Where to get free game assets for mobile games

Free Game Assets

Finding the right assets can be challenging when developing a mobile game, especially if you’re on a tight budget or working solo. You need graphics, sounds, music, and UI elements to make your game look polished and engaging, but creating everything from scratch or buying ready-made assets can be expensive and time-consuming. Thankfully, there are many places where you can find high-quality, free game assets that are perfect for mobile game development. Here’s a rundown of some of the best resources to help you build your game without emptying your wallet.

OpenGameArt: A Community of Free Assets

OpenGameArt.org is a fantastic site for finding free game assets. It’s a community-driven platform where artists, musicians, and developers share their work, making it one of the go-to places for free 2D and 3D art, sound effects, music, and animated sprites. Most of the content is released under open licenses like Creative Commons or GPL, which often allows you to use these assets for free—even in commercial projects—as long as you follow the specific license rules.

OpenGameArt is super handy for mobile game developers because it has a vast range of assets optimized for 2D games, which are very common on mobile. Whether you’re making a platformer, RPG, or puzzle game, you’ll find tilesets, character sprites, UI elements, and more. However, because the content is user-uploaded, the quality can be hit or miss, so you might need to dig around a bit. Always double-check the licensing terms to ensure they’re suitable for your game.

Kenney.nl: High-Quality, Ready-to-Use Assets

If you want well-made, consistent assets that you can use right away, Kenney.nl is a fantastic resource. Kenney is a well-known name in the game development community, offering an extensive collection of 2D and 3D assets, UI elements, and sounds—all for free. Everything on Kenney.nl is released under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license, which means you’re free to use them in personal or commercial projects without needing to give credit (though it’s always nice to do so).

The assets here are significant for mobile games because they’re simple, visually clean, and optimized for performance, which is essential for mobile platforms. Packages for platformers, shooters, puzzles, and many other genres are neatly organized and easy to download. Kenney also provides tools like Kenney Studio, which lets you tweak and customize the assets to better fit your game’s unique style.

itch.io: A Creative Hub for Free Assets

itch.io is primarily known as a marketplace for indie games, but it’s also a goldmine for free game assets. Many artists and developers on itch.io offer free or “pay-what-you-want” asset packs, which include everything from pixel art sprites and tilesets to music loops and sound effects. The community is incredibly creative and supportive, and the platform allows you to interact directly with asset creators—perfect if you need something specific or want to request custom work.

To find free assets on itch.io, go to the Game Assets section and filter by “free” or “name your own price.” Just read the licensing terms for each pack, as they can vary widely. itch.io is also famous for hosting game jams, where developers often share the assets they create, which means there’s always fresh content that you can use in your projects.

GameDev Market: A Mix of Free and Premium Assets

GameDev Market is another excellent resource for game assets, offering free and premium options. While many of the assets on this site are paid, the Freebies section provides a selection of high-quality 2D and 3D assets, music tracks, sound effects, and more. These free assets are often samples from larger paid packs, which can be a great way to test an artist’s style and quality before buying more from them.

For mobile game developers, GameDev Market’s freebies are a great way to get professional-quality assets without spending money upfront. The site clearly lists the licensing information for each asset, so you know exactly what you can and can’t do with them. All you need to do is create a free account, and you’re ready to start downloading.

CraftPix: Perfect for 2D Games

If you’re developing a 2D game and need some vibrant, eye-catching assets, CraftPix.net is worth checking out. While they offer a mix of free and paid content, their Freebies section has a good collection of assets like character sprites, tilesets, GUI elements, and backgrounds that are perfect for mobile games. These assets have a modern, cartoon-like aesthetic that works well for casual games, which are very popular on mobile.

The assets are available under a royalty-free license, allowing for personal and commercial use. However, the free packs aren’t as extensive as the paid ones, so you might want to mix and match or combine them with other free assets to create a unique look for your game.

Freesound: The Go-To Place for Free Audio

 Freesound.org is one of the best resources for sound effects and music. The site has user-uploaded audio files, ranging from sound effects and music loops to ambient noises. It’s a great place to find high-quality sounds that can add depth and immersion to your game.

The licensing on Freesound varies—some sounds are free to use for any purpose. In contrast, others require attribution or have specific restrictions. Always check the license for each sound you download to avoid any legal headaches down the road. Whether you need a satisfying “click” for a button, an atmospheric background loop, or the perfect explosion sound, Freesound’s search and tagging system makes finding what you’re looking for easy.

OpenGameMusic: Free Music That Fits

 OpenGameMusic is an excellent place to look if you need music for your game. The site is dedicated to providing free music tracks for games and offers a variety of genres and styles, from orchestral scores and chiptune tracks to electronic and ambient music.

Like OpenGameArt, OpenGameMusic is community-driven, with tracks released under different Creative Commons licenses. This gives you flexibility in using them, but reading the licensing terms carefully is essential, especially if you’re planning a commercial release. The platform also makes it easy to support artists directly, which is a great way to give back if you find music that enhances your game.

Lospec: Pixel Art Paradise

For developers who love the pixel art style, Lospec is a fantastic resource. Lospec is a community-focused platform specializing in low-spec art forms like pixel art, voxel art, and more. It features a variety of free pixel art packs, including sprites, tilesets, and backgrounds that are perfect for mobile games with a retro vibe.

Lospec isn’t just about assets, though—it’s also packed with tutorials and guides to help you improve your pixel art skills. This is incredibly useful if you want to tweak free assets or create custom ones that better fit your game. The community aspect of Lospec is also a big plus, allowing you to connect with other artists and developers for feedback and collaboration.

Unity Asset Store and Unreal Engine Marketplace: Monthly Freebies

Suppose you’re using Unity or Unreal Engine for your mobile game development. In that case, the Unity Asset Store and Unreal Engine Marketplace are great places to find free assets. Both stores offer a selection of free assets every month, including textures, animations, 3D models, and sound effects, which can be incredibly useful for your projects.

The free assets are designed to integrate smoothly with Unity or Unreal Engine. Still, with some tweaking, many of them can be adapted for use in other game engines. Check the licensing terms if you use these assets across multiple platforms. Signing up for newsletters or regularly visiting the stores will inform you about the latest free offerings.

BlenderKit: 3D Models and Textures for Free

For 3D game developers, BlenderKit offers free 3D models and textures that can be used in any game engine. From character models and props to detailed textures and materials, BlenderKit has many assets that can help you bring your 3D mobile game to life.

The assets on BlenderKit are available under licenses that allow for both commercial and non-commercial use. Still, you should always double-check each asset’s specific terms. Suppose you’re using Blender for your game development. In that case, the site integrates directly, making it easy to download and modify models before exporting them to your game engine.

Making Your Game Stand Out with Free Assets

Free assets are a lifesaver for indie developers and small teams who need to get their game off the ground without spending a fortune. Platforms like OpenGameArt, Kenney.nl, itch.io, GameDev Market, CraftPix, Freesound, OpenGameMusic, Lospec, Unity Asset Store, Unreal Engine Marketplace, and BlenderKit offer a wealth of options for developers at any stage.

That said, because these assets are widely available, there’s a good chance other developers might be using them, too. To make your game unique, consider combining assets from different sources, tweaking them, or using them as a base. At the same time, you develop your own custom versions. This approach will help your game stand out in a crowded market and give it a more personalized feel that resonates with players.