About Me

Passionate about creating immersive gaming experiences that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment

Kristiyan Shikov

Kristiyan Shikov

Game Developer

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

8+ Years Experience

@chringles

My Journey

I'm a Game Developer with over eight years of experience, specializing in Unreal Engine 5. Since 2017, I've been dedicated to building immersive experiences that push the limits of interactive storytelling and gameplay.

Much of my work has focused on Virtual Reality, where I've developed both VR and traditional games. Along the way, I've honed skills in intuitive UI design, real-time optimization, and creating AI systems that make worlds feel alive and engaging.

Currently, I'm leading gameplay systems development on Love in an Enchanted Realm - a hybrid visual novel RPG that blends branching narrative with complex 3D combat. It's a project that reflects my passion for combining storytelling depth with advanced mechanics in Unreal Engine 5.

From indie game jams to commercial releases, I've worked on more than ten projects, each one challenging me to find elegant solutions in gameplay design and technical implementation. At the core of my approach is a simple philosophy: craft polished, player-focused experiences that leave a lasting impact.

10+
Projects Completed
8+
Years Experience
2+
VR Experiences
3
Steam Releases

Skills & Expertise

Game Development

Unreal Engine 5
Expert
VR Development
Expert
Gameplay Systems
Expert
AI Behaviors
Advanced

Design & UI

Photoshop
Advanced
UI/UX Design
Advanced
Responsive Design
Expert

Web Development

React
Expert
TypeScript
Advanced
Tailwind CSS
Expert
Next.js
Advanced

Development Tools

Git
Expert
Docker
Advanced

Professional Timeline

  • 2017

    Entering Game Development Professionally

    Began professional journey in game development, mastering Unreal Engine fundamentals and establishing a strong foundation in gameplay design.

  • 2017–2024

    Specialization in Virtual Reality

    Focused on VR development with commercial releases including "Experiment Gone Rogue" and "Iragon," building expertise in immersive gameplay and interaction systems.

  • 2018

    First Commercial Launch

    Published "Experiment Gone Rogue" on Steam — first commercial release that established credibility as a professional developer.

  • 2017-2019

    Global Game Jam Contributor

    Actively participated in international game jams, rapidly prototyping innovative gameplay concepts and honing creative problem-solving skills under tight deadlines.

  • 2024

    Second Major Release

    Released "Iragon" on Steam, demonstrating growth as a developer with a second large-scale commercial project.

  • 2024

    Rapid Visual Novel Development

    Produced and released "Ruby Dreams: Immortal Promise" and "Veilcrest: Trial of The Arcane" within months, showcasing adaptability and iterative storytelling design.

  • 2024–Present

    Leading Gameplay Systems Development

    Currently spearheading complex gameplay system design for "Love in an Enchanted Realm," a hybrid visual novel RPG that blends narrative depth with RPG mechanics.

"Kristiyan is a designer-engineer hybrid with an exceptional instinct for crafting elegantly intuitive interfaces. I trust his decisions implicitly - not only for his technical precision, but for his ability to translate complex systems into seamless, emotionally resonant user journeys."
Colorado Stark
Colorado Stark
CEO at Repulse

Ready to collaborate?