Hi there! I’m Youcef, a Unity Developer with 3+ years of experience shipping cross platform games for Google Play, WebGL, and desktop platforms. I specialize in C# gameplay programming, performance optimization, and building maintainable systems that scale from prototype to production. I love turning ideas into polished, playable experiences and collaborating with designers, artists, and testers to deliver high-quality games. I’ve led small multidisciplinary teams, delivered production-ready projects, and enjoyed mentoring others through workshops and open-source collaborations. I’m always eager to learn new techniques, optimize code, and refine gameplay loops, UI/UX, and monetization to create engaging player experiences.

Youcef Belkhiri

Hi there! I’m Youcef, a Unity Developer with 3+ years of experience shipping cross platform games for Google Play, WebGL, and desktop platforms. I specialize in C# gameplay programming, performance optimization, and building maintainable systems that scale from prototype to production. I love turning ideas into polished, playable experiences and collaborating with designers, artists, and testers to deliver high-quality games. I’ve led small multidisciplinary teams, delivered production-ready projects, and enjoyed mentoring others through workshops and open-source collaborations. I’m always eager to learn new techniques, optimize code, and refine gameplay loops, UI/UX, and monetization to create engaging player experiences.

Available to hire

Hi there! I’m Youcef, a Unity Developer with 3+ years of experience shipping cross platform games for Google Play, WebGL, and desktop platforms. I specialize in C# gameplay programming, performance optimization, and building maintainable systems that scale from prototype to production. I love turning ideas into polished, playable experiences and collaborating with designers, artists, and testers to deliver high-quality games.

I’ve led small multidisciplinary teams, delivered production-ready projects, and enjoyed mentoring others through workshops and open-source collaborations. I’m always eager to learn new techniques, optimize code, and refine gameplay loops, UI/UX, and monetization to create engaging player experiences.

See more

Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent
French
Advanced
Arabic
Fluent

Work Experience

Indie Game Developer & Co‑Founder at RetroMuse Studios
December 1, 2024 - Present
Developed and published multiplatform games on Google Play, Steam, and CrazyGames with 50k+ players. Led a small multidisciplinary team, coordinating design, art, and programming tasks. Recognized by EstinUP Incubator under the “A Diploma, a Startup” program for innovation and excellence in games.
Freelance Unity Developer & Pixel Artist at Freelance
May 1, 2022 - Present
Completed 17 client orders, including custom game development, optimization, maintenance, and pixel art assets. Maintained consistent 5-star client ratings, achieving Level One Seller status on Fiverr.
Volunteer Game Programmer at P1 Virtual Civilization Initiative
January 1, 2023 - October 1, 2023
Implemented core gameplay mechanics and debugged features for the open-source project Skyjellies. Maintained an existing codebase to improve the inventory system and player interactions. Collaborated in a Scrum workflow for iterative development and code peer review via Trello/Github projects.

Education

Master’s and State Engineering Degree in AI and Data Science (Bac+5) at Higher School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies (ESTIN-Bejaia)
January 11, 2030 - January 5, 2026
Preparatory Classes in Computer Science (Bac+2) at Higher School of Computer Science in Sidi Bel Abbès (ESI SBA)
December 15, 2020 - July 3, 2022

Qualifications

Winner of Devfest Game Development Competition
November 1, 2023 - November 1, 2023
EstinUP Incubator - Economic Institution Project Certificate for RetroMuse Studios
July 1, 2025 - July 1, 2025

Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Education
    paper ENCRYPT - Psychological Thriller

    Game Page: https://youcef-belkhiri.retromuse-studios.com/projects#encrypt

    ENCRYPT is a multi-genre psychological thriller currently in development. The game takes place inside a corrupted operating system, where players solve puzzles, uncover story elements, and interact with the world through both UI-based mechanics and 3D gameplay.

    The project combines OS-style interaction, logic puzzles, minigames, and sections of 3D FPS gameplay. A key focus is giving players meaningful choices, with multiple paths, endings, and hidden content tied to how they interact with the system.

    I am working on gameplay programming, systems design, and UI/UX. My work includes building the OS-simulation, dialogue system, interactive cinematics, puzzle and minigame systems, and integrating PSX-style post-processing effects. I also handle prototyping and core production systems.

    The game is being developed in Unity using C#. This project reflects my experience working on complex gameplay systems and managing development from early concept through ongoing production.

    #GameDevelopment #GameDev #Unity #Unity3D #IndieGame #GameProgrammer #MobileGames #CSharp

    paper Cyber Chaos - Ruined Rooms

    Freelance Project
    Steam Page: https://www.retromuse-studios.com/games/cyber-chaos

    I developed a Steam game for a client: a fast-paced 2D roguelite action shooter, set in a chaotic cyberpunk world. The goal of the project was to create a highly replayable experience with challenging combat, randomized gameplay, and meaningful progression that keeps players engaged across multiple runs.

    One of the main challenges was designing systems that balanced randomness with player control. To solve this, I implemented dynamic level generation with randomized rooms, unlockable perks and weapons, and a stat-based XP leveling system.

    I was responsible for programming core roguelite mechanics, enemy AI and boss fights using FSMs, and building systems such as mid-run shops, an intermediate lobby, and a robust save/load system. I also worked on visual effects (VFX), lighting, level and game design to ensure smooth pacing, strategic upgrades, and satisfying combat.

    The project was developed in Unity using C#, with an optimized performance and clean code. Cyber Chaos demonstrates my ability to build complete gameplay systems, handle complex mechanics, and deliver polished, production-ready features.

    paper Alpha Squad - Multiplayer RPG

    Game Page: https://youcef-belkhiri.retromuse-studios.com/projects#alpha

    A client ordered this 2D top-down survival RPG with local split-screen co-op for up to 4 players. Players choose between different character classes (Knight, Sheriff, Assassin, and Healer), each with unique abilities and playstyles, and work together to survive waves of enemies and achieve the highest score.

    The main focus of the project was building a local multiplayer and fun combat. I implemented split-screen support for 1–4 players, character abilities, enemy spawning, and a wave-based survival system. I also worked on enemy AI, joystick input support, control settings, and overall game balancing to ensure fair and enjoyable co-op gameplay.

    I was responsible for programming and game design, and I also created and adjusted some pixel art assets for the project. The game was developed in Unity using C#, with Aseprite used for pixel art creation.

    #GameDevelopment #GameDev #Unity #Unity3D #IndieGame #GameProgrammer #MobileGames #CSharp

    uniE608 Tala Tales - 2D Metroidvania
    Freelance Project Game Page: https://www.twine.net/signin I designed and developed a 2D action-adventure prototype inspired by Metroidvania games. The goal was to create fast, responsive combat while gradually increasing the challenge through enemy waves and progression. Players control a character who can fight using a sword, shoot fireballs, dash to avoid danger, and parry enemy attacks. These mechanics were designed to feel smooth and rewarding, encouraging players to stay mobile and react quickly during combat. Most of the work went into the combat system and enemy behavior. I built the wave progression, enemy spawning, and enemy AI using a finite state machine (FSM). I also handled player movement, abilities, and overall combat feel, making sure everything felt responsive and balanced. To improve atmosphere and clarity, I added lighting effects and visual feedback during combat. I worked on the project’s programming, gameplay design, and level design. I also created the main character’s pixel art and refined visuals where needed. The prototype was developed in Unity with C, and Aseprite was used for pixel art creation. GameDevelopment GameDev Unity Unity3D IndieGame GameProgrammer MobileGames

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