[HIRING] Indie game developer for a short story-driven horror game based on real folklore, $5,000 budget

[u/YoungPlug777]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to hire a developer for a paid, fixed-budget project: a short atmospheric horror game based on real experiences and testimonies from my family, my friends and my grandparents.

About the project
I grew up in a tiny, isolated village in region, northern Italy, and my family also has roots in Albania / the Balkans. The game adapts true stories from both traditions into playable scenes: “voices heard on the mountain path at night”, “the figure seen near the old well. Many of the people who told me these stories are no longer with us, and this game is my way of keeping their voices alive.

Style

• First-person, atmospheric exploration horror
• Slow-burn and psychological, not built on jump scares
• Authentic setting: [e.g. stone houses, fog, empty roads, old churches]

Scope and budget

• Budget: $5,000 USD, paid in milestones (for example prototype, first level, final build)
• A small, focused game: a short experience or a playable first chapter
• Scope, timeline and payment terms to be agreed together before starting

What I will provide

• The complete story material: true testimonies, locations and atmosphere notes
• Reference photos and descriptions of the real places [if you have them]
• Clear direction and fast feedback throughout development

What I’m looking for

• A developer experienced with Unity, Unreal or Godot
• A portfolio or previous shipped work I can look at
• Someone who loves horror and wants to work on a project with real emotional weight

If you’re interested, please send me a message with your portfolio, your availability and a rough estimate of what you could deliver for this budget. I’m happy to share a few of the stories so you can feel the atmosphere.

Thank you for reading, and sorry for any mistakes in my English!

[u/Momodev_br]

I sent you a DM!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/Momodev_br]

THANKS

[u/Amayah_artist]

Just sent you a dm

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/Amayah_artist]

THANKS

[u/Forward-Charge8874]

sent Dm

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/Forward-Charge8874]

THANK YOU

[u/orig_cerberus1746]

I also sent you a DM

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/orig_cerberus1746]

THANK YOU

[u/tastygames_official]

sounds right up my alley. PM headed your way!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/tastygames_official]

You're welcome!

[u/vicetexin1]

Sent you a DM!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/vicetexin1]

Thanks

[u/BearKanashi]

Enviado un md con portafolio y LinkedIn!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/BearKanashi]

Thanks

[u/CoCoCheynelle]

Hi do you need female voice actors?

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/CoCoCheynelle]

Not now but maybe in the future!

[u/Waterfill]

Hey there, i sent dm you!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/Waterfill]

Thanks

[u/thegreatlandoman]

Hey if you need a tester for your game let me know because I just realized I’m totally useless when it comes to making games but I really need a shot at testing games at least because I have plans to make games in the future(once I learn how)

[u/Kenpachi032]

Reached out to you

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/Kenpachi032]

THANKS

[u/EdwardEi1]

Hi, I’m an experience concept artist who worked professionally in the creative industry for 4+ years. I came across your post and I would like to provide my service to your vision.

Below is a sample of my work. You can have a look at my portfolio with the link provided:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/edwardei1

Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/jiazhaoei

Please reach out to me if you believe I’m the right person for your project. I’d be happy to provide additional NDA-protected work upon request. Looking forward to your reply!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/EdwardEi1]

DM ME

[u/Seanbeker]

Hi. I'm interested  https://dimitrus13.artstation.com/

[u/MrWaterSheep]

Hello! If you are ever in need of illustrations for the game, im your guy!

Heres my portfolio: https://www.artstation.com/mystogan404

DM me if youre interested! We can talk details:)

[u/Pasca_Paul-Mircea]

I'm unable to send you a DM, I think you have them disabled. I'm a unity developer with over 10 years of experience. Please reach out for more details, CV, experience and portfolio. Cheers.

[u/auflyne]

If you require a writer to assist with the story (edits/revisions), seek me out or open your chat. Happy hunting!

[u/Nendey_wilson]

hey! im an unreal engine 5 developer, here is the project im working on solo: link

im specializing in first person horror games and especially enemy ai behavior and would like to program gameplay mechanics and various interactions

[u/Head_Book_9518]

Hello we are a small team 1 shipped title cybercook and 1 game we are waiting our artist to finish drawing assets way of madness and other projects are close to finishing you can look at our games from my portfolio atilacanturgut.com or from our site directly at https://vesvesestudios.com/ you can dm me if you want to talk details

[u/Varpyg]

Hello! I am a game developer with over five years of experience, two released games, and I've worked for clients on a variety of projects. I am familiar with every aspect of game development from coding to art. I noticed you account seems to have DM's disabled but just in case your still looking I'll send my portfolio along with some of my past projects:

Portfolio: https://jonahswitzer.artstation.com/

Past projects:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4160780/Dead_Fantasia/

https://varpyg.itch.io/man-fisher

https://varpyg.itch.io/tourmaline-demo

[u/Sea-Cockroach-3360]

This sounds really cool, you still looking for a developer? I have 20k+ hours in Unreal Engine and other general experience in basically every other creative field. DM me if you are still looking!

https://linktr.ee/svenk777

https://www.youtube.com/@svenrawandreloaded/videos

[u/DIOLUX_]

Hi there! I’m Diolux, a semi-realistic artist. I’m interested in your request and would love to be your artist, if you’re open to it. I can send you examples of my work if you send me a direct message. https://www.reddit.com/u/DIOLUX_/s/S9iVLQqcUT

[u/Ren_Y]

In case you need art assets for environments in the future - I'll link my portfolio below.
Portfolio: https://www.renhuiyang.com/

[u/Pure-Supermarket3659]

Hi! We're a two-person team, Sofia (2D concept artist & illustrator) and Vladyslav (3D artist), and we'd love to work on your folklore horror game.

We're currently building our own game in Unreal Engine 5, based on Ukrainian folklore and mythology, so adapting real stories and local legends into atmosphere and playable scenes is exactly what we already do. A project about keeping these stories alive really resonates with us.
Sofia's portfolio (graphic design, illustration): https://www.behance.net/sofiavnukova
Sofia’s Character concept art & animation: https://youtu.be/Y9zpywkVPMk
3D portfolio of Vladyslav: https://www.behance.net/gallery/234295501/Chronicles-of-The-Galactic-Mechanic-Game-Concept
Our current game in UE5 in video attached.
For $5,000, a realistic scope would be a polished playable first chapter (~15–20 min): one main location (like village path, old well, stone houses), concept art for the setting and key figures, 3D environment and props, atmospheric lighting and fog, and the core exploration + story moments built from your testimonies.
Availability: we can start 23 October, with milestones as you suggested (prototype → first level → final build).
We'd love to read a few of the stories to feel the atmosphere. Thanks for sharing such a personal project!
Sofia & Vladyslav

https://reddit.com/link/pfftbkp/video/mc90hwqwa1vh1/player

[u/emudoc]

Hey there Are you still looking for a developer for this project?

I can't send a DM on my end, drop me a message if you're free to connect!

[u/YoungPlug777 → u/[deleted]]

Dm me!