... and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ...
... and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ...
... and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ...
Quick apply
... and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ...
Senior Gameplay Animator
Brooklyn, NY · On-site +1
$80K - $100K/yr
We're combining AAA experience with indie agility to deliver a big, ambitious game and are assembling a small team to make it happen. This is a long term contract position on a remote team.
Senior Gameplay Animator
Brooklyn, NY · On-site +1
$80K - $100K/yr
We're combining AAA experience with indie agility to deliver a big, ambitious game and are assembling a small team to make it happen. This is a long term contract position on a remote team.
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · On-site
$150K - $200K/yr
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · On-site
$150K - $200K/yr
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · Remote
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · Remote
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · Remote
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Quick apply
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · Remote
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · Remote
ARK has become one of the most successful cross-platform indie titles ever and continues to break ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Quick apply
Sr. Engine Programmer
Bellevue, WA · Remote
ARK has become one of the most successful cross-platform indie titles ever and continues to break ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...
Principal Engineer, AI Platform
Cary, NC · On-site
$125K - $167K/yr
... lets indie developers ship games to every major device on Earth. Our AI Platform team is building the next layer of that infrastructure - an enterprise-grade stack of agentic AI systems that ...
Principal Engineer, AI Platform
Cary, NC · On-site
$125K - $167K/yr
... lets indie developers ship games to every major device on Earth. Our AI Platform team is building the next layer of that infrastructure - an enterprise-grade stack of agentic AI systems that ...
ARK has become one of the most successful cross-platform indie titles ever and continues to break ... What other games are you currently playing About The Studio Studio Wildcard was founded in 2014 by ...
Quick apply
ARK has become one of the most successful cross-platform indie titles ever and continues to break ... What other games are you currently playing About The Studio Studio Wildcard was founded in 2014 by ...
Blender Tutor
Overland Park, KS · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Overland Park, KS · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Baltimore, MD · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Baltimore, MD · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Knoxville, TN · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Knoxville, TN · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Quincy, MA · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Quincy, MA · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Indianapolis, IN · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Indianapolis, IN · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Ithaca, NY · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Ithaca, NY · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
RI · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
RI · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Carrollton, TX · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Carrollton, TX · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Charlottesville, VA · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Charlottesville, VA · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Dallas, TX · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Dallas, TX · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Edina, MN · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Blender Tutor
Edina, MN · Remote
$18 - $40/hr
Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...
Indie Games information
See salary details
$7.93 - $10.62
2% of jobs
$10.62 - $13.31
17% of jobs
$14.41 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$13.31 - $16
15% of jobs
$16 - $18.68
8% of jobs
The median wage is $19.80 / hr.
$18.68 - $21.37
19% of jobs
$23.25 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$21.37 - $24.06
20% of jobs
$24.06 - $26.75
7% of jobs
$26.75 - $29.44
5% of jobs
$29.44 - $32.12
3% of jobs
$32.12 - $34.81
2% of jobs
$34.81 - $37.50
1% of jobs
$7
$20
$37
How much do indie games jobs pay per hour?
As of Aug 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for indie games in the United States is $20.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.18 and $23.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive in indie games?
To thrive in Indie Games development, you need strong skills in programming, game design, and creative storytelling, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio of completed projects. Proficiency with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, along with familiarity with version control systems such as Git, is frequently required. Adaptability, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit are valuable soft skills that help you manage tight deadlines and limited resources. These capabilities are essential for successfully creating, marketing, and delivering engaging indie games in a highly competitive market.
What are common challenges faced by professionals working in indie games development?
Professionals in Indie Games development often encounter challenges such as managing limited budgets, juggling multiple responsibilities, and adapting to rapid changes throughout the game production lifecycle. Team sizes are typically small, so individuals may handle everything from coding and art to marketing and business development. Effective time management and clear communication are crucial, as many teams work remotely or across different time zones. However, these challenges also provide opportunities to learn new skills and take creative ownership over projects, making the role both demanding and highly rewarding.
What is an indie game?
An Indie Games job typically involves working within a small team or independently to develop and publish video games without the backing of a large publisher. Roles in indie game development can vary widely, including game design, programming, art, sound design, and marketing. Since indie teams are often small, employees may take on multiple responsibilities. These jobs require creativity, adaptability, and a passion for gaming. Funding can come from personal savings, crowdfunding, or small investors, making financial management a key aspect of indie game development.
More about Indie Games jobs
What cities are hiring for Indie Games jobs? Cities with the most Indie Games job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Games jobs? The most popular types of Indie Games jobs are:
What states have the most Indie Games jobs? States with the most job openings for Indie Games jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Indie Games jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Indie Games jobs are:
Job description
tl;dr: We're building a 3D first-person adventure game where an AI companion is the core of the game. Think MiSide with LLMs, but truly integrated with gameplay, not just a RP chatbot.
About Us
Here at Spellbrush, we're passionate about making a good anime game.
We also happen to be the world's leading generative AI studio-we're the team behind niji・journey.
Our mission is simple: use AI to bring characters to life and push the boundaries of narrative-driven games.
What We're Building
We've developed an in-house LLM storytelling system that blends AI, story, and gameplay-going far beyond shallow "chat-only" experiences.
The result is an AI companion who cooperates with you in puzzles, remembers across worlds, and changes how each chapter unfolds.
We're looking for a strong Unity engineer who loves 3D story-driven games. You'll join our lead Unity dev, who has spent the past 5 years building interactive anime avatars, to grow our working prototype into a full game.
In-game screenshots (development build)
About The Role
You will join a small but extremely talented team to define a new kind of video game experience. You'll work alongside top otaku minds in the industry, including the creator of Warudo and Cytoid, a Google Deepmind veteran behind Project Astra, and top-tier AI researchers.
As an early member of this team, you will have significant artistic and research freedom to shape what could become the next-generation LLM-driven storytelling experience.
Why You'll Love Working With Us
Impact and Ownership: As an early team member, you'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible at the intersection of the AI, anime, and video game industry.
A World-Class Team: You'll work directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world in a small, mighty, and fast-paced team.
Culture: We are seeking individuals who ideally are fans of anime and the anime aesthetic. We believe in the unmatched speed of in-person collaboration.
International Opportunities: We have primary research offices in downtown Akihabara, Tokyo, and San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available for qualified candidates.
You may be a good fit if:
You love anime and the anime aesthetic
We are literally building an anime game, so this is a requirement!
You have independently developed a 3D narrative game in Unity
Bonus points if the game is first-person.
You're good at 3D character animation
Bonus if you have used mocap and understand the mocap workflow at a studio. Bonus for having your assets on the Unity store.
You're excited about the potential of Generative AI
You'll also be working closely along some of the best AI researchers in the world. Part of working with our team may involve looking at our latest research results, and figuring out how to best apply it into our game. You will be at the literal cutting edge of what is possible with machine learning, art, and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus.
You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams
Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ownership and flexibility.
We also believe in the unmatched speed of in-person teams, and prefer on-site collaboration in either our primary research office in Tokyo (downtown Akihabara) or San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available.
About Us
Here at Spellbrush, we're passionate about making a good anime game.
We also happen to be the world's leading generative AI studio-we're the team behind niji・journey.
Our mission is simple: use AI to bring characters to life and push the boundaries of narrative-driven games.
What We're Building
We've developed an in-house LLM storytelling system that blends AI, story, and gameplay-going far beyond shallow "chat-only" experiences.
The result is an AI companion who cooperates with you in puzzles, remembers across worlds, and changes how each chapter unfolds.
We're looking for a strong Unity engineer who loves 3D story-driven games. You'll join our lead Unity dev, who has spent the past 5 years building interactive anime avatars, to grow our working prototype into a full game.
In-game screenshots (development build)
About The Role
You will join a small but extremely talented team to define a new kind of video game experience. You'll work alongside top otaku minds in the industry, including the creator of Warudo and Cytoid, a Google Deepmind veteran behind Project Astra, and top-tier AI researchers.
As an early member of this team, you will have significant artistic and research freedom to shape what could become the next-generation LLM-driven storytelling experience.
Why You'll Love Working With Us
Impact and Ownership: As an early team member, you'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible at the intersection of the AI, anime, and video game industry.
A World-Class Team: You'll work directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world in a small, mighty, and fast-paced team.
Culture: We are seeking individuals who ideally are fans of anime and the anime aesthetic. We believe in the unmatched speed of in-person collaboration.
International Opportunities: We have primary research offices in downtown Akihabara, Tokyo, and San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available for qualified candidates.
You may be a good fit if:
You love anime and the anime aesthetic
We are literally building an anime game, so this is a requirement!
You have independently developed a 3D narrative game in Unity
Bonus points if the game is first-person.
You're good at 3D character animation
Bonus if you have used mocap and understand the mocap workflow at a studio. Bonus for having your assets on the Unity store.
You're excited about the potential of Generative AI
You'll also be working closely along some of the best AI researchers in the world. Part of working with our team may involve looking at our latest research results, and figuring out how to best apply it into our game. You will be at the literal cutting edge of what is possible with machine learning, art, and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus.
You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams
Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ownership and flexibility.
We also believe in the unmatched speed of in-person teams, and prefer on-site collaboration in either our primary research office in Tokyo (downtown Akihabara) or San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available.
About Spellbrush
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Industry
Software development
Company size
1 - 10 Employees
Headquarters location
San Francisco, CA, US
Year founded
2018