Want to become a video game Tester? It's simple, but not easy

Playing games for a living is the dream, but is it a realistic dream?

From a game tester standpoint, the short answer is no. That’s not to say you can’t earn a living testing games. But that distinction, the one between playing and testing, is an extremely important one to make.

As you’ll see, playing and testing are two very different things.

There’s no doubt that you are extremely familiar with playing games. It’s a real blast, after all. So we’ll talk instead about what it takes to test games. Buckle up! It’s a bumpy ride.

What Does a Video Game Tester Do?

“QA tester” is the official title of the position. QA stands for quality assurance. As in “Video Game Quality Assurance”. That shift in title helps distinguish game testing from game playing and is the first step on a journey of realigning expectations.

In short: you’re finding bugs.

Your job as a game tester is to break the game. You want to root out any code that doesn’t work. In order to do this, you have to be a little unconventional in your playing and testing.

Think about it. In a massive game like Skyrim, there are millions of combinations of player actions. Players can interact with objects, characters, and the environment in nearly endless sequences.

Game testers are tasked with trying those combinations to make sure everything functions. More than that, testers are required to think outside of the box.

You need to interact with the world in a way that the developers didn’t expect or anticipate.

Think of some known bugs and glitches in games. Now, there will always be junk games out there that seem like the dev team gave up a quarter of the way through development.

We aren’t talking about those. Think instead of some of the bugs and glitches in better-made games. In the original Halo, there’s a glitch on one level where you can throw a grenade and stay seated in a pelican.

In order to complete the level, you need to get out of that pelican. The developers didn’t expect players to start chucking ‘nades before they were off the transport!

There are unlimited item glitches and level-breaking glitches throughout all kinds of games. These are the result of players interacting with the game outside of the way developers expected.

Video Game Quality Assurance testers are tasked with finding as many of these bugs as they can.

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How Long Does It Take to Test a Game?

To root out every single bug, quality assurance testers need to test literally every combination. In a fighting game, this means every single character needs to face every other character, on every single level.

If you have a fighting game with 12 characters, and each character has to fight every other character, you’re talking about 144 matches.

But, since there is bound to be more than one level, you need to conduct 144 fights across every single map. So if there are five maps, you’re looking at 720 fights.

You can see how, even with our fake numbers, something as “contained” as a fighting game could still result in days and days of testing work.

Maybe that sounds fun, playing through a fighting game one thousand times. You’re probably picturing your favorite game; is it Marvel vs Capcom? Dead or Alive? Mortal Kombat?

What happens when you get stuck with Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends? Games that you wouldn’t play ordinarily still need testing!

Could you muster the willpower to invest hundreds of hours into testing a game like Kung Fu Panda?

The truth is you will very rarely get to actually pick which games you work on. In some cases, you’ll luck out and get a good one. More often, however, you’ll be stuck playing games you aren’t too keen on.

Then there’s the workload breakdown. There will be games that are too big for every tester to play all the way through.

Instead, you’ll be given a specific part of the game, and you’ll have to chip away at every aspect of that narrow game window. It’ll be your job to make sure that your 10% of the game works 100%.

QA testing is as much “playing games” as editing scenes in a film is “watching a movie.” It’s a lot of frustrating repetition. You could be testing the same area of the game for months!

The repetition is further compounded because in order to log a bug you need to be able to recreate it.

The implication of bug recreation is that even if you find a game-breaking bug if you can’t recreate it, you can’t report it.

You need to be able to come up with a detailed road-map of the bugs so that developers can recreate the bug on their end, and hopefully fix the problem.

Now, all of this isn’t to say you wouldn’t enjoy your time as a QA tester! We’re just describing the reality of the job.

You aren’t curled up on your futon, raking in wins and loot boxes in the Overwatch Beta.

You’re in an office, playing the same parts of the game for hours, trying to break it.

What Skills Do Video Game Testers Need?

Let’s talk about skills.

Being detail-oriented is extremely important in the Quality Assurance tester position. You’ll need to be able to pick up on little things in order to succeed at this job.

A flexible brain is also an asset. You’ll need to be a little creative when you’re coming up with ways to break a game. You’ll also need some serious focus skills.

We’re talking laser-focus skills. As deadlines approach, you’re going to need to put some serious hours in, and you have to be able to work productively the whole time.

Lazy, leisurely gaming won’t cut it when it comes to sniffing out bugs.

Communication also plays a pivotal role. Remember that you need to communicate to developers the steps to recreating the bug.

When you send off a bug report, that should be the end of the correspondence, until the developers report back to the QA team saying they’ve fixed said bug.

You don’t want to waste their time (and yours) by fielding questions on your report. Communication is pivotal.

It’s also worth noting that you might be talking to different people. Maybe the problem doesn’t just involve the programming team.

You need to be able to communicate effectively with all of the departments involved in the game.

This could require you to adjust your methods, i.e. you might need to be more sensitive with the game artists, and more candid with the programmers.

Is Video Game Testing a Stable Job?

Game testing doesn’t pay very much. To start, you’re typically looking at about ten dollars an hour.

As you get more experience, this could increase to $14, sometimes more if you’re very good or build a great working relationship with a studio.

The thing to remember is that game testing is typically a contracting position. That means that instead of actually being an employee of the company that is developing the game, you work for yourself and they’ve hired you temporarily.

The implications of you serving as a contractor, as opposed to an employee of the company, are pretty far-reaching. Unless otherwise dictated by your state’s laws, you are on your own for health benefits.

Contractor-ship also means you have very little job security. Doing a “good job” as a game tester typically means finding more bugs than your teammates.

Slacking on the job, underperforming, or complaining about the workload could lead to the company not renewing your contract when it expires. Just like that, you’d be out of a job.

The contractor position could also mean a bit of alienation from the dev team members actually employed by the company.

There are stories of game testers not being invited to the office holiday party. Instead, they were told last minute that they could have an impromptu party in a different building, just “enter through the back entrance.”

A more complete telling of that anonymous story, and others like it, can be found in this IGN horror story article that highlights an unfortunate side of QA testing.

In crunch time, you might have to put up some serious hours. It could be well over 40 hours a week.

Business Insider highlights some questions from a Reddit AMA with an anonymous QA tester, and in it he notes that working over 80 hours a week is something that only happens during crunch time, but still happens.

It’s an eventuality that you should be prepared for. You should be compensated for the extra hours worked.

But we’ll point again to the IGN horror story article where some testers didn’t receive extra compensation despite logging extra hours during some extremely late nights.

Despite the scarier stories, game testing can be a great industry and career stepping-stone. It’s a good entry-level position that helps you get your foot in the door.

At $10 an hour, you aren’t going to want to stay in this job forever. There are higher-paying, more rewarding employment options further up the chain of game development.

Having your game degree definitely helps get you out of the QA testing pit. Maintaining an indomitable spirit and good work ethic in a taxing position is a great way to show potential employers your mettle.

Seeing how you fully you apply yourself to an iterative, often-times frustrating task will go far in showing the team leaders just what you’re capable of.

After you earn your degree, you’ll be able to switch into a game development position with higher pay, and offers other benefits. You’ll no longer serve as a contractor, you’d be a benefit-receiving employee.

What’s the best way to get out there? Send your application to all kinds of game developers. Some people in the industry say knowing someone is the best way to get a job at the company.

It doesn’t need to be a close relationship, but a little familiarity and good rapport go a very long way in landing a promising, career-starting job.

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Where Can I Find Video Game Tester Jobs?

There are a wealth of online resources to choose from to help you in your job search. Indeed.com can point you in the right direction.

Beware of companies like GamingJobsOnline.com. Services like that offering sweet-sounding hourly rates and easy access to jobs could be a rip-off.

Especially be wary of services looking for you to pay in order to place you in a job. Use your best judgment.

In some cases, they could benefit you, but other companies will exploit “the dream job” appeal to squeeze some money out of you. You’re smart! Use your head!

What is the Average Video Game Tester Salary?

Pay depends on a number of factors:

Whether you’re paid hourly or on a salaryThe studio you work forThe overtime paymentYour access to benefits and bonusesYour experienceThe responsibility assigned to your roleGovernment labor regulations

As a general rule of thumb, especially if you’re just starting out, expect to make minimum wage.

The minimum wage on a federal level is $7.25 an hour. States can raise the minimum wage, but can never lower it below the federally mandated $7.25 an hour.

The best way to check average salaries for video game testers near you is with the help of Google!

You definitely do not need a degree!

A degree related to programming or video games could improve your chances of getting a job as a video game tester, but it is not a requirement.

An unfortunate truth of video game testing is the high turnover rate. Long hours, low pay, and a lot of contract work lead to new video game testing positions always opening up.

Possible degrees for video game testers include:

Game DesignSoftware DevelopmentSoftware DesignSoftware EngineeringComputer ProgrammingComputer ScienceGraphic CommunicationSoftware Quality AssuranceSoftware Testing

It can look good on your resume. You can meet people in the industry (but keep in mind that most of your time will be spent among other video game testers). You’ll get a sneak peek at games before they’re released (and could likely be sick of it before it comes out).

It will give you exposure to working hard for long periods of time. It will also expose you to the “crunch time” of the game development world.

In some cases (though these cases aren’t as frequent as they once were) the position can serve as a way to get your “foot in the door,” to use the tired old phrase.

This is more likely if you’re hired on to a studio, rather than contracted into the studio or through a third party.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Test Games?

It depends. The average age is probably around 20 years old to start.

Can you be younger than that? Absolutely. It’s a good opportunity for college students needing summer work and the resume boost.

Could a 16-year-old be a video game tester? It has happened, so it’s worth a shot.

It all depends on the company, the demand, and the supply of testers.

Write your resume in a way that showcases your knowledge of programming or game development.

You can definitely talk about your experience with video games. Also mention your experience and knowledge regarding games in general, consoles, and/or computers.

Think about the job description and pull from your own experience to match what the company is looking for: willingness or experience to work overtime when necessary, attention to detail, communication and teamwork abilities, etc.

You can become a game tester anywhere that games are being tested.

It’s worth moving to locations where games are being made. Luckily the United States is home to nearly half of all game development and game publishing firms in the world.

State-wise, California is your best bet. San Francisco and Los Angeles combined hold more than a quarter of the hotbed studios in the country.

Austin, Texas and Chicago, Illinois are other good options in terms of quality game developer quantities (by city). Your best bet on the east coast is New York City.

Moving to a specific city is a good idea if you only want to work with a specific studio (but moving there is no guarantee that you’ll get (or hold) the job, so many try to land that first).

Did a new game studio just move into town? Apply!

Most of the time it is not possible. Are there companies or conditions that exist that would let you work from home? Probably! But we don’t have any information on them.

You’ll be set up with everything you need in the office (potentially even including a fastfood supper during crunch time).

Since you’re only trying to break the game and you’re not trying to fix the game, there aren’t any specific classes that would definitely benefit you.

You don’t need classes.

But, any classes that focus on game mechanics would help you. Classes that go into video game development or programming would also look good to employers.

Classes that talk about computers, consoles, or mobile devices on a technical level could be helpful, too.

Since Communication is also important you could also benefit from classes related to:

CommunicationsEnglishWritingTechnical writingCodingJournalism

If you’re not planning on taking any classes, there is always the internet!

Experiences will vary!

Your game testing experience will largely depend on the game in question, the timeline for testing, and the bugginess of the product that’s delivered to you and your fellow testers.

Some companies are worse. Some companies are better. For the most part, they offer a pretty consistent experience across the board.

At this point, you might be feeling a good bit of trepidation surrounding what you thought was your dream career in playing video games for the rest of your life.

We’re sorry if we reined in your excitement a little bit. Listen, game testing is a lot of work. And it’s a lot of hard work, too. Long hours, late nights, tons of pressure.

But if you know what you’re getting into, you can better prepare yourself for it.

In the world of game development, game testing best serves most people as a starting point.

It’s a good way to get a taste of the pressures facing developers under the darkness of looming deadlines. It can also serve as a way for you to strut your stuff and showcase your work ethic.

While it is possible to get a quality assurance testing position without a degree in a relevant field, most people are better served heading into these positions with a game design education.

An education will definitely help you advance beyond the testing positions and land a job as an employee of the company, working on a different aspect of the game’s development.

Apply everywhere. Look at all the game developers in a 45 or 50-mile radius, and reach out to them.

While the position isn’t as fun and sexy as “playing games for a living,” it can still be rewarding and beneficial, and earn you some decent money too.

Let the details in this article open your eyes, but don’t let them deter you or get you down. If game testing isn’t for you, then it isn’t for you. There are plenty of other job options in the game design field.

Game Testing & Quality Assurance (FAQ)

Roles and Responsibilities of a Game Tester

Ensure there are no bugs or glitchesMake sure game pacing and progress flow.Play the entire game, keeping a lookout for anything out of placeCommunicate with game developers

Game Testing Done Cheap

Game testing is a two-way street that benefits both gamers and developers. Game testers are offered the opportunity to play a game well before the release date. For any gamer, this prospect alone is attractive enough to sign up for.

For video game developers, hiring a small team of testers takes a considerable burden off the team by engaging in this cost-efficient method of debugging a game. Having multiple individuals ‘work’ on a game can give developers several different perspectives and a more streamlined way of finding kinks in the game.

How to Become a Video Game Beta Tester

Here are a few helpful ways to start as a video game tester.

The ‘beta’ build of a game is the nearly-complete version of a video game. This version of the game is very close to the finished product, and as such, needs some vetting by test subjects. This potentially means you.

It’s not that difficult to actually find beta testing opportunities. Many games and companies actively seek out beta testers, and some games will alert you if they are going through a beta testing period. This allotted time is for potential testers like yourself to get a first look at the game and perform an integral role in its development cycle.

This may be the most essential part of preparing yourself for a video game beta testing job. It isn’t just playing games to see if it works correctly. You need to know quite a few things about beta testing to effectively help game developers fix problems and feel confident when launching a game.

Beta testing is when game companies hire individuals to play a nearly finished game to suss out any bugs or glitches. At this point, the game is basically in its finished form, and game developers can’t significantly change anything about the base game.

Beta testers play the game to spot glitches. Weird graphical effects, freezing, and problems with the lines of code are all at the forefront of a beta tester’s mind.

Become An Above-Average Beta Tester

How do you put yourself out there and convince major companies to employ you as a beta tester? Let’s see what it takes.

Yes, you need to make an attractive resume for effective beta testing. It’s not all fun and games. Okay, it’s mostly fun and games. But it’s a job and potential career. This means building an attractive resume.

If you have a particular game studio in mind when researching beta testing, follow these guidelines.

Is your company of choice Blizzard? Rockstar? EA? Whichever company you choose, you need to do your research once again. Which games are in development? Are these companies currently hiring game testers? Do your research to get up-to-date info on game titles, development cycles, and company goals.

Write a Professional, Thoughtful Email

If you have found a game company in need of beta testers, it’s time to get in contact. This is where your writing skills come to the forefront. You should craft a thoughtful, well-written email communicating your eagerness and qualifications to beta test the company product.

Start Networking

Networking is one of the most valuable ways to land a job, period. Networking with various video game companies, large and small, is a fantastic way to score more opportunities down the road.

How Much Can You Earn?

Game testers can earn an average of $53,030 for their efforts.

Written by Dustin Tyler [Updated June 4, 2021]

Initially focused on web dev, Dustin was introduced to game design by a friend after college and was immediately attracted to the combination of technical skill and creativity required to make an awesome game.

While not a professional game developer himself, he’s utilized his web dev skills and desire to help others by creating a resource where expert game designers can share what they’ve learned with the next generation of aspiring game makers. Meet the rest of the team.