About

We are seeking a skilled low-poly / stylized visual development artist or artists (individuals or small studios welcome) to help establish the core visual identity for an upcoming 3D, mobile-first, isometric free-to-play game built in Unreal Engine (please read in it's entirety as compensation details are near bottom). This engagement will begin with a focused Art Style Exploration Sprint. If successful, the chosen artist(s) may transition into a full production role, including characters, environments, props, UI/UX assets, VFX, animation style guides, marketing art, and LiveOps updates. Full game details will be provided only under NDA. Initial Phase (Art Style Exploration Sprint) You will produce 5 distinct art style variations of the same character + scene composition. This allows our internal team to evaluate a range of viable looks inside Unreal’s isometric constraints. The 5 Unreal-Optimized Low-Poly Styles to Explore 1. Stylized Low-Poly + Subtle Hand-Painted Materials (Primary Target) -Soft textures with gentle painterly shading -Warm daylight aesthetic with subtle eerie undertones -Maintains clean shapes while feeling handcrafted -Ideal for Unreal’s lighting + mobile optimization 2. Minimalist Stylized Low-Poly (Unreal-Friendly Diorama Variant) -Chunky forms -Simplified materials -Clear silhouettes at mobile scale -Strong readability in isometric 3. Low-Poly + PBR Hybrid (Controlled Use) -Low-poly geometry with selective PBR materials -Adds depth and visual polish without losing stylization 4. Flat-Shaded Low-Poly + Soft Gradient Lighting -Flat color blocks with gentle baked gradients or AO -Crisp, stylized, easy to read in isometric -Slight softness to avoid harsh contrasts 5. Stylized Unreal Material Toon Hybrid -Very light toon ramping -Minimal outlines (if used at all) -Soft banding + warm bounce light -Premium “storybook but eerie” tone These five directions are all viable in Unreal Engine, scalable, performant, and appropriate for an isometric mobile F2P title. Deliverables (Phase 1) -One consistent key scene, recreated in all 5 style variations -Isometric camera -Same framing, same geometry/pose, same layout -1–2 characters, simple environmental props -Character exploration in each style -Silhouette -Clothing/material approach -Mobile readability -Lighting & material palette proposals -Specifically tailored to Unreal Engine workflows -Optimized for mobile performance -A short written breakdown of each style -Strengths + weaknesses -Technical difficulty -Shader/material considerations -Production cost + art pipeline implications -Your recommended final style direction -Focused on uniqueness, feasibility, scalability, and tone Potential Phase 2 (Full Production) Awarded based on Phase 1 results. Could include: -Full character set production -Modular environment kits -Isometric tile sets -Props & ritual set pieces -UI, iconography, and UX assets -Stylized VFX and shader work -Animation style guidelines -Seasonal/LiveOps content -Marketing & store art We are open to engaging multiple artists or a studio for ongoing production depending on fit and availability. Requirements -Strong portfolio in stylized, low-poly, or isometric 3D art -Ability to produce multiple style variations -Experience with Unreal Engine materials/shaders (or willingness to adapt) -Understanding of mobile performance constraints -Ability to iterate quickly with clear communication -Must sign an NDA before receiving any project details Nice-to-Haves -Prior work on mobile F2P games -Experience creating an Art Bible or visual style guide -Ability to create simple animation or VFX mockups -Unity/Unreal prototyping experience What We Provide -Game Design Doc (after NDA) -VERY Rough Reference boards -Placeholder UI scene layout -Rapid feedback -Clear, milestone-based deliverables If your explorations resonate with our direction, we will continue with full production work immediately afterward. ⭐ BUDGET & COMPENSATION We are open to both hourly and fixed-price proposals for the Art Style Exploration Sprint. Hourly Range (Preferred): -$40–$55/hr for strong mid-senior stylized/low-poly artists -Up to $80/hr for highly experienced stylized Unreal specialists or small studios Fixed-Price Option (Optional): -You may alternatively propose a fixed price for the entire exploration sprint. -Typical proposals for the scope below range from $1,200–$1,800 USD, depending on: -Depth of materials -Number of iterations -Whether you deliver Unreal-ready shaders/materials -Team size (solo vs. agency) Notes: -This is a high-skill, short sprint demanding clear stylistic range — please price accordingly. -Additional work (characters, environments, props, VFX, UI, LiveOps content, marketing art) is available after style selection. -We are open to working with one artist or a team for long-term production in partnership with our internal resources