Math For Video Games: The Fastest Way To Get Smarter At Math

Solving game problems as the starting point

Math For Video Games: The Fastest Way To Get Smarter At Math is set up around a practical idea: learn math for video game design and coding by working through fun video game problems. That framing keeps the focus on how the math gets used, not just on isolated formulas. The course is published at a beginner level and runs for 13h 22m, so it is laid out as a full learning path rather than a short reference segment.

The material is handled by the GameDev.tv Team, with Ben Tristem and Gary Pettie also named as instructors. That combination matches the course’s game-development angle closely. The topic is not abstract math for its own sake; it is math presented through the kinds of problems that come up when building or coding games.

From number bases to floating point

The first part of the learning path stays close to the foundations. Fundamental math concepts are included, along with number base manipulation in binary, decimal, and hex. The course also covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in multiple bases, which gives the arithmetic side a more technical edge than a standard refresher.

One of the more specific topics is IEEE754 floating point and why it matters. That matters because it is not just a naming exercise: the course explicitly calls out the floating point system itself, along with the reason it deserves attention. For anyone working through game code or math-heavy implementation details, that subject sits in the middle of the transition from basic number work to the kinds of calculations that affect actual runtime behavior.

Because the course moves through these topics in sequence, the setup feels incremental. It starts with concepts that are easy to recognize, then pushes into the kind of representation and calculation details that tend to show up once math is used inside game logic. That progression gives the course a clear implementation path: first understand the numbers, then use them in more structured game math.

Vectors, angles, rotation, and motion

The middle of the curriculum shifts toward spatial math, which is where the video game focus becomes especially direct. The course promises a deep understanding of vector space in 2D, 3D, and higher. It also includes trigonometry calculations such as sin, cos, and tan, which places angle work alongside vector work rather than separating them into unrelated topics.

More advanced vector math is part of the plan too. Dot products and cross products are included, giving the course a route into the operations that often sit behind movement, direction, and spatial relationships. Rotation and interpolation are also part of the curriculum, so the course does not stop at static vector descriptions; it continues into how values are adjusted over time or turned from one orientation into another.

Projectile motion mathematics is another named topic. That makes the course relevant for game problems where movement follows a curve or a computed path rather than a straight line. The overall pattern here is clear: the math is organized so that each topic supports the next one, moving from the shape of numbers into the geometry of movement and then into motion-related calculations.

How the curriculum is arranged

The course curriculum is listed in a straightforward sequence, and that sequence helps show how the material is meant to unfold:

• Introduction & Arithmetic
• Algebra and Equations
• Introduction: Angles and Circles
• Vectors and Matrices
• Rotation & Interpolation
• Probability & Statistics
• Continuing Your GameDev Journey

That order moves from fundamentals into geometric reasoning, then into matrix and rotation work, and finally into probability and statistics. The last section, Continuing Your GameDev Journey, signals a wrap-up that extends beyond the immediate math topics. It keeps the course tied to game development rather than treating the lessons as isolated classroom material.

The curriculum also shows that the course does not stay locked into one branch of math. Algebra, circles, vectors, matrices, probability, and statistics all appear together, which makes the structure broad enough to support both beginner-level learning and later review. For someone who already knows some math, the sequence still leaves room to sharpen weaker areas without jumping randomly between unrelated subjects.

Who it is meant for

The target audience is stated plainly: game developers of any level who want strong math foundations, non game-developers who want to learn math the fun way, and those who are already competent in math but want to hone their skills. That range is broad, but the common thread is clear. The course is trying to make game-related math approachable without separating it from actual coding and design concerns.

Because the level is beginner, it works as an entry point for people who need structure from the ground up. At the same time, the inclusion of topics such as IEEE754 floating point, vector space in higher dimensions, dot and cross products, and projectile motion gives it enough specific material to serve as a serious refresher. The course length, instructor team, and curriculum all point to a resource meant to guide learners through a full sequence instead of just introducing a few disconnected ideas.

For teams or learners assessing what it covers, the strongest practical takeaway is simple: this is a beginner-level math course for game work that starts with arithmetic and number bases, then pushes into vectors, trigonometry, rotation, probability, and motion. The emphasis stays on solving game problems, which keeps the math tied to implementation rather than leaving it in theory alone.