GAME-DEVELOPER
Maria Nikolskaia

3+ years of experience creating awesome indie games.

I enjoy creating engaging gameplay experiences by prototyping and testing ideas to improve playability. I value collaboration and have experience working in teams to develop creative solutions, always eager to learn and grow together.
My skills & Expertise
  • Art & Visual Design
    I bring game worlds to life by creating characters, props, and environments. and animate sprites to give them personality. My work bridges concept art to final in-game assets.
  • Game & Level Design
    I design the core rules and feel of a game. Sketching levels, design combat encounters, and making structure challenges to keep players engaged and coming back.
  • Game Programming
    I turn design ideas into playable reality by coding gameplay mechanics in C# and Blueprints. I enjoy solving technical puzzles and making systems work together seamlessly.
  • Game Production
    I help teams work better by organizing tasks, running sprints, and keeping projects on track. I coordinate between artists, designers, and programmers to bring a vision together.
  • Techical Art
    I create visual effects using tools like Unity’s Particle System and Unreal’s Niagara. I also optimize performance so the game looks great and runs smoothly.
  • Game User Experince
    I analyze players gameplay. I watch how they play, gather feedback, and use data to help shape better design decisions and improve the player experience.
My Adventure in Game Development
  • 2026: Technical Art Dream
    • Working with GLSL and Shaders
    • Gaining expertise in Unreal Engine C++ pipeline
    • Refining my old projects
  • 2025: Unreal Engine Developer
    • Working in Realdini as Unreal Engine Developer
    • Unreal Engine 5 – Blueprint Systems, Editor Tools, Niagara VFX
    • Gameplay Support – 3C Systems, HUD, Game Logic Prototyping
    • Cross-functional teamwork with artists, designers, and programmers
    • UX Thinking – Building intuitive, artist-friendly tools and environments
  • 2023–2024: Deepening Expertise
    • Pursuing an MA in Games User Experience at the University of Skövde, Sweden.
    • Conducted research on player cooperation in Valheim.
    • Designed and facilitated surveys and playtests to improve gaming experiences.
    • Gained hands-on UX research experience as an intern at Frame Break Studio Lightyear Frontier
  • 2020–2024: Game Jams and Collaboration
    • Took part in 6 game jams, including Nordic Game Jam 2024 and Ludum Dare 48, refining my skills in fast-paced team environments.
    • Designed levels, implemented mechanics, and collaborated with diverse teams to bring ideas to life.
  • 2022–2023: Leadership and Production
    • Led the production of New Evergreen as a Game Developer for my thesis project:
    • Managed a multidisciplinary team, co-authored the Game Design Document, and collaborated on a game trailer.
    • Implemented player character mechanics with the programming team.
  • 2022: Expanding Horizons
    • Worked as a Game Developer on GreenD, a low-poly 3D shooter, where I:
    • Prototyped level features and implemented shooter mechanics in Unreal Engine.
    • Developed AI navigation for enemies and designed the HUD.
  • 2018–2022: Building Foundations
    • Studied Game Design and Virtual Reality at the Higher School of Economics, Moscow.
    • Participated in 19 university projects, creating 4 Game Design Documents and developing innovative games using Unreal Engine and Unity.
    • Discovered my passion for prototyping, game documentation, and collaboration.
Maria Nikolskaia
+46 76 229 59 49
niko.gdesigner@gmail.com
This site was made on Tilda — a website builder that helps to create a website without any code
Create a website