Game studios know that recent graduates have very little experience they can showcase.

If you don't have a big collection of demos and showpieces, provide what you have got. If you've had an active github account, consider showing it. If you've got some finished coursework, consider showing it. It will not be impressive, but it will be something that provides evidence that you can program.

Apply for jobs now, work your social network now. Don't put it off until working through an additional certification. You just finished a certification, your computer science degree.

Instead of going for a full game just develop a system that exists within games. You can create an inventory and show its working through the console window. You just need to show you can work with the language no ones expecting anything amazing, they just need to know you can handle doing something they ask.

My share;
- specialize/ shine in one specific area, most (AAA) studios don't want a "be a bit good at everything" programmer but prefer an AI, gameplay, tech etc. expert
- a code sample where you solve a complex problem efficiently and clear/readable is good (may sound cliche but still)

Also try to figure out what you want to be good at and where your talent lies, focus and perform on that.

Another thing you might try, since you mentioned Unity, is maybe parcel out some portion of your existing game, and make it a C++ DLL. This may nor may not be feasible depending your game, but you could have a separate DLL for the pathfinding portion or whatnot.

Thanks everyone, I like your ideas. I was convinced I forcefully had to do a large scale project to be able to put it on my resume, but I'm relieved to see that, at least for now, that's not the case. I'll try them out and hopefully they will serve as enough proof.

Game studios know that recent graduates have very little experience they can showcase.

If you don't have a big collection of demos and showpieces, provide what you have got. If you've had an active github account, consider showing it. If you've got some finished coursework, consider showing it. It will not be impressive, but it will be something that provides evidence that you can program.

Apply for jobs now, work your social network now. Don't put it off until working through an additional certification. You just finished a certification, your computer science degree.

Problem is, I'm not really in a place where there are a lot of options for game development. Once in a while I may find a position or two, but they are not for recent graduates. All the ones I've seen are from mid to senior level. Should I apply for those kind of positions regardless?

Yes, apply anyway for entry level work. Don't apply for the senior roles they are advertising.

Most entry level positions are not advertised since there is no need. A little word-of-mouth discussion to key people and plenty of qualified applicants apply, plus unsolicited applications are always coming in. They may drop the word at some nearby college campuses and online groups, but there is no need to pay for advertising for the position due to high applicant interest.

It is better for you to work your social network if you can, find the friends or friends-of-friends who work in the industry and ask them about jobs and send in your application. Even so, continue to submit your application to every company nearby.

You didn't state your location on the globe, but you might also consider moving to a game development hub if you aren't there already. Companies usually do not pay to relocate entry level workers. Location is one of the first things observed when reviewing a job application.