Game Designer

Next Level Games; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 67,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Health coverage

Employee assistance

In-studio gym

Media library

Board game club

Discount Nintendo Store

Job summary

Next Level Games is seeking a Game Designer to join our Vancouver studio. You will learn and apply the Nintendo philosophy of game development, collaborating with directors, designers, engineers and artists to deliver high‑quality experiences that bring smiles to players worldwide.

You will contribute to gameplay moments, take ownership of core features, and drive projects from conception to completion within a highly iterative, collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Have shipped 1+ games, preferably with console experience.
• Experience across all phases of game development and multiple projects/genres.
• Strong desire to solve hard design problems and coordinate with other departments.
• Proficiency in programming or scripting; ability to script gameplay moments and enemy encounters.

Responsibilities

• Create carefully crafted gameplay moments that guide players through fun experiences.
• Work closely with the Game Director to understand and champion design direction.
• Communicate design ideas clearly to multiple disciplines.
• Design with simplicity and clarity in mind.

Skills

Gameplay design

Communication

Scripting

3D level layout

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Next Level Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

We’vebeen passionate about video game development for 20 years now, shipping award-winning games for fans across the world and still going strong. Some of our titles include Super Mario Strikers, Mario Strikers Charged, Punch‑Out!!, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Metroid Prime Federation Force, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and most recently Mario Strikers™: Battle League.

At NLG, we believe that a project finds success when we collaborate. Therefore, we place careful consideration to build an environment where everyone feels welcome and has fun in the process of achieving our shared goals.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

We are looking for a Game Designer to join our team at Next Level Games. In this role, you will learn and champion the Nintendo philosophy of game development, focused on creating high‑quality experiences. You will work with directors, designers, engineers, and artists to deliver games that put smiles on the faces of people around the world.

• Create carefully crafted gameplay moments that guide our players through fun experiences
• Work closely with the Game Director to understand the project’s design direction and champion it through your designs
• Strong communication skills and the ability to clearly present design ideas to multiple disciplines
• Design inclination to simplicity and clarity
• Take ownership of your designs and core game features and work with Production to drive them forward through all development phases, from conception to completion
• Help foster a highly iterative and collaborative environment, across all disciplines
• Lead by example and share expertise to better other teammates
• Contribute to continuous improvement of our tools and development process

WHOWE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Have shipped 1+ games, preferably with console experience
• Experience in all phases of game development, ideally across multiple projects/genres
• Strong desire to solve hard design problems
• Willingness to be proactive to coordinate with other departments
• High proficiency in Programming or Scripting; experience scripting gameplay moments and enemy encounters
• Strong layout skills with a deep understanding of how 3D spaces impact gameplay and pacing
• Proficiency in 3D Layout programs (Maya, Unreal, Unity, etc.)
• Experience designing and building levels for level‑based games

If you have a portfolio, please include a link.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE

• Competitive annual leave and benefits, including discretionary performance bonus program and health coverage
• Support for mental health, financial well‑being, legal assistance and more through our Employee Assistance Program
• Access to our in‑studio gym, and an extensive media library filled with games and books
• Join a committee– boardgames, sports, or something else – it’s all here!
• Discounted shopping for Nintendo products and merchandise at the online employee store
• A workplace that values inclusivity and encourages continuous growth
• A chance to be part of Nintendo, creating award‑winning games that make an impact

This is a hybrid role, with the first three months fully in‑studio. After that, there is flexibility to work from home, with a requirement of three days per week in our Vancouver studio.

The hiring range for this position is $67,000 – $85,000 CAD annually and is subject to change. The final base salary compensation will be based on factors such as skills, education, and experience.

At NLG, we know the best teams are made up of players with different skills, perspectives, and experience. We’re committed to creating a workspace where everyone can contribute and feel included. If you need any accommodations during the hiring process, please contact [e-mail], and we will do our best to support your needs.

We wish to thank all applicants in advance; however, only those under consideration will be contacted. We are currently only considering applicants who already have work eligibility in Canada.