How to find people to work on your game
Making a game alone is a lot. At some point most of us need help, whether that's an artist, a composer, a programmer, a writer or a whole small team. I'm making my own game too, and this is how I'd find people to work on it, from your first post to the handshake.
- Decide what you can offer first: paid, rev share or a hobby project. Say it in the first line.
- Write down the roles you need, your engine, and what's already done.
- Show something real: screenshots, a GIF or a playable build gets far more replies than an idea.
- Post where those people already look: game jams, Discord servers, itch.io boards, Reddit and ComposerScout.
- Start with a small task, and put pay, credit and ownership in writing before real work starts.
1. Decide what you can offer
This is the first thing people want to know, so put it right at the top of your post.
- Paid. You pay per asset, per hour or per project. You get the most choice and the most reliable people.
- Rev share. People get a share of sales instead of upfront pay. Be honest that most games make little money, and only offer it if you have a demo or a clear plan to finish.
- Hobby or portfolio project. Unpaid, for credit and experience. Great for game jams and first projects. Keep the scope small so people actually finish.
- A mix. Some devs pay a small amount upfront plus a share. Whatever you choose, say it clearly.
2. Know which roles you need
"Looking for a team" gets fewer replies than "looking for a pixel artist for a cozy farming game in Godot." Write down:
- The roles, in order of what you need first. Art is usually needed early, music and sound often later.
- What's already done: your engine, a prototype, a design doc, a Steam page.
- How much time you expect per week, and how long the project should take.
My guides cover each role in depth: artists, composers, sound designers, voice actors, programmers, writers and VFX artists.
3. Write a post people want to answer
Here's a simple shape that works:
- Title: [Paid / Rev share / Hobby] Role needed for Game name (genre, engine)
- The game in two sentences, plus one screenshot or GIF
- What you need: the role, the style, and how much work it is
- What you offer: pay or budget, share, credit
- What's done and your timeline
- How to reply: portfolio link, where to message you
Tip: Show, don't tell. A 10-second GIF of your game moving does more than three paragraphs about your vision.
4. Where to find people
- Game jams. itch.io jams usually have a community board for team finding. A jam is a low-risk way to try working with someone before a bigger project.
- itch.io Help Wanted or Offered board. Tag your post so people know if you're hiring or offering.
- Discord servers for game dev, your engine (Godot, Unity, GameMaker and so on) and specific crafts like pixel art or Blender. Read each server's rules first, because many only allow hiring posts in one channel.
- Reddit: r/gameDevClassifieds for paid work and r/INAT for rev share and hobby teams.
- The credits of games like yours. If you love the art or music in a small game, that person might be open to work.
- ComposerScout, where you can post up to 4 roles in one go (composer, sound designer, voice actor, artist, VFX, writer, video editor, or programmer and game designer). People who fit get your post in their inbox, and you can mark it paid, rev share or hobby. It's free and I don't take a cut.
5. Check people before you commit
- Look at finished work, ideally shipped games or jam entries, not just one great piece.
- Do a small first task, like one character, one track or one feature. It shows how you work together.
- Talk about communication: time zones, how often you'll check in, and where (Discord, email, a task board).
- Ask about AI use if it matters to you. It's a fair question, and better asked early.
6. Put it in writing
Even with friends, even on a hobby project. Write down who does what, the pay or the share and how it's calculated, the credit each person gets, who owns the work (art, music, code), and what happens if someone leaves halfway. A short written agreement now saves a lot of awkward conversations later.
Red flags
- "I have the idea, you do the work" with nothing built yet. People can tell.
- Huge scope on rev share, like an MMO or open-world RPG with no budget.
- No written agreement about pay, credit or ownership.
- Pressure to work for "exposure" on a project that is clearly making money.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find people to work on my game?
Decide if it's paid, rev share or hobby, write down the roles you need, show screenshots or a build, then post on game jam boards, game dev Discord servers, the itch.io Help Wanted board, r/gameDevClassifieds (paid) or r/INAT (rev share), or ComposerScout, where you can post up to 4 roles and people who fit get it in their inbox.
How do I find a team for my indie game?
Start with one or two roles you need most, keep the scope small, and try a game jam together first. Put pay or share, credit and ownership in writing before big work starts.
Where can I find people for a rev share game?
r/INAT, game jam team boards, Discord servers and ComposerScout, where you can mark a role as rev share and creators who are open to rev share can tag themselves. A playable demo makes rev share offers far more convincing.
How do I find free help for my game?
Post it as a hobby or portfolio project, keep the scope small, and look in game jams and beginner-friendly communities. Be clear about credit, and respect people's time.
What should I put in a game dev hiring post?
Paid, rev share or hobby in the title, the game in two sentences with a screenshot or GIF, the role and style you need, what you offer, what's already done, your timeline, and how to reply.
Is ComposerScout free?
Yes. ComposerScout is free for developers and creators, and I don't take a cut of anything you pay people. Pay and rights are agreed directly between you and the person you hire.
Post who you need in about a minute
Up to 4 roles in one post: composer, sound designer, voice actor, artist, VFX, writer, video editor or programmer. Mark it paid, rev share or hobby, and people who fit get it in their inbox.
Post who you needMore guides
- How to find a programmer or teammate for your indie game
- How to find an artist for your indie game
- How to find a composer for your indie game
- How to find a writer for your indie game
- How to find a voice actor for your indie game
- How much does art cost for an indie game?
- How much does music cost for an indie game?