Hey guys,

I'm looking for some of the best online courses (paid of course) as well as books for learning C++ game programming. We are talking for a complete noob.

Any other efficient ways of learning are also appreciated.

Thanks a lot!

I'm looking for some of the best online courses (paid of course) as well as books for learning C++ game programming. We are talking for a complete noob.

Any other efficient ways of learning are also appreciated.

I wouldn't pay for online courses. There's plenty of free resources online to supplement whatever books you pick up.

I'm very dubious about paid online courses. I see enough paid crap online that I tend to avoid the entire mess of it. Additionally, some major universities like MIT and Harvard put video-recordings of some of their full courses online for free.

Personally, I'd get two books: One heavy one to heavy textbook to read when sitting at the computer, and one more "fun" reference book to flip through while relaxing on the couch. I'd then supplement that with online tutorials and articles and by asking specific questions on these forums. As you grow (say, after six months or more), I'd pick up two more abstract books like Code Complete 2nd Edition and Pragmatic Programmer. But I wouldn't get those until after you finish you first two books.

This process worked well for me - in addition to actually programming, and lots of trial and error, and plenty of aggravation, and badgering this community for help.

What two books you should get, I can't recommend, seeing that the books I used are now literally a decade out of date. All I can say is this: Any beginner C++ book you get really should be written within from within the past three years.

One thing you need to know now, different from when I started, is the difference between C++ in general, and "modern" C++. Modern C++ makes use of newer programming habits, and newer C++ features. You should be learning C++11 and later features (C++11, C++14, C++17), and be sure you are turning on those features in your compiler/IDE of choice.
There is alot of bad coding practices taught by older books that are just way out of date. Ofcourse, whatever code you learn, you'll write poor code for several years, and you'll get better gradually. Still, try to avoid getting poisoned by bad knowledge. I know this is hard, because you don't yet know what bad knowledge looks like.
But by keeping to books written after 2011, that takes a great step forward in reducing your risk.

Personally, I'd get two books: One heavy one to heavy textbook to read when sitting at the computer, and one more "fun" reference book to flip through while relaxing on the couch. I'd then supplement that with online tutorials and articles and by asking specific questions on these forums. As you grow (say, after six months or more), I'd pick up two more abstract books like Code Complete 2nd Edition and Pragmatic Programmer. But I wouldn't get those until after you finish you first two books.

And then I look at the books sitting on my desk: The C++ Programming Language reference book from Stroustrup and Code Complete 2nd Edition. I guess this is sound advice. Haha!

I also recommend anything by Scott Meyers, he's fantastic at taking complex idea's and explaining them in simple terms without losing sight of the overall picture.