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Indie Video Game Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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

Chief of Staff

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $160K/yr

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 ...

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Indie Video Game information

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 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 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 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.

What are popular job titles related to Indie Video Game jobs in California?

For Indie Video Game jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Indie Video Game jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Indie Video Game jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Indie Video Game jobs?

Cities in California with the most Indie Video Game job openings:

Indie Video Game jobs near you
Infographic showing various Indie Video Game job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution.

3D Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Spellbrush
Software Development • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Spellbrushexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

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.

Apply