For kids ages 8–12 · No console · No coding · No screen

Turn “I want to make video games” into a real game design.

Guided by Joy, a friendly in-book coach, kids work through 10 fun levels — sketching, inventing, and choosing their way from a single spark to a complete Game Design Document, the same blueprint real studios use.

Built by a 25-year game-industry creative director.

50+ activities

What's in the free Starter Kit

The 3 Pillars of Fun

Goal, obstacle, and interesting choice — the foundation every game is built on.

Design Your First Hero

A character sheet that turns a doodle into a hero with a goal and a personality.

Start a Game Design Document

The one-page starter that real studios use — your kid's first true design doc.

By the last page, your child has built a real game design

Invent a game goal — and the obstacles that make it fun
Design their own heroes, villains, worlds, and stories
Create rules, levels, and scoring systems
Pull it together into a Game Design Document they can show off

Every level ends with a peek at Joy's own game, plus quick Notes for Parents so you can help without taking over.

Meet Joy

Part controller, part coach, part idea machine — Joy keeps kids unstuck and excited, guiding them through all 10 levels of the workshop.

About the author

Greg Reisdorf is a Creative Director and 25-year veteran of the games industry. As Creative Director on Call of Duty multiplayer, he helped shape one of the most-played franchises in history. He wrote Game Creator's Workshop for the next generation of creators — so every kid who loves games knows they can make them, too.

Ready to start creating?

Grab the free Game Design Starter Kit and see what your kid makes.

Get the free Starter Kit