1

Freelance Indie Game Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary The Associate Game Developer is responsible for working with Game Developers in tuning ... Maintain good communication and overall excellent relationship with Freelance Artists, Writers ...

Senior Gaming Platform Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$139.50 - $258.10/hr

Join the Game Services Framework team to help us build the developer-facing technologies that drive ... We have an exciting roadmap of features supporting games ranging from mobile, to indie, to AAA, and ...

Join the Game Services Framework team to help us build the developer-facing technologies that drive ... We have an exciting roadmap of features supporting games ranging from mobile, to indie, to AAA, and ...

Gameplay Engineer (Full-Time) Location: Remote, work from home in the US or UK only Position Type ... A game or experience you designed and built yourself (indie game, Roblox experience, game jam entry ...

We are looking for an experienced game engineer with strong C# and Unity skills. You will be ... small indie studio: close-knit, with high ownership and flexibility. You're excited about the ...

We are looking for an experienced game engineer with strong C# and Unity skills. You will be ... small indie studio: close-knit, with high ownership and flexibility. You're excited about the ...

... and engineers * Attend playtests, provide feedback, and help identify practical solutions to problems What we're looking for * Finished student projects or indie games with experience through the ...

Game Designer

Beaver, OH · On-site

$135K/yr

You'll join a small, passionate, fully remote indie team focused on building high-quality factory ... developers. * Ensure gameplay features are consistent, balanced, and intuitive for players.

New

Game Designer

Beaver, OH · On-site

$135K/yr

You'll join a small, passionate, fully remote indie team focused on building high-quality factory ... developers. * Ensure gameplay features are consistent, balanced, and intuitive for players.

New

... engineers, designers, whoever it takes, until it's actually solved. You'll be the person who ... You play RPGs, MMORPGs and indie games, and you understand how they're meant to feel. You know the ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Freelance Indie Game Developer information

See salary details

$32.5K

$108.5K

$180K

How much do freelance indie game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance indie game developer in the United States is $108,471.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $124,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance indie game developer do?

A Freelance Indie Game Developer is an independent professional who designs, develops, and releases video games without the backing of a large publisher. They handle all aspects of game creation, including programming, art, design, and sometimes even marketing and distribution. Freelance indie developers often work alone or in small teams and have the creative freedom to explore unique ideas. Their work can range from small mobile games to larger PC or console projects, and they typically earn income through game sales, crowdfunding, or contract work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance indie game developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Indie Game Developer, you need strong programming skills (often in C#, C++, or Unity/Unreal), game design knowledge, and a solid portfolio showcasing your work. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems such as Git, and sometimes published games or relevant certifications are highly valuable. Creativity, self-motivation, time management, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly help you stand out in a freelance setting. These skills and qualities are important because they enable you to independently create, iterate, and market engaging games while managing client expectations and project deadlines.

What are some common challenges freelance indie game developers face when working independently?

Freelance indie game developers often juggle multiple responsibilities, from coding and designing to marketing and community management. One of the main challenges is balancing creative freedom with the practical aspects of project management, such as setting realistic deadlines and managing budgets. Additionally, working independently can sometimes lead to isolation, making it important to actively seek feedback and collaborate with other developers or artists. Staying motivated and disciplined without a traditional team structure is also crucial for successfully completing and launching a game.

What is the difference between Freelance Indie Game Developer vs Indie Game Designer?

AspectFreelance Indie Game DeveloperIndie Game Designer
CredentialsSelf-taught or formal education in programming, game design, or related fieldsBackground in game design, art, or storytelling, often with portfolio work
Work EnvironmentIndependent, remote, project-basedIndependent or small team, often remote or co-located
Industry UsageDevelops and codes entire games or game componentsFocuses on game concept, mechanics, and visual/story elements
Search & Comparison IntentDevelopers creating or coding games independentlyDesigners focusing on game concept and aesthetics

While both roles operate independently in the indie game industry, Freelance Indie Game Developers primarily handle coding and technical development, whereas Indie Game Designers focus on game concept, mechanics, and visual storytelling. Both often collaborate but have distinct skill sets and responsibilities.

More about Freelance Indie Game Developer jobs

What cities are hiring for Freelance Indie Game Developer jobs?

Cities with the most Freelance Indie Game Developer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Game Developer jobs?

The most popular types of Indie Game Developer jobs are:

What states have the most Freelance Indie Game Developer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Freelance Indie Game Developer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Freelance Indie Game Developer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,471 per year, or $52.1 per hour.

Associate Game Developer

Asmodee

Everett, WA • On-site, Remote

$60K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

Composed of veterans from the tabletop miniatures games industry, Atomic Mass Games is committed to delivering immersive lifestyle hobby games that combine industry-leading tabletop miniatures and fast, fun, kinetic game rules to create lifelong collectors and players. 

Job Summary

The Associate Game Developer is responsible for working with Game Developers in tuning game design documents and developing game rule content for new and supplemental miniatures and board game products. The Associate Game Developer works closely with the Development Director and Development Manager to ensure game rules reflect the core pillars of Atomic Mass Games. The Associate Game Developer serves as part of the creative review team for products alongside the games Lead Developer, helping provide feedback and input toward realizing the final product. The Associate Game Developer also works closely with Graphic Design to assist with layout and proofing on their projects and others as necessary.

What will your role involve
  • Assist Game Developers in developing rules based on design content and mechanics for a variety of new and established game systems as part of a larger studio team.
  • Work alongside Game Developers to ensure final game products are fun, engaging, thematically appropriate, in keeping with the spirit of the licensed intellectual property (if any), within the scope of the vision outlined at the beginning of the project.
  • Manage the status and progress of all active projects as assigned.
  • Work to layout final rules into print files alongside Graphic Design.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for the play-testing process including establishing strong external play-test groups.
  • Work closely inside the Development department to ensure each project reaches its full potential while staying on target with deadlines.
  • Work as needed alongside the Development Manager in coordinating with Game Producers to ensure budgets for assigned projects are within specifications and sufficient benchmarks are in place to meet planned deadlines.
  • Help progress of non-game rules related assets by ensuring that stake holding departments have critical information concerning how their projects interact with game development.
  • Maintain good communication and overall excellent relationship with Freelance Artists, Writers, Editors, Play-testers, and internal teams as needed.
  • Support studio events and promote studio products as requested by Marketing.
  • All other assignments as directed by management.
What do you bring

Position Skills & Qualifications

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent creative skills.
  • Proficient in word processing programs (e.g., MS Word, iWorks Pages), spreadsheet programs (e.g., MS Excel, iWorks Numbers), and Adobe InDesign.
  • Self-directed time management and strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Able to prioritize assignments and meet deadlines while working independently.
  • Detail oriented and dedicated to making great games.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with other teams and individuals.
  • Able to travel up to 10% of the time; sometimes with short notice. 

Education/Experience

  • Experience with tabletop miniatures games both those produced by AMG and others.

Hesitant to apply because you don't have all the experience or qualifications listed? Let us decide! The right candidate doesn't always match up perfectly on paper. We believe that diverse perspectives and experiences bring fresh ideas and innovation to our team. If you're passionate about this role and believe your unique background and skills could contribute to our mission, we'd love to hear from you! 

Why join us
  • 22 Days of PTO Annually 
  • 13 Paid Holidays 
  • Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance 
  • Competitive 401K Match 
  • Paid Parental Leave 
  • Fertility & Family Building Benefits
  • Legal & Identity Theft Support
  • 2 Paid Volunteer Days Off 
  • Flexible & Hybrid Schedules 
  • Extensive Game Discounts 
  • $250 Annually in Game Bucks 
  • Career Growth & Development 
  • Mental Health Programs 
  • Virtual Healthcare Options 
  • Employee Assistance Program 
  • Employee Referral Program 


At asmodee, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare and 401(k) retirement plans, as well as generous paid time off and hybrid schedules to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide a competitive total rewards and compensation package, with several benefits listed below. 

Actual compensation for this role is based on several factors, including but not limited to job-related skills, qualifications, experience, market conditions and specific work location. Base Salary: $60,000

Our Commitment

asmodee's purpose is Bringing People Together. To us that means all kinds of people, no matter their perceived differences. 

We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels empowered to show up as their full and authentic selves. We seek to support our diverse community of players by creating representative gaming experiences that celebrate a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. Diversity and Inclusion fuels our creativity and promotes internal and external equity which allows us to continue in our efforts to bring people together around the game table. Games are for everyone.