How to Find Game Projects as a Composer (My Story, and How You Can Too)
Updated: Aug 25
When I first got into the game industry as a 3d artist, the industry still felt… well, a bit like a small village. On my very first day at the games academy, the professor basically dropped the only advice that mattered:
“Doesn’t matter how good you are… if no one knows you, you’re not getting work. Go meet people.”
At first, I thought: Really? That’s it? That’s the big secret? But of course, he was right.
Networking - going to events, talking to people, hanging around at conventions - that’s what opened doors. And because the scene was smaller back then, you’d bump into people again and again. Some of those “random students” I met in the hallway 14 years ago? They’re now working at big studios. And the funny part is: they still remember who showed up and said hi back then.
So… how do you actually find game projects to work on today? Here's how to find game projects as a composer, step by step.
How to Find Game Projects as a Composer: 1. Start Small (and Yes, Sometimes for Free)
I know nobody loves to hear this, but here’s the truth: I started out working on hobby projects for free.
I would find people I knew working on portfolio games, or on some game dev forums, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook who were working on passion projects, and I’d simply ask:
“Hey, can I make music for your game?”
Was it glamorous? No.
Did it pay bills? Definitely not.
But it taught me everything:
How to actually finish music, not just start it.
How to handle feedback (sometimes brutal, sometimes vague).
How to collaborate with real humans, not just my DAW.
How to work with reference tracks
How to polish a track until the dev likes it
2. Create Something That Can Find You
After a while, I realised I didn’t always want to chase projects. So I started writing music packs and uploading them to the Unreal Marketplace.
I did a bit of research and picked genres I liked, but with only a few products on the Unreal store.. and to be honest... most of them sounded terrible. So I had the goal to make it better, to learn and if that is working out, to get some passive income. Today Unreal is overrun with AI music, but that's even good for you. Dev´s now look for music that has higher quality, just label it as "human-made"
As an artist, I was able to create my own cover and marketing images (today, tools like Canva make that a breeze). I uploaded those packs to YouTube too, not expecting much.
But slowly, developers started reaching out.
YouTube gave me reach.
The Unreal Store promoted new products sometimes.
And suddenly I was being found by devs who wanted exactly the kind of music I was good at.
That’s a huge advantage: if someone contacts you because they already like your style, you don’t need to “convince” them. They know what they’ll get.
So find your style and be visible online!
3. Where Else Can You Look?
If I were starting out today, I’d also check:
Unity Asset Store – still plenty of room for unique, well-made music packs.
Itch.io & Game Jams – tons of small teams looking for composers. Great way to practice under real deadlines.
Discord communities – dev servers are full of opportunities if you show up and contribute.
LinkedIn – yes, really. Share your music, connect with devs, make yourself visible.
4. Build Your Online Presence
It’s not just about making music - it’s about being discoverable.
Some quick wins:
Upload tracks to YouTube with game-related keywords.
Share short clips on Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok.
Post about your work-in-progress - devs love seeing process, not just polished reels.
Comment and interact on game dev posts (but don’t spam).
⚠️ And here’s the trap: a lot of people think they need to crank out content non-stop, every single day, to stay relevant. Honestly? That just buries you in the noise. Posting filler for the algorithm rarely helps. What works is quality,
a demo reel, a devlog-style video, or a pack that actually shows your style. One solid post will travel much further than ten “meh” ones.
So don’t burn yourself out trying to out-post the internet.
You DON´T have to become a TikTok entertainer. You’re a composer, not an influencer. Make fewer things, but make them good, that’s how you get noticed. Put effort into making something worth sharing, and let that represent you.
Final Thoughts
Finding your first projects as a game composer can feel impossible.
But if you:
network both online and offline,
start with small (even unpaid) projects to build experience,
release music packs that help you get found,
and keep your online presence clear and professional…
…you’ll start to see opportunities appear.
It takes patience, but I’m living proof: those early “tiny” steps built the foundation for everything I do today AND you can do that too.
The idea of enjoying the small details of cafe culture gives me a reason to slow down and consider the details. The pace and atmosphere of a place can matter as much as what is in the cup. I would connect Auntiesteashop with cafe culture and coffee through an ordinary example rather than a broad claim. It leaves me curious about the steps between understanding an idea and putting it into practice. Which small details make you want to sit for a little longer?
I find making outdoor adventures more approachable easier to approach when there is a familiar situation to start from. A realistic plan leaves room for changes in conditions and in how people feel along the way. It is the kind of question I would keep in mind when thinking about Aveling Adventure and outdoor activity planning. The smaller details are what I would want to return to, especially when an explanation feels too broad. What would you check before deciding how much to fit into an outdoor day?
For me, thinking about style through everyday choices becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. The name Beachbodyshop gives this theme a memorable reference point, while personal style ideas keeps the subject in focus. I would rather explore one useful example carefully than pretend that the whole subject is already clear. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
The theme of thinking about style through everyday choices makes me curious about what people notice in their own everyday experiences. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. That practical perspective helps me frame personal style ideas as a theme for Be A Fashionista. A simple comparison would help me picture the differences without rushing towards a fixed answer. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
What interests me about noticing the choices behind live performance is how a broad idea becomes part of an ordinary day. A pause or a change in lighting can alter the way an audience understands a moment. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring live performance appreciation in connection with Asylum Arts. I would be interested in an example that shows how the idea works in an ordinary situation. What would you pay attention to when comparing two performances of the same scene?