There are so many game development courses out there on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and even university programs. Some are free while others cost hundreds of dollars. I'm willing to invest in my education but I want to make sure I'm getting value. What game development courses have you taken that actually helped you build real skills and complete projects? I'm especially interested in courses that provide a clear game development roadmap and help with game development project completion.
The GameDev.tv courses on Udemy are absolutely worth it, especially when they're on sale for $10-15. I've taken several and they're consistently high quality with good production values and comprehensive content. The instructors are responsive in the Q&A sections too, which is rare for online courses.
I'd recommend being selective about paid courses. Many just repackage free content. Look for courses that include project files, have active Q&A sections, and are recently updated. The 'Complete C# Unity Game Developer 3D' course has been invaluable for me - it's massive (like 50+ hours) but you build multiple complete games.
Before spending money, exhaust the free resources first. Unity Learn, Unreal Online Learning, and Godot's documentation are all excellent and free. Only consider paid courses when you need more structured learning or specific advanced topics. I wasted money on beginner courses that didn't teach me anything beyond what was available for free.
Look for courses that offer certificates if that matters to you. Some employers do value them, especially for junior positions. Coursera's Game Design and Development specialization from Michigan State University is excellent and gives you a proper certificate. It's more expensive but the quality is university level.