Investor-ready vertical slices that win the pitch
Investors and publishers fund what they can play. We turn your game concept into a polished, playable vertical slice that proves the core loop, the art direction and your team's ability to deliver.
- Built in Unity and Unreal Engine
- Builds for PC, mobile and WebGL
The basics
What is a vertical slice?
A vertical slice is a short, fully polished and playable section of your game, usually one level or area, that shows the final quality of the gameplay, art, UI, audio and performance. It cuts through every layer of the game at once, so people can judge the finished product from a small piece of it.
| Aspect | Prototype | Vertical slice | Full game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Test if an idea is fun | Prove quality and win funding | Ship to players |
| Visual quality | Placeholder art | Final quality | Final quality |
| Content | One mechanic | One polished level or area | Everything |
| Audience | Your own team | Investors and publishers | Players |
| Answers | "Is it fun?" | "Can this team ship it?" | "Do players love it?" |
What's included
Everything you need to walk into the room
We help you pick the smallest slice that still sells your whole vision, then build every layer of it to final quality.
-
A playable core loop
The heart of your game, fully playable and tuned, so investors feel the fun in the first minute.
-
Final-quality art
One level or area built to final visual quality: environment, characters, lighting and effects.
-
UI, audio and game feel
Menus, HUD, sound and the small details, like camera, feedback and juice, that make a game feel finished.
-
Performance-ready builds
Stable builds for PC, mobile or WebGL that run smoothly on the hardware you will demo on.
-
A pitch kit
Trailer-ready capture, screenshots and gameplay clips for your deck, store page and social channels.
-
A clean project handover
A documented Unity or Unreal project your team can keep building on after the round closes.
How it works
From concept to a build you can hand to an investor
-
01
Scope
We lock the core loop, target platform and the one level that best sells your vision.
-
02
Greybox
A playable layout with real mechanics, tested early so we know it is fun before art begins.
-
03
Art and audio
Final-quality environments, characters, UI and sound built on top of the proven layout.
-
04
Polish
Game feel, bug fixing and frame rate on your target devices, until it feels like a finished game.
-
05
Pitch kit
Builds, capture, screenshots and a clean project handover, ready for your meetings.
-
Founders raising a round
Show pre-seed and seed investors a game that already feels like a product.
-
Studios pitching publishers
Walk into the meeting with a build in hand, not a promise.
-
Brands and IP holders
Test a game idea for your brand or franchise before funding full production.
Why SkangoGames
A studio that ships games, not decks
Since 2019 we have shipped more than 50 projects, from arcade racers to branded mobile games and live event activations.
-
Art and code in one team
Game designers, artists and engineers work side by side, so quality is consistent across every layer.
-
Built for the first minute
We focus polish where investors look first: the opening, the core loop and how the game feels in the hand.
-
Performance first
A slice that stutters in a meeting costs you the room. We profile and optimize on your demo hardware.
-
Founder to founder
You work directly with our founders, who understand fundraising timelines and pitch pressure.
“Outstanding work. The SkangoGames team delivered AAA quality on Bella Bumper, a top-tier result from start to finish.”
Vertical slice FAQ
What founders ask us first
Have a different question? Ask us directly, we reply within one business day.
What is a vertical slice in game development?
A vertical slice is a short, fully polished and playable section of a game, usually one level or area, that shows the final quality of the gameplay, art, UI, audio and performance. It cuts through every layer of the game at once, so people can judge the finished product from a small piece of it.
How is a vertical slice different from a prototype or a demo?
A prototype tests whether an idea is fun and usually uses placeholder art. A vertical slice proves the idea at final quality, so investors and publishers can see what the shipped game will look and feel like. A public demo is usually built later, from a nearly finished game, to market it to players.
How long does it take to build a vertical slice?
It depends on the genre, the scope of the level and the art style. After a scoping call we agree on exactly what the slice includes and send a timeline, so you can plan your fundraising or publisher meetings around a fixed delivery date.
How much does a vertical slice cost?
The price depends on scope, art style and target platforms. We help you choose the smallest slice that still sells your vision, then send a proposal with a clear scope, timeline and price before any work starts.
Which engines and platforms do you use?
We build vertical slices in Unity and Unreal Engine, with builds for PC, iOS, Android and WebGL. A web build is often the easiest way to let investors play your slice straight from a link.
Can you work with our existing team or game design document?
Yes. We can build from your game design document and concept art, extend an existing prototype, or work alongside your designers and programmers, and we hand over a clean, documented project your team can keep building on.
Scope your slice
Tell us about your game
Share your concept, your target platform and when your next pitch is. We reply within one business day.