Mohamed Fawzy, Author at Rare Castle

Concept Artist

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

Rare Castle is an independent game studio driven by a bold, transformative vision: to create games that heal. we believe games can do more than entertain — they can mend the soul, cultivate calm, and inspire hope.

While horror games often thrill us with fear, we imagine something different: cinematic, story-driven experiences that guide players toward self-discovery, resilience, and emotional well-being. Our games are crafted with the same meticulous artistry as the most gripping horror titles — but instead of nightmares, we create spaces for reflection, growth, and inner peace, all brought to life with stunning, photorealistic visuals.

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Create compelling 2D concept art for environments, characters, props, lighting, and key narrative scenes.
Translate narrative ideas and emotional beats into strong visual storytelling concepts.
Work closely with the director, level designer, and 3D artists to guide the look and feel of the world and its inhabitants.
Design cinematic keyframes, mood paintings, and visual explorations that inspire and inform.
Support iterative development through thumbnails, rough sketches, and polished concept illustrations.
Ensure visual consistency with the project’s tone — moody, mysterious, photoreal, and emotionally grounded.
Use reference photography, AI tools, or photobashing where appropriate to efficiently express ideas.

Requirements

Strong portfolio that demonstrates storytelling, mood, composition, and style versatility.
Proficiency in digital painting tools (e.g. Photoshop, Krita, Procreate).
Ability to develop ideas quickly from rough to refined while maintaining clarity of vision.
Understanding of lighting, perspective, anatomy, and cinematic visual language.
Passion for psychological narratives, atmospheric design, and cinematic worlds.

Nice to have

Experience working with Unreal Engine or understanding how concepts translate to 3D pipelines.
Familiarity with photoreal references, moodboards, or storytelling in indie games.
Knowledge of horror/thriller visual tropes used in a fresh or emotionally resonant way.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Character Artist

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Design and sculpt high-quality, emotionally expressive characters that fit Rare Castle’s cinematic and narrative tone.
Create detailed character models using ZBrush, including facial expressions, body forms, and fine details.
Simulate and refine realistic clothing using Marvelous Designer, emphasizing subtle movement and emotional believability.
Work with MetaHuman pipelines to ensure characters integrate seamlessly into Unreal Engine 5 environments.
Collaborate with the director and other artists to maintain consistency in visual tone, anatomy, clothing style, and emotional realism.
Optimize characters for real-time performance while maintaining fidelity in storytelling moments and cutscenes.
Participate in feedback sessions and iterate based on narrative, visual, and technical direction.

Requirements

Strong portfolio showcasing character modeling, sculpting, and texturing — especially human or humanoid forms.
Experience with ZBrush, Marvelous Designer, and character workflows for real-time engines.
An eye for anatomy, proportions, clothing behavior, and storytelling through facial and body detail.
Familiarity with integrating assets into Unreal Engine (UE5 preferred).
Passion for cinematic games, character-driven storytelling, and creating emotionally grounded work.

Nice to have

Experience with MetaHuman Creator or custom MetaHuman workflows.
Knowledge of grooming, skin shaders, or performance optimization.
Interest in psychological thrillers or narrative games that prioritize subtlety over spectacle.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Level Designer

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Design, block out, and iterate on levels and gameplay spaces that support narrative, pacing, and player immersion.
Collaborate with game designers, artists, and the director to ensure levels align with story beats and emotional goals.
Build and refine gameplay flow, points of interest, and traversal using Unreal Engine tools.
Utilize lighting, composition, landmarks, and environmental storytelling to guide players naturally without intrusive UI.
Contribute ideas to elevate exploration, mystery, tension, and wonder — especially in quiet, introspective moments.
Playtest, gather feedback, and iterate on layouts to improve clarity, engagement, and emotional impact.
Work with performance and visual constraints in mind to ensure levels are both beautiful and optimized.

Requirements

A strong sense of spatial design, player psychology, and environmental storytelling.
Experience designing levels using Unreal Engine (ideally UE5) — even through personal, academic, or portfolio projects.
Ability to sketch or block out ideas quickly using basic geometry or modeling tools.
Strong communication and collaboration skills in a remote indie team environment.
Passion for narrative-driven games, psychological thrillers, and creative exploration.

Nice to have

Familiarity with lighting fundamentals and visual scripting (Blueprints).
Experience with modular design, landscape tools, or set dressing.
A personal interest in creating emotionally impactful, healing, or meaningful game experiences.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Human Resources

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Support the founder in building and maintaining a positive, inclusive, and healthy studio culture.
Help establish HR processes tailored to an indie, remote-first game development team (onboarding, volunteer agreements, performance check-ins, etc.).
Promote clear communication and emotional well-being within the team through empathetic HR practices.
Ensure internal documentation is up-to-date and organized (e.g. roles, responsibilities, studio values, volunteer guidelines).
Assist in coordinating team feedback, recognition, and morale-boosting initiatives.
Maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive team matters with care, discretion, and professionalism.
Help align team structure and goals with Rare Castle’s creative vision, values, and growth trajectory.

Requirements

Background in Human Resources, People Operations, or a related field — ideally within the creative or tech sectors.
Strong understanding of the unique dynamics of indie or remote teams.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Organized, dependable, and emotionally intelligent.
Deep respect for diversity, empathy, and mental wellness in creative environments.

Nice to have

Experience supporting teams in the video game industry or Unreal Engine-based projects.
Familiarity with team collaboration tools.
A personal passion for storytelling, gaming, and human-centered design.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Work closely with the founder to identify, attract, and engage top-tier talent across disciplines (art, design, programming, audio, etc.) with a strong focus on indie and Unreal Engine experience.
Manage the full recruitment process — from sourcing and screening candidates to coordinating interviews and facilitating offers.
Proactively build and maintain a pipeline of creative and technical talent passionate about storytelling, innovation, and emotionally impactful games.
Help craft compelling job descriptions and role briefs that reflect Rare Castle’s mission, culture, and artistic values.
Represent Rare Castle professionally and authentically in outreach and communication with candidates.
Collaborate with team leads and future hires to understand evolving team needs and adjust hiring strategies accordingly.
Ensure a positive, human-centered experience for all applicants, fostering lasting relationships even beyond the hiring process.

Requirements

Experience in talent acquisition or recruitment, preferably in the video game industry or a closely related creative field.
Strong understanding of creative and technical roles in game development (e.g., animators, environment artists, gameplay engineers, etc.).
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect meaningfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
Self-driven, organized, and comfortable working independently in a remote, startup-like environment.
Genuine passion for storytelling, games as art, and the people who bring them to life.

Nice to have

Experience recruiting for Unreal Engine-based teams or indie studios.
Familiarity with video games industry roles involving cinematic game development.
An existing network of game development professionals or aspiring talent.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Gameplay Animator

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Create high-quality gameplay animations that feel responsive, fluid, and immersive, enhancing core mechanics and elevating the player experience.
Collaborate closely with the Game Designer and Art Director to ensure animations clearly support gameplay goals and reinforce the emotional tone of the game.
Implement and iterate animations directly in Unreal Engine using Animation Blueprints and real-time tools to achieve seamless integration with gameplay systems.
Work with advanced character systems, including MetaHumans, to deliver expressive, believable movement that feels great to control.
Contribute to the development and refinement of animation workflows, balancing artistic vision with gameplay responsiveness and technical performance.
Solve gameplay animation challenges creatively to ensure smooth transitions, clear visual feedback, and strong player connection.
Actively participate in playtesting and iterative design discussions, providing feedback and proposing animation improvements that strengthen moment-to-moment gameplay.
Document animation processes and share best practices to support and inspire current and future team members.

Requirements

Strong portfolio showcasing high-quality gameplay animations with a focus on responsiveness, fluidity, and player feedback.
Solid understanding of animation fundamentals — timing, weight, anticipation, and how these elements impact gameplay feel.
Experience creating and implementing animations in a real-time engine (Unreal Engine experience preferred), including Animation Blueprints.
Familiarity with advanced character systems such as MetaHumans and their integration into gameplay.
Ability to work collaboratively with game designers, technical artists, and other team members to achieve cohesive, player-focused results.
Strong problem-solving skills for addressing technical and artistic challenges in gameplay animation.
Good communication skills and a willingness to give and receive feedback in a creative, iterative environment.
Passion for creating story-driven, emotionally impactful experiences that connect deeply with players.

Nice to have

Experience working on shipped games or personal projects with a strong gameplay focus.
Knowledge of procedural or dynamic animation techniques to enhance gameplay responsiveness.
Interest in psychological, thriller, or narrative-focused games.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Lighting Artist

Position Type: Volunteer

Location(s): Remote

Why Rare Castle?

At Rare Castle, we are redefining what games can be. Join us as we build immersive worlds that spark curiosity, soothe the spirit, and leave a lasting, positive impact.

Responsibilities

Light environments, characters, and cinematic sequences in real-time to enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and support the game’s artistic vision.
Collaborate closely with the Art Director and Environment Artists to define and maintain a cohesive visual language across all scenes.
Design and implement post-processing effects (such as bloom, depth of field, color grading, and ambient occlusion) to enrich atmosphere and mood.
Develop a strong understanding of lighting workflows, tools, and pipelines within Unreal Engine (or relevant real-time engine).
Solve creative and technical lighting challenges to balance aesthetic goals with performance and optimization needs.
Explore and experiment with innovative lighting techniques to push the visual and emotional impact of the game.
Document lighting processes and share best practices to help guide and inspire current and future team members.
Manage time effectively, meet milestones, and adapt to evolving artistic and technical requirements in a fast-paced indie development environment.
Stay up-to-date with industry trends and continuously refine skills to keep Rare Castle’s visuals at the cutting edge.

Requirements

Strong portfolio showcasing lighting work in real-time environments, with an emphasis on mood, atmosphere, and storytelling.
Solid understanding of lighting fundamentals and how they affect gameplay, emotional tone, and visual clarity.
Experience with photorealistic or highly stylized lighting using real-time engines (Unreal Engine experience preferred).
Good understanding of physically based rendering (PBR) workflows and how materials interact with light.
Familiarity with real-time lighting techniques such as baked lighting, dynamic lighting, and light probes.
Proficiency in industry-standard tools (such as Blender, Photoshop, or similar software).
Ability to troubleshoot and solve technical lighting challenges creatively.
Strong communication and collaboration skills; comfortable working closely with a small, multidisciplinary team.
Passion for crafting cinematic, story-driven experiences and interest in exploring games as a medium for healing and emotional connection.

Nice to have

Prior experience shipping a game or working on a released project (professional or personal).
Familiarity with post-processing and look development for real-time rendering.
Interest in psychological, thriller, or narrative-focused games.

What We Offer

Creative Freedom: The chance to shape the visual storytelling of a unique, cinematic indie game and leave your artistic fingerprint on every scene.
A Collaborative Environment: Work directly with a passionate founder and a small, dedicated team that values experimentation, curiosity, and open dialogue.
Professional Growth: Build your portfolio with high-quality, real-time lighting work, and deepen your skills in a supportive, artist-driven setting.
Flexible, Remote Work: Contribute from anywhere in the world on a schedule that fits your life.
A Meaningful Mission: Be part of a studio redefining what games can be — creating experiences that heal, inspire, and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Apply Now

Dev Dairy: Crafting the Palace Room – A Moment of Light in the Dark

Hey everyone,

Today, I’d love to share a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most essential and atmospheric spaces in our game world — the Palace Room. This environment has been a major focus in recent weeks, not just in terms of layout and visual storytelling, but also in how we’ve been enhancing its lighting to bring it fully to life.

A Safe Haven in the Shadows

If you’re a fan of classic survival horror, you might recall the comforting eeriness of the safe rooms in Resident Evil — those rare moments of safety and introspection amid chaos. The Palace Room is our spiritual nod to that idea: a place detached from the immediate danger and mystery of the game’s larger world.

But this room isn’t just a safe zone — it’s the first space the protagonist finds themselves in after the accident that begins the story. In many ways, it’s a transition point between reality and something far more surreal. A place suspended off the grid of space and time.

A Touch of Neoclassical Grandeur

Visually, the Palace Room draws heavy inspiration from the Neoclassical era, infused with the ornate elegance of Baroque and Rococo styles. Expect grand arches, gilded ornaments, detailed paneling, and decadent textures — all aimed at immersing the player in a space that feels regal yet strangely dreamlike.

I’ve put a lot of effort into creating an environment that feels both ethereal and grounded, like a memory from a forgotten century. It’s not meant to feel like just another room, but rather a place with a presence — a character of its own.

Lighting the Mood

One of the biggest recent improvements has been in the lighting. Subtle but powerful tweaks have been made to create a more emotional atmosphere — using soft volumetrics, bounce lighting, and warm tones to contrast the cold, surreal nature of the outside world.

The goal was to enhance the feeling of safety and mystery simultaneously. This is not just a visually impressive room — it’s a space that should make players feel something the moment they step inside.

Why It Matters

The Palace Room is more than an environment — it’s a narrative milestone. It sets the tone for the emotional journey ahead and provides a quiet space for reflection. In the broader design of the game, it’s a visual and emotional anchor, hinting at the themes of memory, trauma, and beauty within isolation.

Building it has been both a technical and artistic challenge — but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. And I can’t wait for you to experience it in the context of the full game.

Thanks for reading and following the journey. More dev logs and sneak peeks will be coming soon — stay tuned, and as always, feel free to reach out with thoughts or questions.

Until next time,
Mohamed Fawzy
Founder & Developer – Rare Castle

Dev Diary: Building the Mystery of the Palace Rooms

Hey RareCastle fam!
We’re back with another peek behind the curtain and this one’s about atmosphere, emotion, and visual storytelling. One of our talented environment artists is currently deep into designing one of the most surreal and symbolic spaces in our game world: The Palace Rooms.

A Place Beyond the Physical

The Palace Rooms are a condition of being rather than just a place.
A character not as flesh and blood, but as something more abstract enters this weird, ethereal setting at a crucial point in the narrative. By permitting travel by light, thought, and energy rather than footfall, this area challenges the standard rules of reality. Our environmental work aims to create a space that is both historically grounded and otherworldly to support this idea. Incredible lighting, ambiguous borders, and interactive items with narrative weight are all incorporated with elements of Baroque and Rococo, rich, elegant styles that speak of forgotten elegance and emotional complexity.
Creating Emotion Through Environment
At RareCastle, we view settings as emotional landscapes rather than simply aesthetic backdrops. The Palace Rooms are a reflection of identity, loss, connection, and change rather than just a level to explore.
We’re excited to show you how this unique area develops both technically and aesthetically as we continue to build it out. We’ll be releasing our design work soon, so stay tuned for more Unreal Engine visual teasers!
Thank you for following our journey until then.

— Founder of Rare Castle

Reference Photo

Actual photos from the engine

More articles: https://www.rare-castle.com/news/

Off the Grid: Bad Dream Evolves into Project Escher

Project Escher: Development Resumes on a Soul-Bending Journey

After a period of quiet but determined work behind the scenes, I’m thrilled to officially announce that Project Escher—the game formerly known as Off the Grid: Bad Dream—has resumed full development under my indie label, Rare Castle.

The title “Project Escher” is not just a codename. It reflects the very essence of the game’s surreal environments and mind-bending architecture. Inspired by the impossible geometries of M.C. Escher and non-Euclidean space, the world of Project Escher is ethereal, dreamlike, and disorienting by design. This isn’t a world that plays by the rules of logic—and that’s exactly the point.

What’s Happening Right Now?

As of April 5th, the focus of development is centered on building the game’s main menu—but this isn’t your typical 2D interface.

The main menu is being crafted as a fully interactive 3D scene, allowing players to witness real-time visual changes as they tweak the game’s graphical settings. It’s a small glimpse into the reactive, living world we’re creating—where even the menus are part of the immersion.

A Glimpse at the Core Mechanic

While still in an early, unpolished state, I’m excited to reveal the core gameplay mechanic that drives Project Escher:

You play as a disembodied soul made of light, with the haunting ability to possess strange mechanical vessels scattered throughout the game’s mysterious world.

This soul possession system opens the door to layered gameplay, puzzles, and narrative revelations. While animations, visual effects, and movement polish are still underway, the foundational system is already functional—and it’s something truly unique.

A gameplay test video showcasing this mechanic is on the horizon, so stay tuned.

Project Escher is more than just a game—it’s a descent into a place beyond time, identity, and form. Development may have taken a pause, but the vision never faded. And now, it’s back with clarity, purpose, and ambition.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported Rare Castle along the way. This is just the beginning of the next chapter.

— Rare Castle
Solo Developer & Dreamer