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Game Developer interview questionsCoding Test round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Coding, Game Mechanics, Optimization, Algorithmic Thinking, Problem Solving.

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Introduction

5 min
•

Hi, I’m [YOUR_NAME], and I’m a [YOUR_TITLE] at [COMPANY_NAME]. I’m excited to learn more about your experience today.

•

Could you briefly introduce yourself and share what attracted you to apply for this position?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess communication skills, alignment with the role, and initial confidence.

Signals to score

  • Clear introduction provided
  • Relevant experience mentioned
  • Motivations for applying explained
  • Alignment with team values
  • Specific skills highlighted
  • Response is concise and organized
  • Understanding of role requirements

Follow-up questions

  • What excites you most about this position?
  • How does your background align with our team’s work?
•

Great, thank you for sharing! In the next 50 minutes, we’ll focus on a coding challenge related to game development. After that, you can ask any questions you have about the role or the company.

Coding Challenge

50 min
•

Implement a basic physics engine for a 2D game Create a simple physics engine that simulates gravity and collision detection for a 2D game. The engine should handle multiple objects and allow them to fall under gravity and collide with each other and the boundaries of the game world. Requirements: - Simulate gravity on objects - Detect and handle collisions between objects and boundaries - Allow for multiple objects with different masses Follow-Ups: - How would you optimize the physics calculations for performance? - How would you handle edge cases like overlapping objects at the start?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Evaluate technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and understanding of game mechanics and optimization.

Signals to score

  • Clear understanding of physics concepts
  • Logical and structured approach
  • Efficient, clean, well-formatted code
  • Considers edge cases
  • Tests and debugs the code effectively
  • Open to feedback and adjusts accordingly

Follow-up questions

  • Can you explain your thought process on how to approach the problem?
  • How do you plan to handle edge cases in your solution?
  • Can you walk me through your code and explain each step?
  • How would you test your solution?
•

If you had more time, what would you change in your solution?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Signals to score

  • Recognizes limits in their original answer.
  • Points out clear areas to improve.
  • Suggests specific changes.
  • Talks about how changes could help performance.
  • Shares ideas clearly and logically.
  • Shows a desire to learn and improve.

Follow-up questions

  • What specific part of your solution would you like to improve?
  • How would you enhance the performance of your code?
  • Are there any additional features you would add?
•

Great job on the coding exercise!

Closing

5 min
•

Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.

Signals to score

  • Thoughtful questions asked
  • Interest in company culture
  • Curiosity about growth expressed
  • Questions about role raised
  • Inquiries about team challenges
  • Engagement with responses shown
  • Desire to learn next steps
  • Focus on company values expressed

Follow-up questions

  • What interests you most about this team?
  • Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
•

Thank you for your time today. We’ll be in touch soon regarding the next steps.

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Interview Template
Position
Game Developer
Round
Coding Test for 60 min
Key skills
Coding, Game Mechanics, Optimization, Algorithmic Thinking, Problem Solving

Game Developer interviews — common questions

Who is this Game Developer interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Coding Test round for a Game Developer role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 4 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
What does the Coding Test round assess?
This round is focused on: Coding, Game Mechanics, Optimization, Algorithmic Thinking, Problem Solving. It works through Introduction, Coding Challenge and Closing, scoring against 27 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 4 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
How is the 60 min split up?
Introduction (5 min), Coding Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
What other rounds should I run for a Game Developer?

A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Game Developer: