Learn to make games. Five minutes a day.
Mobile-first game dev education. In-engine practice.
A Duolingo-style mobile app teaching Unity, Unreal, Godot, and Roblox, paired with in-engine plugins so practice happens where games are actually built.
- Engines
- 4
- Courses
- 42
- Lessons
- 197
- Capstones
- 50
Pick your engine
Four full learning paths. Switch anytime. Your XP, streak, and progress carry across.
- UnityC#
- Unreal EngineBlueprints & C++
- GodotGDScript
- Roblox StudioLuau
Game dev education is broken at the top of funnel.
Millions of people buy Unity, Unreal, and Godot courses every year, but platform completion rates sit between 5% and 15%. Most give up in the first week. Long YouTube tutorials drift, paid courses are heavy, and there's nothing in your pocket for the 10-minute pockets of time that actually compound.
The audience exists. The tooling for short, daily, in-engine practice doesn't.
Bite-sized lessons. In-engine practice. Real shipped projects.
JoyStick Academy is a mobile-first learning app modeled on Duolingo's habit loop, with daily streaks, weekly leagues, a gem economy, hearts, and capstone projects. The mobile lessons pair with Studio plugins that bring practice into Unity, Unreal, Godot, and Roblox right next to the editor.
You learn on the phone for five minutes. You practice in the actual engine. The capstone gives you a portfolio piece.
Inside every engine
Four full learning tracks built on one gamification engine. 197+ lessons, 42 courses, 50 capstones, and a Studio plugin for each engine so practice happens where games are actually built.
Unity
C#Beginner + Intermediate paths
- Scene + GameObject + Component basics
- Scripting essentials, physics, UI
- 3D world building + scripted interactions
Studio plugin: in developmentUnreal Engine
Blueprints & C++Beginner + Intermediate paths
- Editor tour, Actors + Components
- Blueprints fluency before C++
- World building, physics, replication
Studio plugin: in developmentGodot
GDScriptBeginner + Intermediate paths
- Nodes + Scenes + Signals
- GDScript fluency, _process loop
- 2D and 3D scene workflows
Studio plugin: in developmentRoblox Studio
LuauBeginner + Intermediate paths
- Studio + DataModel + Workspace
- Luau scripting, RemoteEvents, DataStores
- FilteringEnabled + replication boundaries
Studio plugin: in development
Try the actual lesson widgets. Right here.
These are not screenshots. They're the real step types from the mobile app, recreated for the web. Investors, creators, faculty, and learners all see the same thing: the actual product, working, with no install.
Concept cards with glossary popups
Short bursts of context with technical terms made tappable. Tap a highlighted word to see its definition without leaving the lesson. Used everywhere the app introduces new vocabulary.
What lives inside a Unity scene
Every object in a Unity scene is a . On its own a GameObject does nothing. Behavior comes from attaching s. The most fundamental Component is the , which holds the object's position, rotation, and scale. Tap a highlighted term to see its definition.
Quizzes with why-wrong explanations
Multiple choice with a specific explanation for every wrong option. Picking the right answer matters less than understanding why the other three are wrong.
What does Update() do in a Unity MonoBehaviour?
Fill in the blank
Pattern-match completion against the canonical tokens. The visitor wires up the syntax themselves and sees their thinking get validated line by line.
Move the player forward by 5 units per second.
private Update()
{
transform.Translate(Vector3.forward * 5f * );
}Available tokens
Tap a token to fill the active blank. Tap a filled blank to clear it.
Arrange the lines
Order lines into the canonical sequence. Great for engine lifecycles, state machines, or any ordered process that has to run in a specific way.
Click the methods in the order Unity calls them.
Tap a line to place it. Tap again to remove.
Spot the bug
A pattern-match step where the visitor taps the broken line. Hardest step type for newcomers but the one that builds the most debugging muscle.
Something in this script won't compile. Tap the broken line.
The real app, embedded right here.
Every demo below is the actual Flutter app from joystick_academy_studio, built for web and embedded via iframe. Real widgets, real chrome, real lesson content, ticking through the timeline live.
A lesson playing out
The real LessonPlayerScreen rendering Unity 3D Basics: 3D Scene Setup. Stats header pinned at top, step progress bar, glossary tag highlighting, step thumbs. Tap CONTINUE to walk the real steps.
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Phone in one hand, Unity in the other
The real Unity Studio plugin handles lesson walkthroughs + project submission inside the editor. The mocked Unity Editor on the left and the real WatchingScreen widget on the right are synced to the same walkthrough timeline — pending, acknowledged, step 1/6, then 2/6, all the way to completed and back. This is the cross-device experience the production app delivers when you tap OPEN IN UNITY.
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Not Duolingo for code. Duolingo for game dev.
The mobile habit loop is a solved pattern. The mobile habit loop for game development, with practice inside the actual engine, doesn't exist yet.
Game dev, not generic code
Mimo, Sololearn, Brilliant all teach generic programming. We teach Unity, Unreal, Godot, and Roblox with content authored against the real engine APIs, not toy languages.
In-engine practice via Studio plugins
No other learn-to-code app brings practice into the editor. Our plugins open lessons inside Unity or Roblox Studio, beside the user's project, so muscle memory builds where games are actually built.
Capstone-driven, not lesson-driven
Every path ends with a shippable mini-game. 50 capstone briefs across the catalog, server-graded with PDF certificates. Output is a portfolio piece, not a streak count.
Habit loop for adults
Streaks, leagues, gems, and hearts power the daily return. Hearts grace for the first 3 days, vacation mode, streak revival, and adaptive goal suggestions keep adults coming back without the punitive feel.
| Feature | JoyStick | Mimo | Sololearn | Brilliant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile-first daily lessons | ||||
| Streaks + leagues + hearts | ||||
| Game development focus | ||||
| In-engine practice plugin | ||||
| Capstone projects with certificate | ||||
| Four major engines covered |
Competitor coverage based on each product's public feature pages as of 2026. Mimo focuses on web + Python + SQL; Sololearn on broad language coverage; Brilliant on math + CS concepts.
Catalog depth, habit loop, revenue stack.
Three views of the same product. 8 learning paths across 4 engines, a habit loop tuned for adult learners, and a monetization mix designed around a sustainable free path.
Catalog depth — 8 paths
Beginner
Unity
5 courses · 24 lessons
Intermediate
Unity
5 courses · 24 lessons
Beginner
Unreal
5 courses · 25 lessons
Intermediate
Unreal
5 courses · 24 lessons
Beginner
Godot
5 courses · 25 lessons
Intermediate
Godot
5 courses · 25 lessons
Beginner
Roblox
6 courses · 25 lessons
Intermediate
Roblox
5 courses · 25 lessons
Habit loop — daily → weekly → path
Daily lesson
5-min concept + interactive + quiz
Streak grows
Tier-aware push, freezes auto-apply
Weekly league
Real-user cohorts, promotion + demotion
Path capstone
Server-graded mini-game + PDF certificate
Revenue stack — relative mix expectations
Subscriptions carry the LTV. The other streams shape the funnel around them. Bars are scaled to the subscription baseline (100%).
- Subscriptions100%
- Gem packs35%
- Rewarded ads18%
- Referrals14%
- Creator affiliate22%
Five revenue streams, one mobile-first funnel
Subscriptions carry the LTV. Gem packs, rewarded ads, referrals, and the creator affiliate program shape the funnel around them and keep the free path viable without short-circuiting paid conversion.
- 01Primary
Subscriptions
Recurring revenue. Monthly, annual with 7-day free trial, and one-time lifetime. Premium unlocks unlimited hearts, free streak freezes, 2× XP baseline, premium cosmetics, and replayable lessons.
- $8.99 / month
- $59.99 / year (44% off)
- $129.99 lifetime
- 02Secondary
Gem packs
Consumable IAPs for heart refills, streak freezes, and hint unlocks. First gem pack carries a 50% bonus to lower the activation barrier.
- $0.99 / $4.99 / $9.99 / $19.99
- +50% on first pack
- 03Tertiary
Rewarded ads
Opt-in, capped per day, hidden for premium. Three triggers: heart refill, +5 gems, free Bronze chest. Keeps a free path that pays without becoming a free-to-play attention sink.
- +1 heart per ad
- +5 gems (5/day)
- Free chest (1/day)
- 04Viral
In-app referrals
Friction-free invite loop. Both sides get 100 gems on signup. Milestone Premium grants at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 25 referrals tighten the loop without spam.
- 100 gems both sides
- Anti-abuse fingerprinting
- 05Curated
Creator affiliate
Selected game dev YouTubers and creators get a unique link. 30% recurring commission on referred subscription revenue for 12 months. First-touch attribution via device fingerprint.
- 30% commission
- 12-month attribution window
Three phases. Each one adds depth, not surface area.
The catalog ships in waves. Studio plugins follow content. Audience expansion follows product. Roadmap is conservative on dates and ambitious on scope.
- 1Now
Building today
- Public iOS + Android launch readiness
- Unity Studio plugin alpha
- Phase 25 lesson authoring across all 4 engines
- Capstone grading workflow live in production
- 2Next
Shipping after launch
- Unreal + Godot + Roblox Studio plugins
- University outreach program
- Creator affiliate program go-live
- Stats dashboard for learners
- 3Later
On the roadmap
- Web app for desktop learners
- Localization (Spanish + French first)
- Live mentor / cohort experiments
- Additional engines as the market signals
The mobile habit loop, applied to game development.
A category of learner doesn't have a product yet: adults who already know they want to build games, can only spare a few minutes a day, and want to practice inside the actual engine. JoyStick Academy is the first product built for them.
Why now
Mobile-first works for adults
Duolingo, Mimo, Brilliant, and Sololearn all crossed nine-figure ARR proving the daily-streak mobile loop converts on serious skill acquisition. The pattern is no longer novel.
Game dev demand outgrew supply
Roblox creator economy, the indie boom, and the rise of game dev YouTube created a generation that wants to build games but can't find a mobile-first way in. Long video tutorials dominate. Completion sits in the single digits.
Engines stabilized in parallel
Unity LTS, Unreal 5, Godot 4, and Roblox Studio all reached maturity in the same window. Teaching one well no longer means tracking constant API churn. Authoring cost finally stays sane.
Product depth as proof of work
197+ lessons
Across 42 courses on 8 learning paths. Beginner and Intermediate tracks for each of the 4 supported engines.
50 capstones
Server-graded submissions with PDF certificates and public verification URLs. Path-level and course-level briefs.
121 glossary terms
Curated across all 4 engines with cross-engine semantic handling. In-app popups attach a glossary entry to every technical term in lesson prose.
30% recurring commission. 12 months per signup.
Built for game dev YouTubers, devloggers, streamers, and Discord community admins. Your audience already wants this. The first creator a viewer sees gets the credit.
- 01
Apply with your channel
Email a short pitch (audience, platforms, content focus). Applications reviewed by the founder. Most decisions inside a week.
- 02
Get your link and assets
Unique slug at joystick-academy.com/c/your-slug, QR code for video CTAs, brand assets, and suggested copy for descriptions.
- 03
Earn for 12 months per signup
30% on net subscription revenue from every user who signed up via your link, for 12 months from their first conversion. Monthly payouts.
Vanity link + QR code
Memorable URL for video CTAs and stream overlays. QR for mobile-friendly conversion right from the screen.
Device fingerprint attribution
Most mobile affiliate programs lose credit at install. We use a salted device fingerprint to attribute signups across the app store handoff. First-touch wins, 24-hour window.
Brand asset kit
Logo, hero images, key art, and platform-specific cuts (YouTube thumbnails, Twitch panels, Instagram tiles). Drop into your edit.
Direct line to the founder
Questions about the catalog, custom content, or your specific audience go straight to the founder. No tiered support, no ticketing.
Industry-aligned game dev training your students will actually finish.
Capstone-certified across Unity, Unreal, Godot, and Roblox. Mobile-first daily lessons paired with in-engine Studio plugin practice. Fits flipped classrooms and hybrid teaching without competing with your faculty.
Curriculum fit
Beginner + Intermediate per engine
Two structured paths each for Unity, Unreal, Godot, and Roblox. Students can specialize in their target engine without switching platforms.
Built for adult learners
Short daily lessons designed for distraction, not single-block study halls. Streaks, vacation mode, and adaptive goals support real semester rhythms.
Works around faculty
Use as supplementary practice, formative assessment, or full curriculum spine. Faculty stays in control of grading rubric and project scope.
Capstone certification (50 briefs)
Path-level and course-level briefs
Big projects at the end of each path, smaller mini-projects at the end of individual courses.
Server-graded with feedback
Submissions reviewed against rubrics, with structured feedback and revision cycles.
PDF certificate per pass
Verifiable URL on each certificate. Students can share publicly, link on LinkedIn, or submit with applications.
Portfolio output, not transcript
Students walk away with a working game and proof, not just a row in a database.