Where to find art and VFX for your indie game
There are two ways to get art for an indie game: use asset packs (free or paid), or hire an artist. Packs are fast and cheap. Hiring gets you a look that's yours. Here's an honest list of where to do both, and when each one fits.
I run ComposerScout, so take my take on it with that in mind. The right place really depends on your game, your budget and how unique you need it to look.
Asset packs: free and paid
| Where | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Kenney | Free CC0 packs: 2D, 3D, UI and more. Use them in commercial games, no credit needed. | A clean, simple style that lots of other games use too. |
| itch.io game assets | Huge mix of free and paid packs, especially pixel art and tilesets. | Licenses vary from pack to pack, so read each one. |
| OpenGameArt.org | Free art from the community, good for prototypes and jams. | Mixed licenses (CC0, CC-BY, GPL) and mixed quality. |
| Unity Asset Store / Fab | Polished 3D models, environments and VFX packs for Unity and Unreal. | Paid packs add up, and popular ones show up in a lot of games. |
Use packs when you're prototyping, doing a game jam, or need placeholder art fast. They're also fine for a final game if the style fits and you don't mind others using the same art. The catch is that mixing packs rarely looks consistent.
Hiring an artist
| Where | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| ArtStation | Browsing pro portfolios, plus a jobs board. | Lots of film and AAA work. Filter for people who've made game-ready assets. |
| r/gameDevClassifieds | Free posting and lots of replies. | You'll sort through a flood of DMs, and quality varies. |
| #PortfolioDay on Bluesky and X | Artists who are openly looking for work, with their best pieces. | You have to scroll and reach out one by one. |
| Discord servers | Meeting artists in game dev and game art communities. | Every server has its own rules about hiring posts. |
| Fiverr | Fast, fixed-price gigs with buyer protection. | Mostly general freelancers, not game specialists. Fees on both sides. |
| ComposerScout | Art and VFX portfolios you can filter by style, seeing a piece next to your game, and messaging the artist directly. Free, no cut. | New for artists (October 2026), so there are fewer portfolios today than on the big sites. |
Hire when you want a style that's yours, a full set of assets that belong together, or store page and key art that makes people stop scrolling.
ComposerScout
This is mine. Artists and VFX artists tag their work by style (pixel, 2D, 3D, anime, isometric and more) and by what each piece shows. Pick the Art or VFX tab in Find my match, put a piece next to a screenshot of your game in the Gameplay studio, and message the person who made it. You can also post an open role on a free studio page and let artists find you. Every artist confirms their work is human-made, no AI.
Where to find VFX
- VFX packs on the Unity Asset Store, Fab and itch.io, for ready-made spells, explosions and hits.
- ArtStation reels, for real-time VFX artists' best work.
- The Real Time VFX community (realtimevfx.com), where VFX artists share work and talk shop.
- r/gameDevClassifieds and Discord servers, to post a role.
- ComposerScout's VFX tab in Find my match, to browse VFX portfolios and message the artist.
Packs work well for common effects. Hire when your effects need to match your art style or your engine setup. For the full process, read how to find a VFX artist.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get art for my indie game?
For free or cheap art, use asset packs: Kenney (free, CC0), itch.io game assets (free and paid packs, lots of pixel art), OpenGameArt.org (free, check each license), and the Unity Asset Store or Fab for Unreal. To hire an artist, look at ArtStation, r/gameDevClassifieds, #PortfolioDay posts on Bluesky and X, game dev Discord servers, Fiverr, and ComposerScout, where you can browse art portfolios by style and message the artist directly for free.
Should I use asset packs or hire an artist?
Asset packs are great for prototypes, game jams and tight budgets, but other games use the same art and packs rarely match each other. Hire an artist when you want a style that's yours, a consistent set of assets, or store page and key art that stands out.
Is Kenney art free for commercial games?
Kenney's assets are released under CC0, so you can use them in commercial games without credit. Other free sites mix licenses, so check each pack's license before you ship.
Where can I find VFX for my indie game?
For ready-made effects, look at VFX packs on the Unity Asset Store, Fab for Unreal, and itch.io. To hire a VFX artist, look at ArtStation reels, the Real Time VFX community, r/gameDevClassifieds, and the VFX tab on ComposerScout.
Is ComposerScout free?
Yes. ComposerScout is free while in beta for game devs and creators, and it takes no cut. You message artists directly and agree on payment and rights between you.
Hire an artist and message them directly, free
Browse human-made art and VFX portfolios by style, see a piece next to your game, and message the person who made it.
Find my artist