Guides
Can I use free assets in my game?
Usually yes, if the licence says so. CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC, store EULAs and ripped assets explained, with a pre-release checklist.
3 min read
Quick answer
Can you use free assets in a commercial game?
Usually, if the licence allows commercial use. CC0 assets can be used freely with no credit. CC BY needs attribution. Non-commercial (NC) and personal-use-only assets cannot go in a game you sell. Store assets follow the store's licence, usually allowing use in your game but not redistribution. Keep a record of every asset's source and licence.
The answer is in the licence
"Free" describes the price. The licence describes what you're allowed to do. Before using any free asset in a game you'll release, find its licence and answer three questions:
- Can I use it commercially?
- Do I have to credit anyone, and how?
- Are there other conditions (no redistribution, one engine only, share-alike)?
This is a practical guide, not legal advice. For anything high-stakes, ask a lawyer.
Common licences, decoded
CC0 (public domain)
Use it however you like, commercially, with no credit required. Kenney and Poly Haven publish their assets as CC0 (Kenney, Poly Haven). The easiest licence for games.
CC BY (Attribution)
Commercial use allowed. You must credit the creator as they ask, typically in your game's credits or store page. Keep the exact attribution text.
CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)
Commercial use allowed with credit, but adaptations must be shared under the same licence. How that applies to a game that includes the asset is a grey area; many developers avoid BY-SA for that reason.
CC BY-NC (Non-Commercial)
Not for a game you sell, or one with ads or in-app purchases. Fine for personal or free non-commercial projects, depending on the exact terms.
Store licences (Unity Asset Store, Fab, etc.)
Usually allow use in your game, including commercially, but not redistributing the raw files (for example, in an asset pack or open-source repo). Some free content is restricted to one engine. Read the listing.
"Free for personal use"
Not for commercial games.
No licence stated
Don't use it in a released game. No licence means you have no permission.
Things that catch developers out
- Ripped assets: models taken from commercial games circulate on some free sites. Using them is infringement regardless of what the upload page says.
- Open-source repos: if your game's source is public, store-licensed raw assets inside it may count as redistribution.
- Fonts, music and sounds have licences too.
- Trademarks: a free model of a branded car or character can raise trademark issues even with a permissive licence.
- Licence changes: keep a copy of the licence as it was when you downloaded.
What about AI-generated assets?
The questions are different: who owns the output, and what does the store want disclosed? Check the generator's terms. Vi3W's content policy says you can use the 3D models you generate, including commercially, subject to the law and other people's rights, and to any third-party model licence restriction it tells you about. Storefronts may ask about AI use; Steam's content survey does. See Steam AI disclosure for 3D assets.
A pre-release checklist
- Every third-party asset has a recorded source URL and licence.
- No NC, personal-only or unlicensed assets.
- All required attributions are in the credits.
- No raw store assets in a public repo.
- No ripped or suspicious assets.
- AI-generated assets logged with tool and input, for store disclosure.
Want assets with simpler terms? Generate them from your own sketches in Vi3W, or see where to find CC0 3D models.
Frequently asked questions
can i use free assets in my game
Yes, when the asset's licence permits your use. Check whether it allows commercial use, whether you must credit the author, and whether there are restrictions such as no redistribution or one engine only. If an asset has no clear licence, don't use it in a released game.
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