Before you take a contract or freelance game job

Short contracts can be a good way in. They go wrong when the basics are not agreed at the start, so check these before you say yes.

The work

• What exactly do I deliver? (for example: one environment, five characters, one boss fight)

• What does "done" mean, and who signs it off?

• How many rounds of changes are included?

• Which engine, version and tools? Do they supply licences?

• Will I get the art style guide, references or design docs before I start?

Time

• Start date and end date

• Hours a week they expect, and the hours they need me online

• What happens if their feedback is late? Does my deadline move?

• Is there a chance of extension or a full time role, and who decides?

Money

• The rate: per hour, per day, per month or per deliverable

• When I get paid: in advance, by milestone, or at the end

• How I get paid, and who pays any transfer fees

• Whether tax will be deducted at source, and the paperwork they need from me

• What happens to my pay if the project is cancelled halfway

Rights and credit

• Can I show the work in my portfolio, and from when?

• Will I be credited in the game?

• Is there an NDA? What does it cover, and for how long?

• If AI tools are used or expected, who owns the result and how is it credited?

Practical

• Remote, hybrid or on site, and in which city

• Equipment: do I use my own machine?

• One named person I report to

Your side

• A portfolio link that opens on a phone, with finished pieces like the job you want

• A short line on your rate, ready to send

• A simple written agreement, even if it is an email that lists the points above

This checklist is general guidance and not legal or tax advice. For tax questions, talk to a chartered accountant.