A games portfolio that gets shortlisted

Before you share the link

• It opens on a phone without logging in

• Your name, role and email are on the first screen

• Only your best 8 to 12 pieces. Remove weak or very old work

• Newest and most relevant work comes first

• Each piece says: project, your exact part, tools, time taken

Match the role

• Art style matches the studio (stylised, realistic, isometric, casual)

• Right subject mix. Applying for environments? Show environments

• Mobile roles: show optimised work (poly count, texture size, draw calls)

• Moving from 2D to 3D or the other way: at least 2 finished pieces in the new skill

• Design roles: one short design doc or level breakdown, with the problem you solved

Be honest about AI

• Label any AI-assisted piece and say which step used AI

• Keep final paint-overs and source files ready in case someone asks

• Check the studio's rules. Some platforms do not allow AI in final assets

If your best work is under NDA

• Tell the recruiter early

• Offer to take a short test instead

• Write a short text breakdown of your role, without screenshots

• Never share NDA work, even privately

Motion and video designers

• Showreel under 90 seconds, with your best work in the first 15

• 2 or 3 ad creatives with results, if you are allowed to share them (CTR, install rate)

Final check

• Ask someone outside your team to open it on their phone and tell you what you do within 10 seconds

Why this matters: in 2026 we saw strong candidates turned down because the portfolio did not match the role's focus, such as character work for an environment role.