Key Takeaways
- Vancouver Film School has once again been recognized by The Princeton Review for its industry-leading Game Design program, marking its fifth inclusion in the journal’s national rankings.
- With access to exclusive partnerships (Unreal Engine, ASUS, Beyond Capture) and cutting-edge facilities like a massive motion capture stage, VFS Game Design students train in a production environment that reflects what is currently happening in the industry.
- From Elden Ring to League of Legends, VFS alumni are shaping the future of gaming, earning credits on 17 of 2024’s 20 bestselling games and on award-winning games at The Game Awards.
ASPIRING GAME DESIGNERS: Looking to create something incredible this summer? Join a 5-day creative workshop from July 14-18 to explore the game development process, get direct production experience in game art, level design, storytelling & more, and begin building your game portfolio! Click here to learn more.
Vancouver Film School is proud to announce we’ve been named the #1 Game Design School in Canada by The Princeton Review in its 2025 rankings. This marks the fifth year that our Game Design program has received this honour, highlighting our school's commitment to excellence in training artists for the game industry.
The Princeton Review's rankings are based on a comprehensive survey of 150 institutions offering game design programs, evaluating factors such as academic offerings, faculty credentials, technology, and career outcomes. VFS's consistent top placement reflects our dedication to providing students with industry-relevant skills and experiences in our state-of-the-art production centre.
"Being named #1 in Canada by The Princeton Review is an immense honour and a testament to the hard work and talent of our faculty, students, and especially alumni” commented Christopher Mitchell, Head of VFS’s Game Design and Programming for Games, Web & Mobile programs. "Our success stems from the fact that as the technological floor rises, letting developers do more, we push the ceiling to match, changing curriculum to meet what industry wants students to learn so they’re fully prepared to work in the game industry from the moment they graduate.”
VFS has once again been named the #1 Game Design School in Canada by The Princeton Review.But WHY does VFS’s Game Design program continue to succeed year after year?
1) THE VFS ADVANTAGE
Vancouver Film School students have exclusive access to THE VFS ADVANTAGE, which sets us apart from all other creative arts schools.
- SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION: Training is provided by master instructors and mentors pulled directly from the gaming industry. Class sizes are small to optimize your training, and students collaborate with other VFS programs regularly.
- UNMATCHED FACILITIES: Our cutting-edge facilities include a 64,000 cubic ft. motion capture volume, a 180-degree green screen room, arcades, Unity & Unreal labs, industry software, & more.
- PRODUCTION-BASED LEARNING: Why wait to make games until your first gig? At VFS, you’ll create a retail-ready game as part of your Vancouver Film School Game Design student portfolio – your industry calling-card.
- A LIFELONG NETWORK: You’ll forge strong connections with your classmates, our alumni, and the industry, ensuring you are well-connected as you search for your first job.
2) INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP
VFS prides itself on the strong connections we make regularly with the industry (think Unreal Engine, Unity Technologies, and NVDIA). To highlight a few:
- BEYOND CAPTURE STUDIOS: Our campus is home to an industry-leading motion and performance capture volume, which our students have access to during and after their training.
- ASUS PROART: Through this partnership, VFS has added the ProArt Armoury Workstation PC, ProArt PA278CGV monitors, and ASUS ProArt P16 laptops into its classrooms.
- EPIC GAMES: In 2025, VFS officially reached Gold status in the Unreal Engine Academic Partner program which included an ArtStation Pro license upgrade, Epic Marketplace credits, Epic Games-developed learning materials, & more.
VFS Game Design students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and industry partnerships with ASUS, Unreal Engine, & more as they develop their games.3) VFS GAME DESIGN ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES
There’s no greater measure of success than the accomplishments of our alumni in the industry.
In 2024, our alumni worked on 17 of the 20 bestselling games, from EA Sports College Football to Elden Ring, Minecraft, and beyond. And, at the Game Awards – the Oscars of gaming – 206 alumni were credited on recognized games, including League of Legends, Senua’s Sega: Hellblade, and more.
At the Unity Awards, our students win big year after year. VFS Game Design students have snatched the award for Best Student Game four times (most recently Meowmentum Mori) and have been nominated a total of 8 times!
HOW TO APPLY TO VFS GAME DESIGN
All it takes is 1 year at VFS to get your Game Design diploma in Canada and launch your career in game development! Apply today to begin your hero’s journey towards becoming a master coder, game artist, or level designer and shaping the next generation of AAA games.
FAQ
1. Why was Vancouver Film School named the #1 Game Design School in Canada by The Princeton Review?
VFS earned the ranking of best game design school in Canada based on academic offerings, faculty expertise, technology, and career outcomes. VFS’s cutting-edge training, experienced faculty, and strong industry connections secured its place at the top.
2. What makes the VFS Game Design program different from others?
- Superior instruction from industry professionals
- Cutting-edge facilities (including a massive mocap studio and green screen room)
- Hands-on, production-focused learning with a focus on portfolio building
- Lifelong networking opportunities with alumni and industry leaders
3. What industry partnerships does VFS have for Game Design students?
VFS partners with major companies like Unreal Engine (Epic Games), ASUS ProArt, Unity Technologies, and Beyond Capture Studios, providing students with access to the latest tools, technology, and professional networks.
4. How successful are VFS Game Design alumni?
In 2024 alone, VFS alumni contributed to 17 of the 20 bestselling games and were credited on major award-winning titles like League of Legends, Elden Ring, and Minecraft. They have also won/been nominated multiple times at the Unity Awards.
5. What facilities and resources are available to VFS Game Design students?
- A 64,000 cubic foot motion capture volume
- 180-degree green screen room
- Industry software labs (Unity, Unreal Engine, and more)
- Access to high-end ASUS ProArt hardware
6. How can I become a professional game designer in Canada?
VFS launches careers in the game industry in 1 short year. Apply here to start your journey toward becoming a professional game designer.