We are looking for a Lead Game Artist / Hands-on Art Director to help define and produce the visual identity of an original multiplayer action game currently in active development.

The project is pre-release, built in Unity, and already has a playable internal prototype.

This is an independent, self-funded commercial game project led by a solo developer. This is not a salaried position at an established studio; the engagement is a paid freelance contract.

We are looking for a professional collaborator who combines strong artistic authorship with hands-on production ability.

The Role

This is not a management-only Art Director position.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable both:

• defining a clear and distinctive visual direction;
• personally contributing to the production of key game-ready assets.

We are specifically interested in someone who can help establish an original visual language that can remain coherent and scalable as the game evolves beyond its initial release.

Visual Direction

The target direction is:

• mature stylized 2D / 2.5D;
• mobile-first and designed around gameplay readability on smaller screens;
• strong silhouettes and clear visual hierarchy;
• commercially appealing character design;
• rich but controlled materials and environments;
• distinctive, recognizable visual identity;
• production-efficient and scalable for future content.

The target is not chibi/casual, generic mobile fantasy, photorealistic, or excessively dark/gothic.

We are looking for an original visual language, not an imitation or blend of existing games.

Core Responsibilities

The Lead Artist would be expected to contribute to areas such as:

• overall visual direction and art language;
• character design;
• environment / world design;
• game-ready 2D / 2.5D asset production;
• production planning and modular asset strategy;
• visual readability for action gameplay;
• collaboration on UI/HUD, animation and VFX where relevant.

Experience with Unity, Spine or similar animation tools, UI/HUD, VFX or technical-art workflows is highly valuable.

However, we do not expect every candidate to be equally specialized in every discipline.

We care most about exceptional strength in:

• visual direction;
• character appeal;
• environment design;
• real game-production experience;
• the ability to translate artistic decisions into a practical production pipeline.

Project Characteristics

• Original commercial game project
• Multiplayer action gameplay
• Unity
• Mobile-first
• Additional web target
• Pre-release / currently in active development
• Playable internal prototype
• Independent and self-funded
• Led by a solo developer
• Remote collaboration
• Paid freelance contract
• Potential for continued paid collaboration beyond the initial release

More detailed information about the game will be shared only with selected candidates at a later confidential stage.

Selection Process

The initial stage is based on:

• portfolio;
• professional experience;
• current availability;
• artistic fit;
• game-production experience.

Selected candidates may later be invited to:

1. review a more detailed confidential project brief;
2. discuss production approach, responsibilities, timeline and quotation;
3. participate in a paid final-stage art test.

No unpaid speculative work will be requested.

Generative AI Policy

Final production artwork must not contain generative-AI output.

Any AI-assisted workflow used during ideation or pre-production must be disclosed in advance and must not create copyright, ownership or licensing uncertainty for the project.

How to Apply

Please provide:

1. Portfolio URL
2. Current freelance / contract availability
3. Country and time zone
4. Relevant shipped or in-development game credits
5. A link to the project that best represents your character design
6. A link to the project that best represents your environment / world design
7. A project showing work taken beyond concept art into actual game production
8. Your experience, if any, with: Unity; Spine or 2D animation; UI / HUD; VFX; technical art / asset implementation
9. Which areas of a small game's visual production you would personally feel comfortable owning from art direction through final production
10. Your usual freelance pricing model and current standard rate or typical rate range (hourly, daily, milestone or fixed-price — no project quotation is requested at this stage)
11. Your earliest realistic starting availability 

Please keep the initial application concise.

Portfolio quality and relevant game-production evidence are more important than a long cover letter.