Even in these ridiculous times, video games comfort, challenge, and inspire us. But it takes a lot of work and wisdom to create the games we love. As one famous adventurer said, going it alone is dangerous, and that's where game design programs come in.

So, think long and hard about what kind of game developer you want to be. Do you want to use your artistic talents to design engaging worlds and new characters? Do you want to manage the business of running a studio? Or do you want to get your hands dirty with the coding and programming that makes games work? Or maybe you want to get a graduate degree and master your skills.

Any adventurer knows that the first step is often the most important. If you are ready to take the leap, read on to find out where to begin your journey.

Learn more. For more information about the Game Design program, check out the Princeton Review website: princetonreview.com/game-design

All courses: 2772020 Graduate Employment Rate 90% 2020 Graduate Salary: $65,000 Undergraduate: Gary Schyman (composer, BioShock series), Artem Kovalovs (programmer, The Last of Us) Graduates: Ryan Coogler ("Black Panther"), Jeff Kaplan ("Overwatch")

All courses: 1252020 Graduates hired 54%20 Graduates Salary: $62,321 Faculty: Keo Heng (Senior Animator, Sony Computer Entertainment), Christina Alejandre (Director of Publishing & Esports, WB Entertainment) Graduates Lawrence Preston (Environmental Artist, Sony Bend), Katelyn Anthony (QA Lead, Riot Games)

All courses: 5642020 Graduate Hiring Rate 40% 2020 Graduate Salary: $55,000 Faculty: Dr. Bennett Fordy (Getting Over It) Alumni: Carol Martz (designer of Exploding Kittens), Robert Meyer (designer of Just Cause)

5. Digipen Technology Institute Alumni: Kim Swift (Portal, Google Stadia), Adam Brennecke (Pillars of Eternity) 2020 Graduates Salary: $81,500

6. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Faculty Keith Zizza (Sound Designer, BioShock Infinite), Ed Gutierrez (Disney/Pixar) Alumni: Alex Schwartz (Job Simulator), Michael Gessner (Riot Games) 2020 Graduate Salary: $72,. $350

7. Michigan State University Faculty Ricardo Guimaraes (Concept Artist, Blizzard Entertainment, Ubisoft), Elizabeth LaPensée (Indigenous Game Designer) 2020 Grad Hire: 81%20 Salary: $58,000

8. University of Utah Graduates Doug Bowser (President, Nintendo), Nolan Bushnell (Founder, Atari) 2020 graduate hire: 40% 2020 graduate Salary: $62,145

9. Bradley University 2020 Grad Salary: $63,683 2020 Grad Hire: 60%

10. Shawnee State University 2020 graduate hire: 60% 2020 graduate salary: $59,200

11. LaSalle College Vancouver 2020 new hire 69% graduate Greg Findlay (Tomb Raider, Thief), David Larmour (Capcom)

12. Vancouver Film School Faculty Scott Henshaw (EA), Jeff Plamondon (Capcom Vancouver) Graduates: Armand Troisi (Narrative Director, Ubisoft), Boris Wong (EA)

13. Drexel University 2020 New Hire 50% Graduates: Anna Nguyen (Injustice 2, I Expect You to Die), Glenn Winters (Red Dead Redemption 2)

14. University of Central Florida FACT: 1 of 16 Microsoft Flagship Schools Alumni: Richard Ugarte (Producer, Epic Games), Alex Madeville (Facebook Games)

15. University of Abatei 2020 Graduates 40% Graduates David Jones (creator of Grand Theft Auto), Timea Tabori (Rockstar Games, engine programmer)

16. Breda University of Applied Sciences 2020 Graduates 60% Graduates Jendrik Illner (3D programmer, Ubisoft), Nathalie Jankie (level designer, Remedy)

17. Champlain College 2020 Graduates Hiring 77% Faculty Nathan Walpole (Character Animator, Halo, ESO), Christopher Kao (Character Artist, Bethesda)

18. Cogswell College Silicon Valley 2020 Grad Salary: $62,000 Interesting Fact: Recently added program focused on business, marketing and production of games.

19. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Class of 2020 Salary: $68,400 Alumni: Zack Barth (Zacktronics), Curtis R. Preem (NVIDIA)

20. University of Texas at Dallas Graduates Matt Charles, Gearbox Software; Ricardo Flores, Animator, Naughty Dog 2020 Gender breakdown: 50% male, 50% female

21. Hampshire College 2020 graduate salary: $60,000 2020 graduate hire rate: 60%

22. Savannah College of Art and Design 2020 Grad Salary: $43,667 Chad Dezern, CCO, Insomniac; Harrison Pink, Quest Designer, Blizzard

23. Laguna College of Art + Design Alumni Greg Baldwin (Character Artist, Insomniac), Nicole Tan (Level Architect, Arkane)

24. HaWest College of Applied Sciences 2020 graduate hire 70% faculty Tristan Clarisse (artist, Larian, BioWare), Kevin Hofmann (Larian)

25. University of Wisconsin-Stout 2020 Grad Hire 85% Graduates Mitchell Clayton (Environmental Artist, Naughty Dog), Mike Rooney (Gameplay Programmer)