Games are a structured form of play that are typically undertaken for recreational--but sometimes also educational and even professional--purposes. But what constitutes a successful game? In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of game design: applying elements and principles of game design, such as goals, rules, and challenges to create games, such as board games, card games, and digital games. You will be introduced to the basic tools and methods of game design: paper and digital prototyping, design iteration, design critique, and user testing. As part of the course, you will be designing several games of different types. You will also learn how to use your skills to deconstruct and critique the components of existing games, as well as gain an understanding of the role of the game designer in real-world game development teams.