3 Unexpected Careers in Gaming for Creative Teens

Creativity is a superpower, but when it comes to career choices, many teens—and their parents—struggle to see how creative passions can translate into viable, fulfilling careers.

This is especially true for neurodivergent teens, particularly those with ADHD, who thrive in dynamic, engaging, and novel environments. Traditional career advice tends to be generalised and often fails to highlight lesser-known pathways—especially in industries like gaming, where creativity and technology merge in fascinating ways.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with highly creative students navigating career choices, many of whom don’t fit into traditional career boxes.

One student, a brilliant musician, had a natural talent for composing music for video games. Yet, his parents were skeptical—not because they didn’t believe in his ability, but because they were unfamiliar with the industry and the opportunities available.

Another student was passionate about mapping, gaming, art, geography, and history. His parents were unsure how these interests could align into a career, but the reality is—there’s a perfect pathway for teens with unique creative skills, if they know where to look.

How to Find the Right Career Pathway for Creative Teens

The key to unlocking a teen’s career potential is to decode the clues hidden in plain sight:
What sparks their curiosity?
Who do they follow on social media? (Reddit communities, YouTube creators, game developers, artists?)
How do they spend their free time? (Drawing, mapping, coding, composing music, creating worlds?)
What games, content, and media do they consume?

These habits and interests aren’t just hobbies—they are insights into a career that could be deeply fulfilling and financially rewarding.

3 Lesser-Known Creative Careers in Gaming

Fantasy Cartographer
Fantasy cartographers design and create maps for video games, tabletop RPGs (like Dungeons & Dragons), and open-world game environments. They use their skills in art, geography, and storytelling to build immersive fantasy worlds. Famous examples include Francesca Baerald, who has worked on World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV.

Game Audio Designer
Game audio designers compose music, create sound effects, and design immersive audio experiences that make games feel alive. They work on everything from epic orchestral scores to subtle background sounds, shaping the emotional tone of gameplay. An award winning video game developer and composer is American born Toby Fox.

Game Economy Designer
Ever wonder who decides the cost of weapons, skins, or in-game currencies? Game economy designers balance in-game purchases, progression, and rewards to ensure that players remain engaged without making the game feel unfair. They combine psychology, math, and business strategy to design virtual economies that drive engagement in free-to-play and premium games. Charlie Czerkawski is a game economy and monetisation designer. He co-founded the Scottish independent development studio Guerilla Tea and authored the book "Game Economy Design: Metagame, Monetisation and Live Operations”.

Helping Your Teen Research These Careers

When guiding students through career research, I focus on five key areas:
Who is leading the industry? (Find key professionals to follow.)
Where are the opportunities? (Employment, freelancing, indie game development?)
What educational pathways exist? (University, bootcamps, online courses?)
What’s the income potential? (Salary vs. freelance earnings.)
How can they start now? (Passion projects, networking, portfolio-building.)

Encourage Their Unique Path

It can feel overwhelming to support a teen’s non-traditional career aspirations—but it’s critical. Too many adults feel stuck in unfulfilling careers, simply because they weren’t encouraged to explore what truly excited them.

The best thing parents can do?

• Listen. Observe what naturally excites your teen.

• Encourage. Let them explore their curiosities without judgment.

• Support early research. Start in Year 10 to align their subject choices with future career interests and opportunities.

Careers shouldn’t just pay the bills—they should spark joy, motivation, and a sense of purpose. If your teen is drawn to gaming and creativity, help them explore how to turn that passion into meaningful work.

Be their Career Champion. The clues are all there—help them connect the dots.