I'm building my game development portfolio projects to try to get a job in the industry. But what kind of projects actually impress employers? Is it better to have several small polished games or one large complex project? Should I focus on technical demonstrations or complete playable experiences? What specific types of game development portfolio projects have helped you or others you know land game development jobs?
Employers want to see completed, polished games more than technical demos. A simple but complete game with good code architecture is more impressive than a complex but messy project. Focus on: clean, well-commented code; proper use of version control; demonstration of specific skills (AI, networking, optimization); and evidence that you can finish what you start.
Include a variety of game development portfolio projects that demonstrate different skills: a 2D game, a 3D game, a multiplayer prototype, a tool you built, etc. Also, include 'breakdown' documents explaining your technical decisions and challenges overcome. Employers want to see your thought process, not just the final product.
Make sure your portfolio is accessible. Host playable builds online (itch.io is great for this). Include videos/gifs since recruiters might not download and run executables. Have clean GitHub repositories with READMEs explaining each project. The presentation of your game development portfolio projects is almost as important as the projects themselves.
Tailor your portfolio to the specific job you want. If you're applying for gameplay programmer positions, emphasize mechanics and systems. For tools programming, show editor extensions or utilities you've built. For engine programming, demonstrate optimization and low-level systems. Generic portfolios are less effective than focused ones. Research the company and highlight relevant game development portfolio projects.