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
- 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.
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