You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
ISTQBCertified Tester Game Testing
The ISTQB Certified Tester Game Testing (CT-GaMe) certification equips testing professionals with the specialized skills to perform and manage testing across all levels of game projects. It covers game mechanics, graphics, sound, level, controller, and localization testing, along with the tools that support them. Ideal for testers, analysts, and game development roles, this credential demonstrates your ability to ensure quality in video games from concept to release.
Exam formatMultiple choice
Duration60 minutes
DeliveryISTQB Member Boards
Passing score26 out of 40
Free questions1198
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What Certified Tester Game Testing proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
7domains
44objectives
292concepts
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The ISTQB Certified Tester Game Testing (CT-GaMe) certification focuses on the understanding and skills needed to perform and manage testing on all levels in game projects. It covers the basic concepts of video and game testing as well as how to determine risks and goals for gaming software. The syllabus includes conceptually designing, implementing, and executing game software tests, approaches to games testing (Game Testing Mechanics, Sound Testing, Graphics Testing, and Localization), and recognizing games testing tools.
This Specialist-level certification extends the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme into the gaming domain, providing a structured path for professionals who want to validate their expertise in this fast-growing industry. By earning CT-GaMe, you demonstrate that you can apply rigorous testing practices to the unique challenges of game development, from gameplay mechanics to localization, ensuring a polished and reliable player experience.
Who it’s for
The Certified Tester Game Testing certification is aimed at professionals who have achieved in-depth testing experience and who would like to acquire specific competence for testing game software. It is also appropriate for junior testers who are just starting in the testing profession and who would like to know more about the tester's role when developing game software. Experienced testers who need more understanding and knowledge about how to perform and manage testing on all levels in game projects will also find this certification beneficial. These professionals include people who are in roles such as testers, test analysts, test consultants, test managers, acceptance (UAT) testers, and other video game development roles. This CT-GaMe certification may also be appropriate for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of software testing in the video gaming world, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors, and management consultants. Those involved in the development and production of high-performance hardware such as PCs, mobile, and gaming consoles will also benefit from this certification.
Recommended experience
Candidates should hold the Certified Tester Foundation Level certificate and have sufficient practical experience in software testing. Specific practical experience criteria are determined by ISTQB Member Boards or Exam Providers. In-depth testing experience in software projects; Familiarity with game development environments and processes; Understanding of basic testing concepts and terminology
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective ISTQB measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official ISTQB exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Specificity of Game Testing
- Specifics of Game Testing
- Game product risks
- Defects Related to Game Testing
- How testing mitigates product risks of video games
- The difference between testing and playing
- Typical Roles of the Game Development Team
- Testing Activities throughout the Game Software Development Lifecycle
Testing Game Mechanics
- Types of Game Mechanics
- Difference between Testing Core Mechanics and Meta Mechanics
- Difference between Testing Client, Server and Client-Server Mechanics
- Examples of Defects in Game Mechanics and Possible Causes
- The Importance of Testing Game Mechanics
- The Importance of Review of Game Mechanics
Graphics Testing
- Features of the Graphic Content of the Game Product
- Types of Graphic Content Defects
- Artistic testing
- Technical Testing
- Gameplay Testing
- Graphics Test Execution at Different Stages of Object Production
- Testing Graphics for Historical Accuracy
- Tools Support for Graphics Testing
Sound Testing
- Types of Sounds
- Sound Effects and Technology
- Types of Defects in Sound Content
- Content-auditory Testing
- Testing the Mix of Music and Game Sounds
- Testing Music Composition
- Integrating Sounds into the Game
- Tools Support for Sound Testing
Game Level Testing
- The Term Level and Its Specificity Depending on the Genre of the Game Project
- Understanding the Types of Defects in Level Design
- Basic Stages of Game Level Design and Testing
- Tools Support for Game Level Testing
Game Controllers Testing
- Types of Game Controllers
- Defects Related to the Specifics of Game Controllers
- Approaches to Testing Controllers in Game Products
- Tools Support for Game Controllers Testing
Localization Testing
- Localization and Internationalization
- Difference between Localization of a Game Product and Application Software
- Localization testing stages
- Possible Causes of Defects in the Localization of the Game Product
- Difference between Full and Partial Localization Testing
- Localization Testing Types
- Tools Support for Localization Testing
On the day
The exam itself
Everything ISTQB publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
Hold the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) certificate
CertificationCertified Tester Game Testing
Exam formatMultiple choice
Duration60 minutes
Questions40 questions
Passing score26 out of 40
DeliveryISTQB Member Boards
LanguagesEnglish, Non-native language support (+25% time)
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path ISTQB lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to Certified Tester Game Testing
PrerequisiteHold the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) certificate
Credential earnedCertified Tester Game Testing Certification Renewal and maintenance
ISTQB certifications do not require renewal except for Expert Level. The Certified Tester Game Testing certification does not require renewal. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. ISTQB maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by ISTQB
Exam registration
Register for the exam through ISTQB Member Boards, ISTQB’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official ISTQB certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does CT-GaMe relate to the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme?
CT-GaMe is a Specialist-level certification within the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme. It builds on the Foundation Level (CTFL) and can be pursued alongside other Core, Agile, or Specialist stream certifications.
Is the CTFL certification required before taking CT-GaMe?
Yes, candidates must hold the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) certificate to be eligible for the CT-GaMe certification.
Can I take the CT-GaMe exam without attending accredited training?
Yes, self-study using the official syllabus and recommended reading material is an option. However, ISTQB highly recommends attending accredited training to ensure the materials are relevant and consistent with the syllabus.
What is the format of the CT-GaMe exam?
The CT-GaMe exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. You have 60 minutes to complete it, with an additional 25% time if you are taking the exam in a non-native language.
Are there any hands-on or lab components in the CT-GaMe exam?
No, the CT-GaMe exam is a knowledge-based multiple-choice exam. It does not include a hands-on or lab component.
What job roles does the CT-GaMe certification map to?
The CT-GaMe certification is relevant for testers, test analysts, test consultants, test managers, acceptance (UAT) testers, and other video game development roles. It is also beneficial for project managers, quality managers, and IT directors seeking a deeper understanding of game testing.
Can I proceed to other ISTQB certifications after earning CT-GaMe?
Yes, holders of the CT-GaMe certification may choose to proceed to other Core, Agile, or Specialist stream certifications within the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme.
How do I find an exam provider for CT-GaMe?
You can find an exam provider by contacting an ISTQB Member Board or using the 'Find an Exam Provider' tool on the ISTQB website. Availability and pricing may vary by region.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 1198 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept ISTQB measures — each one written out.
7domains
44objectives
292concepts
256free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official ISTQB exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Specificity of Game Testing212 questions
Specifics of Game Testing8 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →Game product risks5 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →Defects Related to Game Testing5 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →How testing mitigates product risks of video games6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →The difference between testing and playing6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Typical Roles of the Game Development Team15 concepts · 10 pagesOpen →Testing Activities throughout the Game Software Development Lifecycle7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
2Testing Game Mechanics145 questions
Types of Game Mechanics8 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Difference between Testing Core Mechanics and Meta Mechanics10 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Difference between Testing Client, Server and Client-Server Mechanics7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →Examples of Defects in Game Mechanics and Possible Causes4 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →The Importance of Testing Game Mechanics5 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →The Importance of Review of Game Mechanics6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
3Graphics Testing212 questions
Features of the Graphic Content of the Game Product4 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Types of Graphic Content Defects8 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Artistic testing9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →Technical Testing9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →Gameplay Testing5 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Graphics Test Execution at Different Stages of Object Production5 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →Testing Graphics for Historical Accuracy5 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →Tools Support for Graphics Testing7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →
4Sound Testing199 questions
Types of Sounds4 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →Sound Effects and Technology5 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Types of Defects in Sound Content4 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →Content-auditory Testing7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →Testing the Mix of Music and Game Sounds7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Testing Music Composition7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Integrating Sounds into the Game8 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →Tools Support for Sound Testing5 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
5Game Level Testing113 questions
The Term Level and Its Specificity Depending on the Genre of the Game Project3 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →Understanding the Types of Defects in Level Design8 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →Basic Stages of Game Level Design and Testing5 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Tools Support for Game Level Testing8 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
6Game Controllers Testing113 questions
7Localization Testing204 questions
Localization and Internationalization5 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Difference between Localization of a Game Product and Application Software9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →Localization testing stages4 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Possible Causes of Defects in the Localization of the Game Product7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Difference between Full and Partial Localization Testing10 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Localization Testing Types7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Tools Support for Localization Testing6 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
Specifics of Game Testing7 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
32 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
1198 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
1198questions
256pages
44objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Specificity of Game Testing212 questions
2Testing Game Mechanics145 questions
3Graphics Testing212 questions
4Sound Testing199 questions
5Game Level Testing113 questions
6Game Controllers Testing113 questions
7Localization Testing204 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
292concepts
1198free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from ISTQB
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
3official links
292concepts mapped
The source
ISTQB’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official ISTQB outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 44 objectives, 292 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When ISTQB changes the outline, this page changes with it.
44objectives on the outline→292concepts written→1198free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.