Degree (Optional)
While not always mandatory, having a degree can give you an advantage. The following majors are particularly applicable to UX testing:

  • Game Design – to understand the fundamentals of game development, mechanics, and systems
  • Computer Science / Computer Software Engineering – to build a strong foundation in programming and the technical side of game development
  • Psychology – to understand player behavior, cognitive load, and emotional responses to game mechanics
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) – to specialize in the relationship between people and technology, which is highly relevant for UX testing
  • User Experience (UX) Design – to focus on user-centered design principles, research, and usability testing

Develop Relevant Soft Skills

  • Analytical Thinking – to evaluate how players interact with a game and pinpoint usability issues
  • Communication Skills – to provide clear, actionable feedback to developers and designers
  • Attention to Detail – to identify small usability issues that could affect the player experience

Specialized Training in UX Research

  • User Research – Learn how to conduct interviews, focus groups, surveys, and A/B tests, and analyze user behavior, which are all key aspects of UX testing.
  • Tools and Software – Take courses to get familiar with tools like Figma, Sketch, Axure RP, or Adobe XD for UI/UX design, as well as UserTesting or Lookback for conducting usability testing, wireframing, and prototyping. Understanding the fundamentals of human-computer interaction (HCI) is key to identifying usability issues in games.
  • Game-Specific Knowledge – Take short workshops in game design, development, and testing on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning. Understanding game design principles and the impact of gameplay mechanics on player experience is important for identifying UX issues in a game.

Gain Experience

  • Internships or Entry-Level Positions – Look for internships or entry-level positions at game studios or UX research companies. Even starting as a game tester (non-UX) will provide insight into the development process.
  • Freelance and Volunteer Testing – Consider freelancing or volunteering to help indie developers with playtesting and UX feedback. This will allow you to build a portfolio and gain practical experience.
  • Participation in Game Jams – Game jams are a great way to collaborate with others and practise testing games in rapid, creative environments.

Build a Portfolio
As you gain experience, develop and maintain a portfolio of your testing feedback and the results of your work. Showcase case studies where you’ve identified problems and provided solutions. If possible, include sample playtesting reports or feedback you've created from your testing. This will help demonstrate your ability to analyze and solve real UX issues.

Stay Updated and Network
Stay up to date with game development trends, UX research methodologies, and emerging gaming platforms (e.g., VR, AR). Join online forums and UX/game development communities (e.g., Reddit, LinkedIn groups, Discord). This helps you connect with others in the field and learn from experienced professionals. Attend game industry events and UX design conferences (such as GDC or UX conferences) to learn from experts and network with potential employers.

Certifications
There are several certifications specifically relevant to user experience testing and game design that can help game UX testers develop needed skills and make them more competitive in the job market. Here’s an overview:

  • ISTQB Certified Tester Usability Testing (CT-UT) – This certification, offered by the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), focuses on usability testing methods and approaches. It covers set up procedures from a usability, user experience, and accessibility perspective, as well as relevant standards and risks.
  • Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) – Offered by Human Factors International (HFI), this certification focuses on usability testing, UX research methodologies, and human-computer interaction. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to specialize in usability testing for any platform, including games.
  • UX Certification / UX Master Certification – Offered by the Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g), one of the top UX research and design firms globally, these credentialing programs delve into usability principles, UX research, usability testing, and user-centered design. While not game-specific, the principles can be applied to game testing.
  • Google UX Design Certificate – Offered by Coursera, in partnership with Google, this certificate program teaches UX design fundamentals, user research, wireframing, and prototyping. It is not game-specific, but provides a strong foundation for any UX tester.
  • Unity Certified User: Programmer / Unity Certified Associate: Game Developer – These certifications demonstrate familiarity with Unity, which is useful for game UX testing in Unity-based games. They help UX testers understand how the game’s design affects the user experience, making it easier to identify issues in gameplay or mechanics.
  • Unreal Engine Certified Developer – This credential is helpful if testing games built in Unreal Engine, a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games.
  • User Experience Design Certification by Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) – The IDF offers affordable, high-quality online courses with certificates that are recognized in the UX field. These courses focus on topics like interaction design, usability testing, and research. While not game-focused, they teach skills directly applicable to game UX.
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Certifications – Offered by various institutions (e.g., Coursera, edX, MIT, Stanford), these certificate programs focus on the principles of human-computer interaction and how to design and test systems that are user-friendly. Understanding HCI is a significant asset when testing UX in games as it helps anticipate how players will interact with interfaces and game systems.
  • Certified Agile Tester - Foundation (CATF) – This certification, offered by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM), is for testers working in agile environments (a common approach in game development). The agile methodology is a project management approach that involves breaking the project into phases and emphasizes continuous collaboration and improvement.
  • Certified Accessible Player Experience Practitioner (CAPXP) – This certification is offered by AbleGamers. The program teaches candidates how to apply data driven APX design patterns and promote focus on accessibility early in the design cycle; learn to identify accessibility issues during the design cycle and implement solutions to fix them; equip themselves with the data they need to show accessibility is a worthwhile investment; and understand the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) and what it requires.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Certifications section, the following organizations also support the user experience and testing community:

  • Interaction Design Association (IxDA) – IxDA is a global community focused on interaction design and UX. It hosts events, conferences, webinars, and a job board for professionals in the field. While not game-specific, the organization's focus on interaction design principles and user experience makes it highly relevant for anyone working in game UX testing.
  • User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) – This association supports people who research, design, and evaluate the user experience (UX) of products and services.
  • Game Developers Conference (GDC) – GDC is one of the largest game development conferences in the world. It brings together developers, designers, and UX specialists in the gaming industry. The conference hosts workshops, sessions, and panels on topics like game UX, playtesting, and usability.
  • International Game Developers Association (IGDA) – IGDA is a global network of game developers, offering resources, job boards, community support, and special interest groups (SIGs) focused on various areas of game development, including game accessibility and user experience.