Game Designer – Shape a New 2D Unity Indie Game (Part-Time + Revenue Share)

I'm building a small 2D indie game in Unity, and I'm looking for a part-time game designer to own the design side of the project. This is a design-ownership role — you'll drive the design work itself, but there's no team to manage (it's just the two of us for now). I handle overall project direction, production decisions, scheduling, and final approvals. You own the design: gameplay systems, mechanics, levels, progression, player experience, and documentation.

ABOUT THE PROJECT — WHERE WE HONESTLY ARE

I'll be straight with you. I'm a solo founder, self-funding this out of my own salary, and we're at the very start. The concept isn't locked yet, and helping shape it is part of the role — you won't be handed a finished design doc to execute. What I can tell you about the direction:

• Small in scope, built to be realistically shippable by a tiny team
• 2D, made in Unity, designed around tight, satisfying core mechanics rather than sprawling content
• Remote, part-time, and collaborative — though I keep final say on direction

I'd love to work with someone who gets small, tightly-designed 2D games and wants to help shape this one, not just build to spec.

THE ROLE, HONESTLY

• $650/month to start, for 20 hrs/week — with room to discuss based on experience and portfolio
• Revenue share: 10% of the game's revenue for 2 years after launch, on top of your monthly pay
• A named Game Designer credit on the released title
• Real creative ownership — you help define the game, not just document it
• Room to grow into a larger role, and a bigger stake, as the project hits its demo milestone and gains ---------- ntum

I'll be upfront about the revenue share: most indie games earn modestly, so treat it as genuine upside and shared alignment, not a guaranteed payout. It's tied to the game actually launching, and the full terms live in a simple written agreement so we're both clear from day one.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Define and refine the core gameplay loop
• Create and maintain the game design document (GDD)
• Design mechanics, levels, progression, and player flow
• Turn design ideas into clear specs for Unity developers
• Review playable builds and give structured design feedback
• Help guide UI/UX and 2D visual direction from a gameplay perspective
• Work with me to prioritize design tasks and milestones

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

• Experience designing at least one playable 2D game, prototype, or shipped project
• A portfolio showing game design work, not only artwork
• A strong sense of game feel, pacing, progression, and player experience
• Ability to write clear GDDs, feature specs, and feedback notes
• Familiarity with Unity workflows (you don't need to be a Unity programmer)
• Clear communication and the ability to work independently

HOW WE'LL WORK

I work on this part-time too, so we'll run semi-async. Every review and decision routes through me, and I'll aim to turn those around within a day or two so you're never left blocked. Honest expectations on both sides matter to me more than raw speed.

FIRST 30 DAYS

• Review the references and direction, and help shape the initial concept
• Define the core gameplay loop
• Start the game design document
• Outline the first playable milestone
• Write clear specs for the first mechanics and levels

TO APPLY, PLEASE SEND

• A short intro about your game design experience
• Links to games, prototypes, or projects you helped design
• One example of a GDD, level design, feature spec, or gameplay breakdown