Indie Game Dev & Design on a Budget

Making an indie game is tough. Money is tight, time is short, and every tool you use needs to pull its weight. This guide cuts the fluff and gives you solid options for game engines, asset creation, and where to find resources. If you need a designer, you’ll also see how I work.

Pick your engine?

Your game engine is your foundation. Choose based on what you need, not just what’s popular.

  • Unity – Industry standard. Handles 2D and 3D. Huge asset store. Great support. Pricing changes are a downside.
  • Unreal Engine – High-end graphics. Perfect for realistic 3D. Visual scripting helps, but it needs a strong PC.
  • Godot – Open-source. Free forever. Great for 2D. 3D improving. Lightweight and flexible.

Make Your Own Assets?

If you’re handling visuals yourself, use the right tools.

    • Inkscape & GIMP – Free. Inkscape for vector graphics (UI, icons, logos). GIMP for pixel art and textures.
    • Krita – Free. Best for illustrations.
    • Affinity Suite – One-time purchase. No subscriptions. Affinity Designer (vector), Affinity Photo (image editing), Affinity Publisher (layout).

Where to Get Assets

Time is money. Buy what you need, make what you can.

How I Work

If you need a designer, here’s my setup:

  • Figma – UI/UX, wireframing, fast iterations.
  • Unity & Unreal Engine – I design assets with engine integration in mind.
  • Adobe & Affinity – Adobe when compatibility is a must. Affinity when it isn’t.

Need a Designer? Let’s Talk.

You handle the code. I handle the visuals. Let’s make something that stands out. Reach me out, and let’s get to work.