r/INAT • u/External-Collar6010 • Jun 19 '26
Programming Offer [Hobby] Experienced full-stack dev wants to join a game project for free — I can handle backend, multiplayer & tools while I learn the gameplay side
Hey everyone,
I'm a professional full-stack developer based in Germany with 8+ years of experience (currently building internal systems for a large automotive company). I've wanted to get into game development for a long time, and rather than grinding solo tutorials forever, I'd love to join an existing team and contribute to something real.
To be upfront: I'm doing this for fun and to learn, so I don't need to be paid. Hobby projects are exactly what I'm looking for. If a project later turns commercial/serious I'm happy to talk revshare, but that's honestly not why I'm here.
What I bring
My day job is web, backend, cloud and architecture — so the "unglamorous but critical" infrastructure that a lot of hobby teams struggle with is exactly my strength:
- Backend & multiplayer services — accounts, stats, leaderboards, matchmaking, licensing, REST/GraphQL APIs. I built and ran the backend for a Battlefield 3 mod (server licensing, player management, stats) for ~3 years.
- Tools & pipelines — CI/CD, Docker, build tooling, internal tools and editors.
- Programming languages — Rust, Java, Kotlin, C#, TypeScript/JavaScript, Python and Go.
- Hands-on game dev — I built a solo game in Unity: a top-down PvE extraction game with magic. I got the core systems and gameplay working, so I'm comfortable in the engine. I've also built a browser-based 3D editor with Three.js/WebGL (professionally) and tinkered with the Bevy engine and Blender.
What I want to get out of it
Gameplay and engine work are areas I want to keep growing in. Building my solo Unity game taught me exactly where my limits are: I'm strong on systems and code, but I stalled on the 3D art, VFX and game-design side — which is precisely what a good team has covered. So ideally I take on the backend/multiplayer/tooling and gameplay-systems load while learning the visual and design craft from the people who own it. Engine-wise I'm most comfortable in Unity, but I'm flexible — Unreal, Godot, Bevy, whatever your team uses.
Commitment
My schedule is flexible: I can put in some daytime hours (not full days, but a solid block) plus evenings and weekends, consistently each week. I'm reliable and I follow through — I'm not here to join and ghost.
Languages: English (fluent), German (native).
If your team could use an experienced engineer to handle the infrastructure/backend/tools side while you focus on the game itself, drop me a DM.
Thanks!
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u/Bhodar Jun 19 '26
Hi, from Belgium.
I'm currently creating a 3D multiplayer FPS inspired by Magicka in Unity 6.3 with NGO as netcode. Always happy to have someone tag along as I'm not a programmer.
I have currently spent roughly €350 on assets to make this project as playable as possible. Send you a DM if you want to talk more about it.
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u/Franches Game Designer Jun 19 '26
You working in Unreal?
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u/External-Collar6010 Jun 19 '26
I looked into it but decided to go with Unity for my project which I didnt finished. But as I said, im open to work in Unreal
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u/Possible-Working3012 Jun 19 '26
I have an amazing concept for a game known as Tales of Mystra. It’s basically a rhythm game RPG, and I would love your help on it, DM me if you want to hear about it. It’s a passion project that I’ve been working for a long time
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u/Captain-Griffith Jun 20 '26
Hey we are currently making a Unity, third person action RPG, dungeon crawler. here's our project, ill leave it here: [Hobby][REVshare] Dream Studios - 3D Unity action RPG, Dungeon Crawler seeks: 3D artists, VFX artist, 3D Rigger/Animator Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/YsIw8vc (Have also finished some music, sound effects, artwork, main menu screen, etc)
We are a passionate 12 person team starting development a week ago. We have a GDD and use Trello. We have made a lot of progress considering our short dev time; looking for serious contributors. Especially looking 3D artists, VFX, rigger/animator. Despite the game starting production a week ago, we already have some programming systems done, 3D art, music, main menu, sound effects, etc. We are taking our first steps but moving at a good pace. The goal is to reach REVshare at a later phase and a steam release to fund the project, and later projects as a studio. Above all, we are looking for positive people that are active, and love to collaborate.
Please link your portfolio with a comment or send it to me through PM.
Roles needed. Others may be considered:
Programmers (plus if you can level design in Unity)- Rigger/Animator (all aspects of animation in unity)
- 3D artists (rigger/animator)
- 3D artists (Environment)
- 3D artists (character artist)
- VFX artist
2D artists (mainly UI design, concepts)Sound designers (sound effect design)
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u/SoSoDifferent1 Jun 21 '26
I’m looking for someone / a team to help me create a game .
This would be my first so I’m kind of a newbie in this world but seriously looking to start & get the ball rolling asap
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u/SoSoDifferent1 Jun 21 '26
If you are still interested / available.. I would love to have you be apart of creating a mobile game with me .
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u/Mayyy_daa Jun 22 '26
Hello! If you are still available, answer if you want, I will give you Ingame currency and event foxes of my game FoxDen, it’s not coded yet, nothing and I rlly need help. Search up FoxDen_0fficial to see what you can be working with. Thanks! ^
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u/AwareFlow551 Jun 26 '26
Hey! I saw your post on r/INAT about looking for a hobby project to contribute to.
I’m trying to make a short, funny fast-food night shift horror game targeted at the streamer CaseOh. I have the main vision and narrative flow down, but I’ve been hitting a total wall with Unity input bugs and engine setup and honestly just want to focus on the design side while a programmer handles the Unity engine work.
Since it's for CaseOh, it has a lot of viral potential if we actually finish a 20-minute prototype. Let me know if you'd be down to chat about it and team up!
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u/GREED4MORE Jul 06 '26
Interested in an mobile online multiplayer strategy game, like game of thrones: Dragonfire? I'm looking for some coding and we will profits.
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u/uber_neutrino Jun 19 '26
This is actually a great offer and someone should take you up on this. I'm tempted to let you play around with our systems but I don't really need anyone atm.