Cologne Game Lab

Apply now for our artistic-scientific postgraduate course 3D Animation for Film & Games! The Master’s program is aimed at media professionals from the fields of , , , , etc. who wish to expand their skills in animation and explore the intersection between film and games that has been opened up by technological innovation.

The application phase to the shared program of the and Cologne Game Lab of the is now open until March 31, 2026. Find out about the whole process and the application task (Link in Bio).

First Steps, Bold Ideas

Here’s one gem from last semester: The very first cohort of our BA Digital Games program recently completed their inaugural Collaborative Projects — and the results already show impressive creativity, playful mechanics, and bold ideas.

Bouncy Pals is a physics-based 3rd-person racing platformer set in a colorful circus world. Choose your favorite animal character, bounce through hoops, dodge slapstick hazards, and race to the finish line. With momentum-driven movement, every landing is a gamble and every collision a comedy.

Team
Hasan Taner (Game Design)
Valeriia Gibert (Game Art)
Parimah Ejresh (Game Art)
Mehdi Parvan (Game Programming)

Applications for the BA Digital Games are currently open.
More info via the link in bio.

How does architecture influence how safe a game world feels?

This master’s thesis from our M.A. Digital Games explores how vernacular architecture and insights from neuroarchitecture can shape emotional responses in virtual environments.

The project investigates how architectural elements affect brain activity, mood, and the perception of safety and community in game spaces.
To test the concept, a first-person walkable village was created in Unreal Engine, inspired by Indonesian and Malaysian architectural traditions. The environment features two interactive houses with a hot spring, spa, apothecary, dining area, and inn, designed as a vertical slice for a potential game level.

Applications for our study programs are open until 31 March.
More information in the link in bio

shares some insights into his award-winning master project Fake News, in which a plant lives a peaceful life on a balcony above the streets. Until one day, its owner starts following fake news on how to treat plants....

In the making-of clips David is showing how he achieved the short film’s look in Blender, how he kept the project on track, and how the project evolved through its different stages.
Two MA3D alumni were also part of the team: .srinivasan, who graduated with his animation work on the short film, and , who contributed as an animator.

Consider our M.A. program in 3D Animation for Film & Games, a collaboration between the and the Cologne Game Lab of Köln. Applications are open until March 31, 2026.

(CC) Blender Foundation | studio.blender.org

The first CGL Open Lab will happen on the 04.02.!
Come by, enjoy some drinks and snacks, and play the amazing games made by our students!

04.02.2026
Doors Open at 18:00
Schanzenstraße 28, 51063 Cologne