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Specialist professionals not classified elsewhere

How to become a Game Creator

Also called: Game planner

Makes game software (apps) for smartphones, home game consoles, computers and other devices.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Graphics staff need drawing, sketching and illustration skills, and many are graduates of art universities or senmon gakko (vocational colleges). Sound staff need musical knowledge, and many are graduates of music universities or senmon gakko. People join game software developers or companies that develop game consoles. After joining, you are not given responsible work straight away: you spend 2 to 3 years as an assistant in your area, learning skills and know-how on the job. After that, you are given important work according to your track record. Planners need rich imagination and attention to detail, programmers need programming skills in computer languages, graphics staff need drawing, sketching and illustration skills, and sound staff need musical skill and sensitivity. In every role, a quick response to new and interesting things and an inquiring mind are also important.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Game Creator?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Graphics staff need drawing, sketching and illustration skills, and many are graduates of art universities or senmon gakko (vocational colleges). Sound staff need musical knowledge, and many are graduates of music universities or senmon gakko. People join game software developers or companies that develop game consoles. After joining, you are not given responsible work straight away: you spend 2 to 3 years as an assistant in your area, learning skills and know-how on the job. After that, you are given important work according to your track record. Planners need rich imagination and attention to detail, programmers need programming skills in computer languages, graphics staff need drawing, sketching and illustration skills, and sound staff need musical skill and sensitivity. In every role, a quick response to new and interesting things and an inquiring mind are also important.

How much does a Game Creator earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,833,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Specialist professionals not classified elsewhere, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Game Creator?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 67% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Game Creator?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026