What is the most popular gaming technology?

The most popular gaming trend is the use of mobile devices. Nearly 90% of all gamers play on handheld units, with the estimated number being over 150 million.

What are the different stages of game development?

Game development comprises seven stages: planning, pre-production, production, testing, pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. The process often requires an organization to hire game developer teams to complete all phases successfully.

What are the different gaming technologies?

Gaming technologies include games on consoles, on mobile devices, over the cloud, and with virtual or augmented reality. Recent advances include gesture controls, voice recognition, facial recognition, and high-definition graphics.

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Here are the top 15 sites to hire freelance Game developers:

Based on facts publicly available as of 01.01.2023

1. Toptal

Toptal is a matching service that was created with a key focus on tech talent. However, over the years, the company has expanded its expertise and pool of professionals to include some of the best game developers and game designers.

If you want someone who can get started with the project immediately and does a fantastic job at it, picking someone from Toptal would be your best bet. That’s because Toptal has expert freelancers and programmers who have been thoroughly vetted for their professionalism and expertise.

According to Toptal, only 3% of applicants (including game developers and designers) make it through their battery of technical tests and their comprehensive vetting process. You also have the option to have a special project manager from Toptal help you put together a development team.

2. Gun.io

Some of the world’s top brands such as Cisco, NBC, and Tesla to small and medium-sized businesses, all turn to Gun.io to hire game developers. The platform does most of the hiring work for you wherein they find, vet, and offer some of the best talent.

Whether you’re looking for someone to develop a video game or someone to do mobile game development for Android and iOS, Gun.io can help. The team primarily operates in the US which makes collaboration across time zones easy and manageable.

A game developer on Gun.io has to go through seven stages of assessment to ensure that they have the required skills, talent, and technical know-how to deliver top-quality projects.

3. Hired

Similar to most other freelance marketplaces, Hired also properly vets the game developers before accepting them on its platform. Additionally, Hired also offers a few more assessments to ensure that you find the best programmers and freelancers for your project.

You can use their pipeline to hire game developers by creating a company profile and searching through a large candidate pool using their own search algorithm. Pick the experts you like, interview them, and get started.

The only caveat here is that this whole process can take up to 25 days and if you’re building a development team then it could potentially take longer.

4. Gigster

As a platform, Gigster helps businesses to grow and innovate by giving them qualified game developers who can handle projects of all kinds. From augmented reality to creating 3D games, the experts on the platform are qualified to handle it all.

There’s a simple process on Gigster to hire game developers wherein you explain your project and requirements to them and the platform will put together a team for you. The company also offers advanced tools for better productivity, a shared development environment with advanced analytics, and the technology needed to build a world-class game.

5. Fiverr Pro

Fiverr Pro takes the regular Fiverr platform a notch up. Every game designer on this platform is thoroughly vetted and verified to ensure you get the best of the lot. Only freelancers and programmers with the highest ratings and feedback scores make it to the Pro platform.

The only difference between Fiverr and Fiverr Pro is on the latter, game developers and designers study the details of your project and reach out to you. Unlike Toptal and Gigster, this isn’t a matching service. Therefore, to ensure you’re getting the right talent, it’s vital that you write a detailed project description.

6. Guru

Guru offers one of the largest global networks of freelancers. With over two million experts on the platform, you can easily hire game developers by proposing your project and choosing the talent. The platform offers a secure SafePay functionality that makes payments easy.

Guru is a large freelance marketplace with talents across different industries and specialities. Therefore, to find the perfect match, you’ll have to put in some time and effort and also vet the candidate as the platform doesn’t offer that service.

7. Upwork

Upwork is one of the oldest and largest freelance marketplace helping millions of professionals find great gigs. Being such a popular platform, Upwork offers varied features that makes it one of the best sites to hire game developers.

You can browse through the profiles of hundreds of experts, see the kind of work they’ve done, what their ratings and reviews are, and then make an informed decision. Upwork also offers a unified workspace that makes it easy to collaborate and make payments through a secure system.

8. Codementor

Codementor is one of the on-demand sites to hire game developers. The website offers one-on-one real-time help to hire game developers. To find the perfect fit, you have to share your project details, timelines, budget, and more.

Based on the information you share, the platform recommends some of the top profiles with whom you can discuss your project and see if it would be a good match. Once you find someone you like, you can hire them and get started. Codementor also offers an escrow system that makes payments secure and fast.

9. X-Team

X-Team is another one of the great sites to hire game developers. Developers that are part of X-Team have experience working with some of the top brands such as Riot Games, Fox Broadcasting, Kaplan Inc., Coinbase, Google, Twitter, Beachbody, and more.

The platform vets all its applicants to ensure you find someone with the right skill-sets. Moreover, the X-Team takes things a notch up by supporting its developers. The platform funds their learning and growth and offers them a remote work environment that motivates and inspires them to do great work.

10. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour gives you three different options to hire game developers. The first option is Hourlies that are fixed rates and can begin right away. In the second option you share the details of your project and wait for game designers to reach out to you. The third option works similar to most other freelance marketplaces where you browse through the profiles of game developers and approach the ones you want to work with directly.

The platform allows you to manage your project, effectively communicate with the game designers, and pay them for their services when the job is completed.

11. Topcoder

A global, crowdsourcing platform, Topcoder is specifically made for developers and designers. The platform started as a community for coders whose key objective was to create and experiment with different algorithms.

However, over the years, the website has grown into a global technology community with experts that are known for building world-class digital solutions. When you share a project on Topcoder, it gets global visibility so that game developers from across borders can see it and offer creative solutions on how it can be executed.

12. Craigslist

As a platform, Craigslist has a lot more to offer than just apartment rentals or second-hand items. It can actually be one of the great sites to hire game developers. You can browse through their listing and include specific locations and check out specific services such as augmented reality or game engine or 3D games.

You could also find experts based on different programming languages or specific development services. Just use specific keywords such as “hire game developers” to find results that are most relevant to you.

13. Dice

Dice is a tech and an IT career board. It attracts professionals and experts from all walks of the technology sector such as game developers, game designers, freelancers, programmers, QA testers, and more. The platform boasts of more than ten million unique tech candidate profiles which ensures that your posting will get a lot of relevant traction. Posting a job on the platform costs a few hundred dollars but it ensures that you get good candidates to choose from.

14. Codepen.io

CodePen is one of the popular repositories for open-source code. It’s mostly loved for its pleasing user interface. The platform gets more than three million members and five million visits a month making it one of the world’s largest community of game developers and designers.

Since Codepen is popular in the development community, it attracts some of the top developers making it a great website for companies to hire talented and driven game developers.

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Guide to hiring great freelance Game developers

The video game industry is booming, making it more challenging to secure professional talent for your projects. Therefore, finding the ideal platform to help you quickly locate, assess, and hire game developers is essential.

Finding talent does not have to be difficult. Sites like Toptal simplify the process by offering a quick way to employ world-class game developers by matching ideal prospects to your needs.

With this platform, you do not need to search for, run background checks on, or interview freelancers. Because of their rigorous screening process, Toptal only accepts 3% of applicants. Contractors are ready to work as soon as you approve them, and a no-risk trial period ensures complete satisfaction.

You can also check Craigslist or social media sites to hire game developers. These may be your best option if you have time and would rather handle all the legwork. However, expect finding a qualified candidate to take longer.

Standard job sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Hired are also viable spots to find game specialists. Your results may depend on what you wish to invest in premium services. Additionally, you typically have to study reviews and profiles as well as conduct interviews to find the right person, which can increase the time to hire.

What Is Game Development?

Game development is the process of designing, programming, and producing a video game. Turning an exciting idea into a playable experience requires a complex understanding of game design principles, computer programming techniques, and artistic talent.

The power and impact of gaming are visible in its global market size, which nearly hit $200 billion recently. The release of a highly anticipated game can even outperform large Hollywood blockbuster movies. Video game companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are household brands with products that touch all ages.

Another feature of gaming is the potential to boost brand recognition, educate, or simply earn more money. Worldwide brands such as Adidas, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton collaborate with game developers to create events that draw more eyes to their labels.

Another example is the Sargiato Foundation, which decided to create a campaign to draw attention to the plight of homeless animals. The program led to the purchase of over 300 pounds of food for needy creatures.

Companies are aggressively seeking the best talent, with firms hiring software engineers, project managers, and other professionals to create the best gaming experiences possible.

What Is a Game Developer?

A game developer is a person or a team that designs and creates video games. They work on the overall look, feel, and play of a video game from programming, design, audio production to visual development. They usually have experience in software engineering and computer graphics as well as being fluent in coding languages such as C++, Lua, HTML5 and many others. Game developers often specialize in specific genres of games, but can develop any type of gaming product.

What Does a Freelance Game Developer Do?

Top game developers may work with various experts to create their products. Character designers, coders, story writers, and animators are a few of the roles to fill for creating a complete gaming experience.

When you hire game programmers with a high level of expertise, you can streamline the process and ensure the smooth functioning of overall game mechanics. Experienced developers also often have access to high-end hardware and software tools that would otherwise be unavailable to amateurs.

Programmers often specialize in particular programming languages that serve different hardware and software requirements. A few of the top languages are:

C++
Java
HTML5
Python
Lua

A more accomplished programmer may have experience in C++. Newer coders will likely be familiar with Lua, which works well for simple mobile games. If you need a game for iOS, you probably need a programmer adept at using Swift.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the growth in software developers outpaces most occupations and even many other technical fields. The increase in employment sits at just over 25%.

This reality means it can be a challenge to vet and hire talent. Fortunately, matching services can locate ideal candidates in as little as a couple of days.

When Should You Hire a Dedicated Game Developer?

Hiring freelance game developers is a huge help for both SMBs and larger enterprises. Firms often hire talented programmers for interactive gaming software, educational games, virtual reality developments, arcade simulations or mobile game development. These games can be part of marketing campaigns to build brand identity or to create a fun way for customers to interact with products or services.

Immersive 3D experiences with realistic physics and integrated AI systems can provide feedback and instructions that adapt in real-time. With augmented reality taking a more central role in commerce and entertainment, hiring the right freelance game developer can put your brand experience light-years ahead of the competition.

Additionally, you should hire freelance game programmers adept at designing and coding user interfaces that maximize accessibility and convenience for players of all ages, skill levels, and physical abilities.

How Do You Find Game Developers for Hire?

When seeking to hire professional game developers, you have a few options. Bringing on full-time team members is ideal for web and tech teams intending to keep the team in-house. Employers wishing to grow their development squad without the drawbacks of bringing on permanent employees may opt for part-time staffing instead.

Independent contracting is popular for the freedom it offers the workers and hiring companies. The cost savings, flexible hours, convenience, and terms of employment make it attractive. Hiring remote game developers is a cost-effective option for finding qualified candidates worldwide.

When hiring game designers, you should review their portfolio of work and understand the type of games they can produce. You may find it beneficial to get to know them personally. Then you can understand who your hire is and if the person matches your project's tone and objectives and your team's spirit.

Draw up a project description that makes abundantly clear what the assignment involves. Last-minute surprises that were not part of the initial contract or description create frustrated teammates. This gives you a poor reputation, making it harder to attract top talent in the future.

A trial period may help you gauge actual output. You will better understand the individual's working style and whether outcomes match expectations.

What Skills Should You Look For To Hire the Best Game Developers?

Businesses need to be diligent in seeking and recruiting qualified game developers. Beyond having comprehensive coding knowledge, they should possess several soft skill sets.

You should hire game developers with aptitudes in:

Writing efficient code and debugging programs
Excellent graphic design capabilities
Proficiency in creating interesting storylines
Experience using sound editing tools
Robust animation techniques
The ability to work collaboratively

Seek candidates that demonstrate a strong command of these attributes so your projects will maintain peak quality standards.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire Top Game Developers?

This career is so desirable that training is now accessible in the halls of higher education. The top designers easily make over six figures yearly plus bonuses. The average income sits at $101,000, but individual earners vary substantially above and below that figure.

Typical pay for developers depends on their education and experience. Game programmers do similarly well, with salaries starting at $44,000 and going up to over $120,000 for senior team leads.

This data does not mean companies always have to pay top dollar to hire. For example, Gameplay Developer recommends hourly rates between $20 and $30. This range puts workers between $44,000 and $60,000 yearly.

By isolating the skills and qualities you require for a project, you can avoid selecting someone overqualified for the job. Freelancing gives opportunities to capable newcomers who need more experience before they can command top dollar.

How Can You Find the Best Sites To Hire Game Developers?

Hiring the best game developer for software development is not going to be an easy task. Unless you’re aware of all the minute details and have a great hiring experience, you most likely will find it challenging to navigate the complexities of hiring a quality game developer. This is why all these sites can help you along the way.

The gaming industry is on a boom with 63% of the developers creating games for PC and has been over the past few years. There are various reasons for this. Some of them being the continued growth of the gaming industry as a whole. As video games become more accessible and gain a larger following, more businesses are considering how game programming can help their business needs.

Game design is about the gaming experience. Good game developers take your idea or concept and develop, program, and engineer a great game that engages the user and produces great results.

When it comes to hiring talented game developers with years of experience, matching services such as Toptal, Hired, and Gun.io, are great solutions. Not only do they promise top-quality candidates, but they also save you a lot of your precious time.

On the other hand, freelance marketplaces such as Upwork and People Per Hour that allow you to take the lead on hiring by going through different profiles and picking the ones you like the most. If you have a lot of time to spare, then these can be great choices.

Find the best game programmers for your next game project

Ultimately, which sites you use to hire game developers depends on a various factors, such as:

The timeline are you looking at for hiring team members
The type of game developers you need, such as full-time, part-time, contract, or freelance
Do you need a console game developer or a mobile game developer
How much hiring experience you have with game development services or video game developers
Do you have the necessary technical know-how to vet the candidate and the necessary programming languages such as Unity3D, Unreal Engine, Javascript, Java, or PHP
What level of experience those game developers need
Does your project management support remote work or not
What kind of budget do you have for web development and game development
How important quality is to your project(s)

FAQs

What is the most popular gaming technology?: The most popular gaming trend is the use of mobile devices. Nearly 90% of all gamers play on handheld units, with the estimated number being over 150 million.
What are the different stages of game development?: Game development comprises seven stages: planning, pre-production, production, testing, pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. The process often requires an organization to hire game developer teams to complete all phases successfully.
What are the different gaming technologies?: Gaming technologies include games on consoles, on mobile devices, over the cloud, and with virtual or augmented reality. Recent advances include gesture controls, voice recognition, facial recognition, and high-definition graphics.