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Indie Video Game Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SpiderWare

Video Game QA Tester

You play RPGs, MMORPGs and indie games, and you understand how they're meant to feel. You know the difference between "annoying" and "broken," and you can say why. If you don't play games in this ...

Absurd Ventures

Lead Game UX/UI Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Core Qualifications * 7+ years of experience in UI/UX design within the video game industry ... Previous work on AAA titles or high-profile indie games. Description * Full-time job with benefits.

Xsolla

Fund Project Manager

Concord, NC · Remote

From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the ...

Xsolla

From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla as the merchant of record to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla ...

Hoskinson Biotechnology

TTRPG Creative Writer

Gillette, WY · On-site

$52K - $70K/yr

... video game parts and tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs). We are expanding our team to bring deep ... Published works within the TTRPG space (indie, community creator, or major publisher). * Campaign ...

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How much do indie video game jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for indie video game in the United States is $18.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $20.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the common challenges faced by team members in an indie video game development role?

Team members in indie video game development often face challenges such as limited resources, multitasking across different roles, and tight deadlines. Unlike larger studios, indie teams are usually smaller, so individuals may need to handle a variety of tasks beyond their primary expertise, such as coding, art, or marketing. This environment fosters creativity and collaboration, but it also requires strong problem-solving skills and adaptability. Despite these challenges, working on indie games provides valuable hands-on experience and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the final product.

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

To thrive as an Indie Video Game Developer, you need strong programming skills, a solid understanding of game design principles, and often a relevant degree or portfolio demonstrating your work. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as proficiency in languages such as C# or C++, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and project management skills help you stand out, especially when working in small teams or solo. These skills are crucial for successfully developing, releasing, and marketing unique games in a competitive industry.

What are indie video games?

Indie video games are games created by individuals or small teams without the financial support of a major game publisher. These games often emphasize creativity, innovation, and unique gameplay experiences, as developers have more freedom to experiment. Indie games can be found on various platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices, and are often distributed through digital storefronts. Many successful indie games have gained popularity for their originality, artistic style, and compelling storytelling.

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

AspectIndie Video Game DeveloperIndie Video Game Designer
CredentialsProgramming skills, game development certificationsDesign portfolio, creativity skills, game design experience
Work EnvironmentIndependent or small team, coding and technical workCreative space, conceptual and visual design focus
Industry UsageInvolved in coding, building, and testing games
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared based on technical skills and roles

While both roles are essential in indie game development, the indie video game developer primarily focuses on coding, programming, and technical implementation. In contrast, the indie video game designer concentrates on game concept, mechanics, and visual design. Both roles often collaborate closely but require different skill sets and credentials.

More about Indie Video Game jobs
What cities are hiring for Indie Video Game jobs? Cities with the most Indie Video Game job openings:
What states have the most Indie Video Game jobs? States with the most job openings for Indie Video Game jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Indie Video Game jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Indie Video Game jobs are:
Indie Video Game jobs near you
Infographic showing various Indie Video Game job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 63% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,600 per year, or $18.6 per hour.

Video Game QA Tester

SpiderWare

Remote

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Soulbound (https://soulbound.game/) is a top-down pixel-art MMO launching on Steam. Over 1 million players played the browser version; we've rebuilt the entire game for PC - new engine, new progression, new narrative framework. We're a remote team of ~20, we hire from anywhere in the world, and we care about one thing above all: passion.
Forget everything you think QA is. This is not a role where you log bugs and toss them over a wall. At Spiderware, QA means finding, understanding, and solving. When something breaks, you're the detective: you work out exactly how it broke, chase down why, and then help drive the fix by pulling in engineers, designers, whoever it takes, until it's actually solved. You'll be the person who protects what a million players see, on a game that ships changes in real time. It's the most hands-on QA role you will find anywhere. This is an entry-level role, so we don't specify a degree, your age, or your background. We care about three things:
1. You solve problems, not just spot them. When a quest snags or a number looks wrong, you can't let it go, and you can't stop at "it's broken." You want to know why. You form a theory, test it, narrow it down, and hand the team a solved case.
2. You're a gamer. You play RPGs, MMORPGs and indie games, and you understand how they're meant to feel. You know the difference between "annoying" and "broken," and you can say why. If you don't play games in this genre, this isn't the role for you.
3. You learn fast and take feedback. You write clearly, follow a repro step-by-step, and turn "it's weird" into something an engineer can act on in minutes. When someone shows you a better way, you use it the same day.
What You'll Actually Do
  • Playtest new quests, systems and builds before players ever see them
  • Break the game on purpose then investigate why it broke, isolate the cause, and propose the fix
  • Work directly with engineers and designers to get problems actually solved, not just filed
  • Verify fixes and run regression passes on a live, fast-moving game
  • Stress-test around the big moments like launches, events, updates
  • Feed patterns back to the whole team: you're the player's early-warning system
  • Feedback what feels fun, and what doesn't, working with designers to improve the experience.
  • Have a space to propose your ideas and improvement designs to the design team.

What This Is (And What It Isn't)
This is your foot in the door in the games industry with real QA experience on a shipping MMO with a proven player base, direct access to the people building it, and a genuine path to ongoing roles.
Where This Leads
Almost everyone who joins Spiderware at junior level starts in QA or Support, by design. It's the fastest way to learn the game inside out: you play it, you test it, you see exactly where players get stuck. It's also how you learn the studio, how we operate, who does what, how it all fits together. From there the path is wide open: QA and Support people here have become quest designers, narrative writers, game designers, and heads of department, some within six months. If you're passionate and dedicated, the opportunity is enormous.
Requirements
  • A genuine passion for gaming especially RPGs, MMORPGs, indie and top-down/pixel-art games
  • Sharp attention to detail
  • Clear written communication, you can describe a problem so someone else can reproduce it
  • You must be self-motivated and proactive, working remote, you don't wait to be told what to test, you think ahead and work without being directed.
  • Thick skin, you can take direct, sometimes brutal feedback and use it to improve.
  • Available to commit meaningful hours, night shifts or weekends. this isn't a "check in once a week" role.
  • English speaking at native level, reading and writing.
  • A steam profile with a strong playtime record.

Nice to Have
  • Experience filing bugs (any tracker)
  • Modding or running game servers
  • A basic feel for how games are built
  • Familiarity with test cases or checklists

Benefits
  • You'll learn faster here than at any studio you could join, because we ship to a live game in real time and you see the results the same day
  • Real QA experience on a live game with 1M+ players
  • Direct access to the studio founder, design and engineering, with no layers between you and the people who fix things
  • Learn professional QA end to end: repro, triage, root-cause investigation, regression, release testing
  • Flexible hours that fit around your studies or other commitments
  • Work remotely from anywhere in the world
  • Genuine path to ongoing roles for standout performers
  • Small, fast-moving indie studio where your work protects what millions of players see

Apply