Where To Find Assets For Your Game?

Koneteo Stories
4 min readJan 24, 2024

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Photo source: https://learn.unity.com/project/2d-game-kit

Greetings, fellow game developers and enthusiasts!

Numerous resources for assets to use in your games could be found. The hardest thing, though, is actually finding what you REALLY need at a price you can REALLY afford.

We’re going on a mission today to discover the game assets OR hidden treasures for your upcoming video game.

Free Game Assets

A lot of indie development teams start their game design process utilizing open-source assets. You might be surprised by the range and diversity of free commercial assets available to use.

Where to Get Free Assets

  1. Craftpix.net

Character sprites, backgrounds, icons, tilesets, and even GUI (Graphical User Interface) elements are all freely available on Craftpix. The platforms also offers the Game Kits with everything you need to make a whole game from beginning to end are possibly the most helpful for a novice game creator.

A Game Kit includes characters, combat opponents, themed tilesets such as dungeon or castles, animations, icons, buttons and avatars.

However, to purchase a Game Kit you will have to spend as little as $10 one-time, or for $15 per month (or $3 per month if paid annually).

2. OpenGameArt.org

Websites like OpenGameArt.org and Kenney.nl have become safe places for game developers seeking freely available game assets.

Here, you will find an assortment of 3D models, textures, and even music, all contributed by generous artists who believe in the power of collaboration.

3. Sketchfab

Websites like Sketchfab, TurboSquid, and Free3D are treasure troves of free 3D models waiting to be discovered. These resources are a boon for those on a tight budget or seeking a quick solution for their game development needs.

3D models can be uploaded to Sketchfab from its website or directly from various 3D software, using plugins (for example for 3ds Max or SketchUp) or natively (from Blender or Adobe Photoshop).

Disadvantages and Advantages of Free Assets

In terms of cost, free assets are clearly superior. On the other hand, a lot of developers claim that using a free component would make your game appear cheap or amateurish. While most use free assets for experimentation, some developers have used mostly free assets to create visually appealing games.

However, it is worth mentioning some issues and challenges in this scenario. One drawback is that free asset packs that suit an entire game environment and vibes are hard to find. Secondly, assets will almost always need to be adjusted — size or just textures.

Free assets can be an excellent option for you if you are working on a hobby project because they fulfill the purpose without requiring payment.

Ready-made Assets Where To Find

  1. Itch.io.

With over 28,000 game assets, Itch.io is a very well-known asset source. They have some fantastic $2–$15 assets in addition to a huge selection of free assets. With top-down views, full game maps, characters, hip visual design styles, and an abundance of pixel art, there is something for everyone.

2. Game Dev Market

Game Dev Market s the ideal spot to go if you’re taking part in game jams and has a ton of resources to make your game development faster and less expensive. Content bundles containing 2D, 3D, audio, sound effects, and GUI materials are available there.

3. Unreal Engine Marketplace

Check out the Unreal Engine Marketplace to find a wide range of industry-specific assets for: clothes, simulations, environment, buildings, textures, cars, you name it. There is also a selection of high-quality free character assets, including five featured “Free for the Month” assets. It is unsurprising that everything in this marketplace is compatible with the UE game engine.

4. Unity Asset Store

The Unity Asset Store contains a library of free and commercial assets that Unity Technologies and members of the community create. A wide variety of assets are available, including textures, models, animations, entire project examples, tutorials, and Editor extensions.

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Whether you seek assets in marketplaces, open-source communities, or through custom creation, there is a wealth of resources available to bring your game into life.

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More to read:

Why do major game companies hate mods of their games?

3D Modeling for Games: Unveiling the Best Software Tools

AAA Games: A Simple (But Complete) Guide

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