Steven's Portfolio

Aspiring Studio Founder | Indie Game Developer | 2D & 3D Artist

Hey there! I am Toader Stefan! Also known as Steven Drake online!As a 20-year-old, I am an aspiring game developer focused on learning, building, and connecting with others in the industry. Playing games since I was a kid is what built the passion and love I have for them today, and now I want to share that -- and I do it by being a:

Game Dev

I use Unreal Engine 5 to bring my ideas to life — from building levels to prototyping mechanics. Game dev is where everything comes together: art, logic, story, and mood. It’s what I do daily, and it’s what I love the most to do!I’ve participated in multiple game jams, including one where my team won first place! I also co-developed and published a game called Rewind with a six-person team, available on itch.io!

Currently building my skills in Unreal Engine 5 using Blueprints, Blender for 3D art and animation, and Krita for 2D design and concept art. My main areas of interest are game development, storytelling, world-building, and both 2D and 3D art!

Besides Game Jams, I’m also developing my own indie game!Inspired by games like "Inside" by Playdead, Golden Hour is a 3D side-scroller with a focus on narrative and worldbuilding, telling a quiet, emotional story about loneliness, memory, and rediscovery. The game is still in its prototyping phase, but the GDD is mostly done!Here’s a short description of the game:Lost in the ruins of a forgotten world, a small traveler awakens under a golden sky.
Alone, fragile, and guided only by distant signals, you must journey across endless plains and broken cities — seeking the last remnants of your kind.Navigate ancient ruins, unravel scattered memories, and survive the quiet dangers of a world too big for you.
In a place where day stretches endlessly, and night looms just beyond the horizon…Find your way home.
Before the sun finally sets.Golden Hour will be coming to Steam — whenever I’m able to finish it!

This is very early prototype content and does not reflect the final game!!!

3D Artist

Most of my 3D work is done in Blender or UE5. I focus on creating environments, objects, and mood — not necessarily hyper-realism, but atmosphere. I’m always experimenting and trying to get better at modeling, lighting, and design.
A glimpse at a few personal favorites I’ve worked on so far:

2D Artist

For 2D, I mostly use Krita — concepts, environment sketches, and mood pieces. I’m still learning, but I love using color, shape, and lighting to express ideas that don’t need words. This is where a lot of my worldbuilding starts.

Modder

I also have a lot of experience in modding the game Celeste by EXOK. Over 3+ years of building immersive and narrative-focused mods for Celeste, I've managed to completely change what the game was capable of, creating multiple mods that could even be considered different games — all by transforming the unofficial Celeste editor, Lönn (made by the community), into a game engine!I've also founded and managed a 100-person server on Discord, helping me and my team build the biggest and most ambitious Celeste project of mine so far. Unfortunately, the project was never finished due to lack of time and financial instabilities.In those 3+ years, I acquired skills like level design, storytelling, managing big projects, leadership, pixel art, UX, and even collaborating with fellow modders in order to deliver the best experience for the players!Here's a look at some of my most ambitious work in the Celeste modding community over the last 3+ years!

Epilogue

The reason I do all of this is simple — there are certain games that have had a profound impact on my life, shaping the way I think, feel, and see the world. These experiences have been more than just entertainment; they've been moments of self-discovery, escape, and even inspiration. My goal is to create that kind of impact for others. I want to craft stories, worlds, and experiences that resonate deeply, that leave a lasting mark on those who play them. Just as the games that influenced me helped me grow and reflect, I want to do the same for anyone who encounters the worlds I create in the future.I actively attend game development events and meetups to expand my network and learn from others in the field!Open to collaborations, freelance work, and junior opportunities in Game Design or QA Testing. Always looking to join creative teams and contribute to meaningful projects!

Contact

I’m always happy to connect, chat, or answer questions — whether it’s about my work, your work, or anything in between.
Feel free to reach out at
- [email protected] -
or check out my socials below!