Here is a list of the best Game Programming books, some I have read myself, some that I did research on, and all have great reviews!
- Game Programming Patterns (2014)
- Beginning C++ Through Game Programming (2014)
- Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 4E (2016)
- Game Programming in C++: Creating 3D Games: Creating 3D Games (Game Design) (2018)
- Developing 2D Games with Unity: Independent Game Programming with C# (2018)
- Multiplayer Game Programming: Architecting Networked Games (Game Design) (2015)
- Game Programming Algorithms and Techniques: A Platform-Agnostic Approach (Game Design) (2013)
- The Fundamentals of C/C++ Game Programming (2018)
- Mission Python: Code a Space Adventure Game! (2018)
- Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design (2014)
- C++ Game Development By Example: Learn to build games and graphics with SFML, OpenGL, and Vulkan using C++ programming (2019)
- Programming Game AI by Example (Wordware Game Developers Library) (2004)
- Mathematics for Computer Graphics and Game Programming: A Self-Teaching Introduction (2019)
- Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques (2014)
- Foundations of Game Engine Development, Volume 1: Mathematics (2016)
Game Programming Patterns (2014)
The biggest challenge facing many game programmers is completing their game. Most game projects fizzle out, overwhelmed by the complexity of their own code. Game Programming Patterns tackles that exact problem. Based on years of experience in shipped AAA titles, this book collects proven patterns to untangle and optimize your game, organized as independent recipes so you can pick just the patterns you need.
Beginning C++ Through Game Programming (2014)
When it comes to game programming, C++ is the name of the game. If you aspire to move from game player to game creator, it all starts with learning the fundamentals of C++ and game-programming basics. With BEGINNING C++ THROUGH GAME PROGRAMMING, FOURTH EDITION, you will find an up-to-date and thorough introduction to everything you need to get started–with no previous programming experience required.
Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 4E (2016)
Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python will teach you how to make computer games using the popular Python programming language—even if you’ve never programmed before!Begin by building classic games like Hangman, Guess the Number, and Tic-Tac-Toe, and then work your way up to more advanced games, like a text-based treasure hunting game and an animated collision-dodging game with sound effects.
Game Programming in C++: Creating 3D Games: Creating 3D Games (Game Design) (2018)
C++ remains the key language at many leading game development studios. Since it’s used throughout their enormous code bases, studios use it to maintain and improve their games, and look for it constantly when hiring new developers. is a practical, hands-on approach to programming 3D video games in C++.
Developing 2D Games with Unity: Independent Game Programming with C# (2018)
Follow a walkthrough of the Unity Engine and learn important 2D-centric lessons in scripting, working with image assets, animations, cameras, collision detection, and state management. In addition to the fundamentals, you’ll learn best practices, helpful game-architectural patterns, and how to customize Unity to suit your needs, all in the context of building a working 2D game.
Multiplayer Game Programming: Architecting Networked Games (Game Design) (2015)
Networked multiplayer games are a multibillion dollar business: some games now attract tens of millions of players. In this practical, code-rich guide, Joshua Glazer and Sanjay Madhav guide you through every aspect of engineering them.
Game Programming Algorithms and Techniques: A Platform-Agnostic Approach (Game Design) (2013)
Game Programming Algorithms and Techniques is a detailed overview of many of the important algorithms and techniques used in video game programming today. Designed for programmers who are familiar with object-oriented programming and basic data structures, this book focuses on practical concepts that see actual use in the game industry.
The Fundamentals of C/C++ Game Programming (2018)
This book is aimed at giving novice coders an understanding of the methods and techniques used in professional games development. Designed to help develop and strengthen problem solving and basic C/C++ skills, it also will help to develop familiarity targeting and using fixed/restricted hardware, which are key skills in console development.
Mission Python: Code a Space Adventure Game! (2018)
Launch into coding with Mission Python, a space-themed guide to building a complete computer game in Python. You’ll learn programming fundamentals like loops, strings, and lists as you build Escape!, an exciting game with a map to explore, items to collect, and tricky logic puzzles to solve. As you work through the book, you’ll build exercises and mini-projects, like making a spacewalk simulator and creating an astronaut’s safety checklist that will put your new Python skills to the test.
Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design (2014)
If you want to design and build cutting-edge video games but aren’t sure where to start, then the SECOND EDITION of the acclaimed Level Up! is for you! Written by leading video game expert Scott Rogers, who has designed the hits Pac Man World, Maximo and SpongeBob Squarepants, this updated edition provides clear and well-thought out examples that forgo theoretical gobbledygook with charmingly illustrated concepts and solutions based on years of professional experience.
C++ Game Development By Example: Learn to build games and graphics with SFML, OpenGL, and Vulkan using C++ programming (2019)
Although numerous languages are currently being used to develop games, C++ remains the standard for fabricating expert libraries and tool chains for game development. This book introduces you to the world of game development with C++. C++ Game Development By Example starts by touching upon the basic concepts of math, programming, and computer graphics and creating a simple side-scrolling action 2D game.
Programming Game AI by Example (Wordware Game Developers Library) (2004)
Programming Game AI by Example provides a comprehensive and practical introduction to the “bread and butter” AI techniques used by the game development industry, leading the reader through the process of designing, programming, and implementing intelligent agents for action games using the C++ programming language.
Mathematics for Computer Graphics and Game Programming: A Self-Teaching Introduction (2019)
Designed to explain the mathematical concepts involved in computer graphics and its entities, this book is ideal for courses in computer graphics, engineering, game development, as well as for professionals in industry. It begins with simple concepts such as how an image is generated on the screen and then moves to cover the different algorithms for the generation of simple geometry on the screen.
Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques (2014)
With increasingly sophisticated video games being consumed by an enthusiastic and expanding audience, the pressure is on game developers like never before to deliver exciting stories and engaging characters. With Video Game Storytelling, game writer and producer Evan Skolnick provides a comprehensive yet easy-to-follow guide to storytelling basics and how they can be applied at every stage of the development process—by all members of the team.
Foundations of Game Engine Development, Volume 1: Mathematics (2016)
The first volume of Foundations of Game Engine Development discusses the mathematics needed by engineers who work on games or other types of virtual simulations. The book begins with conventional treatments of topics such as linear algebra, transforms, and geometry.
Best Game Programming Books That You Need
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some game programming books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
C++ Game Programming: Learn game programming with C++ step by step very easy
Author(s): coll
ID: 3197368, Publisher: , Year: 2022, Size: 3 Mb, Format: epub
Unity Artificial Intelligence Programming: Add powerful, believable, and fun AI entities in your game with the power of Unity
Author(s): D. Aversa
ID: 3245680, Publisher: , Year: 2022, Size: 3 Mb, Format: pdf
Unity Artificial Intelligence Programming: Add powerful, believable, and fun AI entities in your game with the power of Unity, 5th Edition
Author(s): Dr. Davide Aversa
ID: 3245898, Publisher: Packt Publishing, Year: 2022, Size: 6 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not errorless. Some books are really hot items according to The Wall Street Journal, others are drafted by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.