A global collective of independent game studios and developers who believe in collaboration over competition
Our Mission
We're building a beautiful corner for the indie games ecosystem of the future: supportive, sustainable, global, and driven by passion over everything else. Through knowledge sharing, collective projects, resources, and more, Cave Bear Collective aims to help indie developers and indie studios level up their skills, create exceptional games, and carve a place for themselves in our tumultuous industry.
Join the Collective
Gain Experience. Make a game. Support your indies.
Studios join the program to escape isolation, find trusted collaborators, and grow sustainably. Our members come from diverse backgrounds — from ex-AAA developers to junior teams — united by a shared belief in mutual support.
Whether you're a student, hobbyist, or professional looking to give back, volunteering with our partner studios offers hands-on experience and a direct impact on creative projects.
The volunteer network connects creative professionals, students, and hobbyists with indie studios in the Cave Bear Partner Studio Program. It's an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build a portfolio, and help indie games come to life.
Join the Cave Bear Games Discord, choose the Volunteer/Opportunity role, then visit the Opportunities channel, and browse listings from partner studios. Each listing includes its own application instructions — some use forms, others prefer direct contact.
Yes — you should always be credited for your contributions. While each studio handles credits independently, Cave Bear encourages all partners to credit every volunteer on published games. Make sure you communicate this expectation with your new team!
Discuss ownership and rights directly with each studio before starting. Volunteers can negotiate crediting, rev-share terms, and ownership of creative assets on a case-by-case basis.
That depends on the studio's policies and whether a contract was signed. Volunteers are encouraged to clarify terms before joining a team.
Prepare a portfolio or resume showing your skills. Be active in the Discord community. Communicate professionally and show reliability. Express clear goals (e.g., seeking credits, learning experience, or career growth).
No. Most are unpaid positions designed for experience-building. Some studios may offer rev-share agreements, where volunteers share in revenue after launch, but this varies. Be sure to ask what each studio can promise when interviewing!
Some studios use contracts, especially for rev-share roles. But many studios cannot afford contracts. Cave Bear Games is working to find a solution to this problem, but until then make sure you communicate with each potential team and never agree to anything you are not comfortable with.
You can submit a report via the Inbox ticket system on Discord or DM the program lead (Ayla Derrick) directly. All feedback — positive or negative — is taken seriously to ensure volunteers are respected.
Volunteering helps you build real experience, earn credits on published projects, and grow your professional network — critical steps toward breaking into the game industry.
It's a global collective of unfunded and self-funded indie studios designed to help small teams collaborate, share resources, and find volunteers. The program supports independent developers who want to stay creative and self-directed without relying on external investors or publishers.
Not at the time of application. The program is designed for studios that maintain full financial and creative control. Once accepted, studios are free to pursue funding later without losing membership.
There are no membership fees or formal commitments. Partners are simply expected to follow the community Code of Conduct, treat volunteers respectfully, participate in the private partner chat when possible, and share open volunteer positions in the Discord's Opportunities channel.
Yes — if your studio is a member of the program and is currently unpaid or self-funded. However, once you begin paying team members, you can no longer post unpaid roles through the volunteer system.
Yes! Tabletop RPG development is included under the broader umbrella of game development.
Studios that are currently unfunded or self-funded qualify. Studios must be teams of at least two people — solo developers aren't accepted yet, though that may change in the future.
No. Legal registration isn't required. Many partners are early-stage teams still organizing themselves. The goal is to make entry as accessible as possible.
No. The program isn't a legal partnership — it's a community network, not a business entity. The only official policy is the Code of Conduct.
Currently, it's not monetized. Cave Bear Games doesn't take cuts or charge fees. Future support may come from grants, sponsorships, or donations — never from partner studios or volunteers.
The Board
Partnerships
