Hire Game Developer: 9 Best Sites to Hire Game Developers

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Updated:
June 29, 2024

If you want to develop a quality game, you need two things. One is a good idea, and the second is a good team of professional game developers.

After you have created a clear vision of the game you want to build, the next step is finding the right dev team to help bring it to life. Finding quality game developers who are passionate about video games and game design is challenging.

Perhaps you are searching for a game developer who can:

  1. Work on mobile games and can implement IAP, ads, localization, third-party login, player rewards, and a server hosted economy.
  2. Create a desktop online trading card game or RPG.
  3. Use a game engine like Unity 3D to create 3D games.h
  4. Work on mobile game development with augmented reality for Android.
  5. Use their gaming experience and knowledge of the gaming industry to meet your business needs.

Here, you can learn about the top 9 sites where you can find and hire game developers for your next project.

Now, let's dive in…

9 Best Sites for Hiring Freelance Game Developers

1. Toptal

Toptal

Toptal is a site that connects businesses with talented freelancers in the realm of software and game development. Here you can find talent from across the globe.

The company touts it can provide users with access to the top three percent of freelance video game developers by carefully screening applicants before allowing them to be listed on their site.

The screening process used by Toptal includes a personality and language test, technician screenings conducted by other Toptal designers, algorithm testing, a test project, and an ongoing commitment for the freelance developers to keep a perfect track record when working with clients through the site.

While the process is tedious for developers, for those, who are searching for a game developer, finding the right person is much easier than it may seem. Potential clients can let the site know what they are looking for and the type of technology they are working with.

Once all information is provided, Toptal provides a list of possible matches. It is possible to begin working with the site 100% risk-free.

Learn More:

  1. Go to Toptal.
  2. Read our Toptal Review.
  3. Find Toptal Alternatives.

2. OnlineJobs.ph

OnlineJobs.ph

Online Jobs is a Philippines-based job board that has over 250K members across the nation. With the membership numbers on this site exceeding six-figures, it is considered the most popular and largest job site in the entire country.

The site was originally founded in 2008 by John Jonas and, while he intended it to be just a side hustle, this site is not one of the top locations to find the freelancer you are searching for.

By hiring a game developer from this site, you can get the experience and skills that you are looking for, at an affordable price. Now is the time to consider the freelancers here to ensure you find someone who can handle the job you need to have done.

With this site, it is easy to find freelancers who are interested in an array of projects, including both short-term and long-term gigs. With the search features available, you will find you can get who you need, without wasting a lot of time. Also, compared to many of the other sites, here you can find more affordable rates. 

Learn More:

  1. Go to OnlineJops.ph.
  2. Read our OnlineJobs.ph Review.
  3. Find OnlineJobs.ph Alternatives.

3. Fiverr

Fiverr

Fiverr's goal is to help reduce the options you have to choose from by segmenting the freelance marketplace. You will find profiles made by game developers (and other freelancers) that highlight the services they offer on this site. Some even include an introductory video.

You can search for the game developer you need by typing in a keyword or going into specific, predefined categories, such as "game developers."

Just as the name implies, most Fiverr freelancers are going to have smaller services they offer for $5; however, you can also find "Gig Extras," which are available for higher fees.

Learn More:

  1. Go to Fiverr.
  2. Read our Fiverr Review.
  3. Find Fiverr Alternatives.

Upwork

Upwork

Upwork is one of the best-known freelancing sites available today. Here, people of all skill levels congregate to find new opportunities for freelance work – including game developers.  

Using Upwork is simple. You can sign up for an account and then enter the specifics of the job. You will instantly receive a shortlist of candidates who fit your criteria. You can also have freelancers interested in the position reach out to you, or search for them using the platform yourself.

If you sign up and pay for Upwork Pro, you have access to a huge talent of individuals who can help with your search, premium freelancers, and an array of other beneficial features.

With Upwork, you have a mix of pros and those new to developing, so it is up to you to sort through the applicants to find someone who suits your needs. While this site may take longer to find the right person for the job, the huge pool of talent makes it work considering when you need a freelance game developer. 

Learn More:

  1. Go to Upwork.
  2. Read our Upwork Review.
  3. Find Upwork Alternatives.

4. Triplebyte

Triplebyte

At Triblebyte, you can find a huge selection of talented and skilled individuals who are still in the early stages of their careers. The site helps to create an even playing field by assessing the abilities of each person, rather than relying on the credentials and prestige of what’s on their resume.  

Freelancers must go through a multiple-choice coding quiz to be accepted to the platform. Once you have signed up for an account, you can begin sorting through the more than 200K options of engineers and programmers on the site to find the one that best suits the needs of your job.

Learn More:

  1. Go to Triplebyte.
  2. Read our Triplebyte Review.
  3. Find Triplebyte Alternatives.

5. Lemon.io

Lemon.io

Lemon.io is the rebranding site of Coding Ninjas. This site was known for being a reliable resource for finding and hiring extremely skilled software, web, and game developers.

On this site, you can easily find the right programmer for your needs, and the prices are affordable compared to many of the other options available. While the site’s setup is similar to many of the other popular freelance platforms, there is a bigger emphasis put on speed. This site guarantees to help you find the right freelancer in just 24 hours.

The site works by connecting startup founders and entrepreneurs with vetted software developers. Once you have outlined your needs, the site will search to help you find the right candidate. If the candidate presented does not seem like a good fit, Lemon.io will start over and present you with new options until the right person for the job is found.  

Some of the biggest perks offered by using Lemon.io include free estimates, four tiers of vetting, fixed rates, and fast turnaround times. Even if you sign up for the free estimate, there is no obligation to move forward and hire the individual.

Learn More:

  1. Go to Lemon.io.
  2. Read our Lemon.io Review.
  3. Find Lemon.io Alternatives.

6. Stack Overflow Jobs

Stack Overflow Jobs

Stack Overflow Jobs is considered one of the largest communities of developers and other types of tech talent. People worldwide use this platform to discuss problems, share software, and help one another.

If you are searching for a quality game developer, Stack Overflow Jobs can help you find the right person for the job. You can post a description of your project and specify that you want a game developer with prior experience.

You can also add other specifications for the project, such as if you need a full- or part-time freelancer. Thanks to how diverse the community is on Stack Overflow, finding the right freelancer is easier than it may seem.

Learn More:

  1. Go to Stack Overflow Jobs.

7. X-Team

X-Team

X-Team is made up of freelancers from across the globe. Before being accepted to the site, the freelancers must complete specific tests and a deep and thorough evaluation of their resume is done. This ensures that the developers available on this site are considered the “best and brightest” in the field.

You can hire from this team of skilled, accomplished, and trained developers through the X-Team website. There is a priority put on the freelancer’s skill set, which means you can feel confident that when you hire from this site, you have found someone who fully understands the scope of your project and what you are looking for and need.

When using the site, you can search for the perfect developer by setting your preferred criteria. Some of the search filters available include budget, culture fit, time zone preferences, availability, and others.  

Also, this site encourages freelancers to work with them for a longer time than most other sites before accepting jobs. This will help ensure you get talented, committed individuals who are ready to handle your project.

Learn More: 

  1. Go to X-Team.
  2. Read our X-Team Review.
  3. Find X-Team Alternatives.

7. Gigster

Gigster

The Gigster platform is designed for providing you with the development talent you need to create the game you have envisioned. Along with finding quality game developers, you can also find individuals who specialize in project management to help ensure your development process runs smoothly.

Unlike other platforms that just provide freelancers, Gigster provides you with access to freelancers along with experienced individuals who have worked with some of the biggest companies in existence, such as Amazon and Google.

With this site, you gain access to a dedicated project manager for your development process too, which serves as a liaison between you and the rest of your team.

Learn More:

  1. Go to Gigster.
  2. Read our Gigster Review.
  3. Find Gigster Alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hiring a Freelance Game Developer

Here you can find some of the most common questions about hiring a freelance game developer.

What is a freelance game developer?

Freelance game developers are self-employed developers who design games using programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Python, and PHP. Freelance game developers will work with clients to design, develop, and maintain games. 

Game app developers need to understand technical code, design principles, and gameplay to create an easy-to-use, interactive game.

Where can I hire a freelance game developer?

As you can see from the information above, there are several platforms where you can find and hire freelance game developers. The 9 platforms we have included above will help connect you to the top freelance game developers who have the years of experience and game programming knowledge needed to bring your visions to life.

What do you need to know when hiring a freelance game developer?

When you use the freelance hiring platforms mentioned above, you can find just what you need in a game designer or development team. Some of the platforms we reviewed above offer things like project managers, vetting services, and more.

How much does it cost to hire a freelance game developer?

The cost to hire a freelance game developer depends on where you hire them and their skillset. On some platforms, you can find game developers who charge $25 to $50 per hour. However, others may charge flat rates for complete game development services. 

Conclusion

Finding and hiring a professional and quality game developer is more challenging than hiring other developers with more basic skills.

However, if you keep the information above in mind, it will be easier for you to find the best game developers for any upcoming project. Remember, take the time to review your options and do not just focus on the skill level of the developer. It would help if you also considered how well they could meet and match your needs. 

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We Examined 9 Websites to Hire a Game Developer

Information accurate from public sources as of 07.07.2020

Freelance Platform

Our Review

Trustpilot Reviews

G2 Reviews

Facebook Reviews

Toptal

Read Our Toptal Review
4.7 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 1,140

3.8 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 5

4.0 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 106

Codeable

Read Our Codeable Review
4.7 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 221

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 1

4.6 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 132

Triplebyte

Read Our Triplebyte Review
4.9 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 216

5 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 4

N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

Andela

Read Our Andela Review
N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

4.9 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 209

Lemon

Read Our Lemon Review
4.8 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 59

4.9 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 17

N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

Codementor

Read Our Codementor Review
4.4 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 38

4.3 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 2

Ratings: N/A

Gun.io

Read Our Gun.io Review
N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 14

N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

Gigster

Read Our Gigster Review
3.2 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 1

5 out of 5 stars

Ratings: 1

N/A out of 5 stars

Ratings: N/A

What is a typical hourly rate for a game developer?

According to Salary.com, most video game programmers make between $27 and $35 per hour. The average wage is $31 per hour.

What is a typical hourly rate for a freelance game developer?

However, some estimates are higher. CareerExplorer estimates that the average wage for a video game designer in America is just over $43 per hour.

What is a typical hourly rate for a freelance game developer?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average is even higher. They estimate that game developers in the United States make an average of $49 per hour.

What is a typical hourly rate for a freelance game developer?

How much do freelance game developers make in salary? What’s the average game developer salary in the USA?

According to Glassdoor, game developers in the United States average an annual salary of nearly $51,000.

How much do freelance game developers make in salary?

However, some estimates are higher. According to CareerExplorer, the average salary for a game designer is just over $90,000 per year.

How much do freelance game developers make in salary?

Similarly, ZipRecruiter estimates that the national average salary for game developers in America is over $101,000 per year.

How much do freelance game developers make in salary?

What are some game developer skills you might consider looking for?


Here are 10 skills you might consider looking for in a game developer:

  1. Computer science
  2. Software engineering
  3. Programming languages like C# and C++
  4. Unity3D
  5. Software development frameworks
  6. User interface design
  7. Database design
  8. ADobe Photoshop
  9. Virtual reality software design
  10. Game testing and debugging


What are some game developer interview questions you might ask?


Here are 10 interview questions you might consider asking when hiring a game developer:

  1. Tell us about some of your computer programming projects.
  2. Which programming languages are you strongest in?
  3. Describe the basic structure for developing a game.
  4. How do you go about creating the concepts, stories, and characters for a game?
  5. What are the advantages to using C++?
  6. What potential challenges will you face if you develop a game with Java?
  7. How do you plan out your work? How do you keep it organized?
  8. Tell us about the most extensive program you have written.
  9. What is your all-time favorite video game, and why?
  10. Tell us about a time when you had to solve a difficult programming problem. How did you solve it?

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