Hearthlight

# Unreal Engine 5 Horror Game Team Expansion — Hearthlight: The Lost Archive ## Project Overview I am building a development team for an original survival horror game called **Hearthlight: The Lost Archive**. This is a long-term indie game project focused on creating a cinematic horror experience with deep storytelling, exploration, mystery, and memorable characters. The goal is not just to make a single game, but to build a team capable of creating a larger horror universe. ## About The Game **Hearthlight: The Lost Archive** is a survival horror mystery game inspired by analog horror, exploration-based horror, and mascot horror experiences. The game follows a player exploring an abandoned family entertainment facility filled with hidden secrets, lost technology, and mysterious animatronics. The experience focuses on: * Free-roam exploration * Horror atmosphere * Stealth gameplay * Puzzle solving * Environmental storytelling * Animatronic AI * Cinematic moments * Deep lore and investigation The player slowly uncovers the truth behind Hearthlight Entertainment and the events that caused the downfall of the company. --- # Development Engine ## Unreal Engine 5 The project will be developed using Unreal Engine 5. Experience with the following is preferred: * Blueprint scripting * C++ gameplay programming * Unreal AI systems * Behavior Trees * Level design * Lighting and environments * Animation systems * Sequencer cinematics --- # Team Building Goal I am currently building a passionate development team to bring this project from concept to a fully developed game. The goal is to create a long-term team where each member contributes their skills toward building the Hearthlight universe. Current team expansion needs include: ## Game Programmers Responsibilities: * Gameplay systems * Player mechanics * Interaction systems * AI programming * Animatronic behaviors * Puzzle systems Experience: * Unreal Engine 5 * Blueprint/C++ * Horror gameplay systems --- ## 3D Environment Artists Responsibilities: * Facility design * Abandoned environments * Props * Decorations * Atmospheric locations Experience: * Unreal Engine asset creation * Blender/Maya * Game-ready assets --- ## Character & Animatronic Artists Responsibilities: * Designing original animatronics * Creating mechanical characters * Modeling * Texturing * Preparing assets for animation Experience: * Blender * Character modeling * Creature design --- ## Animators Responsibilities: * Animatronic movement * Character animations * Horror sequences * Cinematic animations Experience: * Unreal animation systems * Rigging * Creature movement --- ## Sound Designers / Composers Responsibilities: * Horror atmosphere * Environmental sounds * Animatronic voices * Music * Audio effects --- ## Writers / Narrative Designers Responsibilities: * Story development * Character writing * Lore organization * Dialogue * Cinematic planning --- # Team Structure & Compensation This project is being developed as an independent passion project. The current plan is a **revenue-share partnership model**. Team members who join will have the opportunity to become part of the development team and receive an agreed percentage of future revenue based on their role, contribution, and involvement. A written agreement will be created to clearly define: * Roles * Responsibilities * Ownership * Revenue share percentages * Project expectations --- # Ideal Team Members Looking for people who: * Love horror games * Enjoy creating original worlds * Want creative involvement * Can work as part of a team * Are passionate about building something from the ground up Experience with horror games, narrative games, or indie development is a major plus. --- # Project Vision Hearthlight is planned as the beginning of a larger connected horror universe. The goal is to create: * A memorable horror experience * Unique animatronic characters * A strong story * A dedicated fan community * Future expansions and connected projects --- # When Applying Please Include: * Portfolio/work examples * Previous game projects * Your role and skills * Unreal Engine experience * Availability * Why you are interested in joining this project I am looking for passionate creators who want to help build something unique from the ground up.