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Independent Game Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Associate Game Developer

Everett, WA ยท On-site +1

$60K/yr

Job Summary The Associate Game Developer is responsible for working with Game Developers in tuning ... Able to prioritize assignments and meet deadlines while working independently. * Detail oriented ...

At Blue Mammoth, you'll find the friendliness, energy, and opportunity of an independent game developer with the professionalism and stability of a long established studio. We offer competitive ...

Engine Programmer

Atlanta, GA ยท On-site

$100 - $150/hr

At Blue Mammoth, you'll find the friendliness, energy, and opportunity of an independent game developer with the professionalism and stability of a long established studio. We offer competitive ...

At Blue Mammoth, you'll find the friendliness, energy, and opportunity of an independent game developer with the professionalism and stability of a long established studio. We offer competitive ...

At Blue Mammoth, you'll find the friendliness, energy, and opportunity of an independent game developer with the professionalism and stability of a long established studio. We offer competitive ...

About Proxima Proxima is an independent game studio founded by veterans of Electronic Arts (EA). We ... You can partner with engineers to build custom tools that accelerate your workflow. * 5+ years game ...

Gameplay Engineer (Full-Time)

Dallas, TX ยท On-site

$70 - $90/hr

Gameplay Engineer (Full-Time) Location: Remote, work from home in the US or UK only Position Type ... independent game development experience. * Roblox/Luau experience, or traditional game development ...

Be a self-starter who can work independently. * Be agile to quickly understand this game ... Gather feedback from our game developer partners and help improve our processes and documentation.

Game Tools & Modding Engineer Role Type: Contractor Location: Remote We are looking for a Game ... Ability to work independently in a distributed or remote team environment. Preferred Qualifications

$140 - $200/hr

Experience at an independent or mid-size studio. Experience with performance profiling and optimization. The Team Reports to the Technical Director. Leads the Gameplay Engineering team. Partners ...

Lead Game Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท Remote

$198K - $219K/yr

Experience at an independent or mid-size studio. * Experience with performance profiling and optimization. The Team * Reports to the Technical Director. * Leads the Gameplay Engineering team.

We're looking for a strong Unity engineer who loves 3D story-driven games. You'll join our lead ... You have independently developed a 3D narrative game in Unity Bonus points if the game is first ...

We're looking for a strong Unity engineer who loves 3D story-driven games. You'll join our lead ... You have independently developed a 3D narrative game in Unity Bonus points if the game is first ...

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Independent Game Developer information

See salary details

$32.5K

$108.5K

$180K

How much do independent game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for independent 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 an independent game developer do?

An independent game developer, often called an indie game developer, is someone who creates video games without the financial backing of a large publisher. They typically handle multiple aspects of game development, including designing, programming, and sometimes marketing and distribution. Indie developers often work alone or in small teams, allowing for greater creative freedom but also requiring them to manage more of the business side themselves. Their games can be released on various platforms, such as PC, consoles, or mobile devices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an independent game developer?

To thrive as an Independent Game Developer, you need strong skills in game design, programming (commonly with engines like Unity or Unreal), and a solid understanding of graphics and audio integration, often backed by a portfolio of completed projects. Familiarity with technical tools such as version control systems (e.g., Git), 2D/3D asset creation software, and publishing platforms is essential. Creativity, self-motivation, and effective project management are critical soft skills for independently handling all aspects of game development. These abilities are vital for producing high-quality games, meeting deadlines, and successfully marketing your work in a competitive industry.

What are some common challenges independent game developers face when bringing a game from concept to launch?

Independent game developers often encounter challenges such as limited resources, managing multiple roles (like design, programming, and marketing), and balancing creative vision with market demands. Since indie developers typically work with small teams or solo, time management and prioritizing features become critical. Additionally, promoting the game and reaching the right audience without a large publisher can be demanding, requiring effective use of social media, community engagement, and networking with other developers.

What is the difference between Independent Game Developer vs Game Designer?

AspectIndependent Game DeveloperGame Designer
CredentialsSelf-taught or formal education in game development, programming, or artDegree in game design, art, or related fields often preferred
Work EnvironmentTypically works independently or in small teams, often freelance or startupWorks within development teams or studios, focusing on game concept and mechanics
Industry UsageCreates and publishes own games, often across multiple platformsDesigns game concepts, levels, and mechanics, collaborating with developers

While Independent Game Developers focus on creating and publishing complete games, Game Designers primarily craft game concepts, mechanics, and user experience. Both roles require creativity and technical skills, but independent developers handle a broader scope including programming and marketing, whereas game designers concentrate on design aspects within a team environment.

More about Independent Game Developer jobs

What cities are hiring for Independent Game Developer jobs?

Cities with the most Independent Game Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Independent Game Developer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,471 per year, or $52.1 per hour.

Associate Game Developer

Asmodee

Everett, WA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$60K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 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.ย 

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.ย 

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!ย 

Why join us
  • 22 Days of PTO Annuallyย 
  • 13 Paid Holidaysย 
  • Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insuranceย 
  • Competitive 401K Matchย 
  • Paid Parental Leaveย 
  • Fertility & Family Building Benefits
  • Legal & Identity Theft Support
  • 2 Paid Volunteer Days Offย 
  • Flexible & Hybrid Schedulesย 
  • Extensive Game Discountsย 
  • $250 Annually in Game Bucksย 
  • Career Growth & Developmentย 
  • Mental Health Programsย 
  • Virtual Healthcare Optionsย 
  • Employee Assistance Programย 
  • Employee Referral Programย 


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.ย 

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.ย 

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.ย