How to Become a Game Tester
Learn the process to turn your favorite hobby to a professional career path.
With technology becoming more prominent, many hobbies are taking a turn for a change – becoming viable career paths. One such hobby is playing video games with an estimated revenue of $347 billion as of 2022, according to Statista.
While many pursue full-time careers as professional gamers or streamers, other career opportunities in the gaming industry are gaining popularity, including game testing.
The role of a game tester is in high demand as video game development continues to grow. If you're passionate about video games and have an eye for detail, a career as a game tester might be the perfect fit for you.
In this guide, you will learn the skills required, career growth opportunities, and other criteria needed to become a game tester.
What Does a Game Tester Do?
A game tester, also known as a video game tester, plays video games to identify any issues that could affect the overall user experience. These issues include glitches, bugs, performance problems, and any inconsistencies within the game. Game testers work closely with game developers, designers, and programmers to ensure the game runs smoothly across consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.
Their daily tasks typically involve playing through each level or section of a game multiple times, documenting errors, and submitting detailed reports to the development team. Testers also check the functionality of certain game mechanics, ensuring that the controls are responsive and the game behaves as intended. Beyond that, they provide feedback on how fun and engaging the game is, offering suggestions for improvement.
Types of Game Testing
Game testers fall into two categories, each focusing on different aspects of the game development process:
