What Is a Game Tester and How Do You Become One?

What does a game tester do?

A game tester, also referred to as a video game tester, is someone who plays video games, tests their features, and identifies glitches and bugs before game release. Game testers often work for video game companies and collaborate with game developers and programmers to improve games and ensure they’re ready for users. 

Types of game testing

There are two main roles that a game tester typically takes on. 

• Playtesters focus on testing the user experience of a game, such as where it becomes boring or vague, how fun it is to play, and how many victories you can experience on the way to meeting the game’s objective. 

• Quality assurance testers focus on identifying technical issues with a game, such as glitches, bugs, and inconsistencies. 

Game tester salary and job outlook

According to Fortune Business Insights, the gaming industry is expected to grow from $229.16 billion in 2021 to $545.98 billion by 2028 [1]. Glassdoor reports that game testers in the US make $57,313 annually on average [2]. This figure includes an average base salary of $53,227 and a median additional pay of $4,086. Additional pay may include commissions, bonuses, and profit sharing.

Why become a game tester? 

In addition to being able to earn money, becoming a game tester can be a rewarding experience. As a game tester, you’ll typically gain access to the latest games, which means you’ll have an insider’s view of the gaming industry. If you enjoy playing video games, testing them will likely appeal to your abilities and interests, particularly exploring new worlds, paying attention to detail, and thinking strategically.   

If your goal is to be a part of the gaming industry for the long term, becoming a game tester can open up several career opportunities, from game development to graphic design, quality assurance engineering, or even project management. 

A day in the life of a video game tester

As a game tester, you contribute to the gaming industry and community. Testers help developers identify and address glitches, defects, and issues before games are released to the public. Avoiding post-release errors helps keep costs down and keep players happy. Effective testing supports overall game quality and customer satisfaction, helping set games up for commercial success. The games you test could go on to become iconic games that inspire and delight players for generations.  

Video game tester responsibilities 

Video game testers are responsible for several important tasks. Most importantly, they are expected to play video games with a more critical eye than when playing games for entertainment. That way, they can identify technical and creative problems that could result in a negative user experience, including: 

• When a player becomes trapped in a section of the game

• When a movement graphic doesn’t work 

• When the controls don’t feel intuitive

• Areas of the game that aren’t enjoyable

• Confusion about the game, its concept, or the objective 

In order to identify these problems, game testers may be asked to perform specific tasks, such as switching the game on and off, downloading games while playing other games, playing the game on different devices and platforms, and recreating sequences that lead to glitches. 

The playtesting process in 4 parts

Sometimes game testers are asked to participate in a series of testing rounds. For example, Techopedia, an IT news and trends site, describes a four-part process for playtesting, including:

1. Gross playtesting: initial test using the basic running model to find problems in gameplay (how users interact with a game), usually carried out by the design team

2. In-house playtesting: a more comprehensive test to find remaining glitches in gameplay, usually carried out by in-house or contract game testers 

3. Blind testing: when playtesters with no prior knowledge of the game experience it as users and provide feedback 

4. Final playtesting: the last test before the game is released to improve design and aesthetic rather than function

How to become a game tester

If you’re interested in becoming a game tester, there are several ways to enter this field. Follow the steps below to explore your options and gain the professional skills and experience you need to land a game-testing role.

1. Upgrade your gaming practice. 

The most important part of becoming a game tester is to become an intentional and conscientious gamer. Your goals should include:

• Gain varied experience by playing different genres of games, such as real-time strategy, multiplayer online battle area, and sports.

• Gain proficiency in and familiarity with playing games on different game consoles, as well as on desktops, laptops, and mobile phones. 

• Identify features that would improve games. 

• Practice describing your gaming experiences in detail. 

You can learn more about how to identify the elements of a good game by taking an online course in a specialized area of game development. For example, the Art for Games Specialization from the University of Michigan covers the essentials of 2D and 3D game art production. You'll also learn to work with common industry tools like Maya, Unity, Photoshop, Sketchup, ZBrush, Marmoset Toolbag, and Substance Painter:

2. Build technical knowledge and skills in game testing.

Supplement your gaming practice with a strong set of technical skills.

• Learn the basic responsibilities of a game tester, including playing every stage of a game, detecting bugs and glitches, and recommending improvements to developers. 

• Learn QA terminology like playtesting, code release, performance testing, and minimum viable product. 

• Become familiar with top gaming studios and companies like Electronic Arts, Nintendo, and Ubisoft. 

• Improve your strategic thinking, analysis, reporting, and technical writing skills. 

• Learn reporting and technical writing.  

If you still need to gain the essential skills above, don't worry. There are several ways to prepare yourself for an entry-level game testing role. Consider taking online courses, getting certified in specific skills, or earning a degree in game design, computer programming, or a related fields. For example, you can strengthen your understanding of game design and development while earning a certificate for your resume with this 100 percent online, self-paced course:

3. Participate in public beta testing.

Public beta testing can be a great way to learn about upcoming games, practice your skills as a game tester, and even earn in-game rewards. Explore beta testing sites for gamers like Game Tester, Alpha Beta Gamer, and BetaBound – Games to find opportunities to participate in open tests. With each test, document your process and keep a running account of everything you learn. 

4. Build a game tester resume.

As you acquire skills, knowledge, and experience in game testing, you’ll want to build a resume that represents your capabilities. Be sure to list your game tester training, certifications and education you’ve earned, and concrete game tester skills.  

If you’ve participated in any public beta tests, list the games themselves, the bugs and glitches you found, the gameplay features you evaluated, and when the game was (or will be) released to the public.    

Read more: 10 Ways to Enhance Your Resume

5. Apply for game tester jobs. 

For this step, you might find it useful to conduct job searches on a variety of job sites, including general jobs sites like Indeed and Glassdoor, as well as sites specific to the gaming industry like Gaming Jobs Online and Hitmarker. 

For each job listing, pay attention to salary information, skills and qualifications required, and the role’s related tasks and projects. 

Start preparing for a game-testing role with Coursera 

Consider taking online gaming courses to build your baseline skills, discover what’s possible for you as a game tester, and familiarize yourself with how the gaming industry works.