Principal Game Designer (Genre Specialist)

IMAGE FRAME INVESTMENT (UK) LIMITED; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Tencent is seeking a seasoned Game Design Leader to shape the next generation of gameplay across global shooter, casual competitive, and RPG titles. You will provide strategic direction, solve complex design problems in active development, and mentor teams to deliver standout experiences.

With 10+ years in game design and at least 5 years as a lead designer or core systems owner on large-scale projects, you will drive design standards, evaluate prototypes, and represent Tencent at industry

Qualifications

• 10+ years of game design experience, with at least 5 years as a lead designer or core systems owner on large-scale projects.
• Proven success in shooter, casual competitive, or RPG genres with global IP experience.
• Strong ability to translate creative ideas into clear design documents and system models.

Responsibilities

• Define and refine minute-to-minute gameplay experience across controls, feedback, and systems.
• Lead design evaluation and improvements of core pillars like combat, level design, and progression.
• Collaborate with project teams to solve design problems, review prototypes, and ensure fun, distinctive projects.
• Represent Tencent at industry events and build connections with top global design talent.

Skills

Lead designer

Game design leadership

Systems design

Global shooter/design

Job description

Business Unit Tencent Games was established in 2003. We are a leading global platform for game development, operations and publishing, and the largest online game community in China. Tencent Games has developed and operated over 140 games. We provide cross-platform interactive entertainment experience for more than 800 million users in over 200 countries and regions around the world. Honor of Kings, PUBG MOBILE, and League of Legends, are some of our most popular titles around the world. Meanwhile, we actively promote the development of esports industry, work with global partners to build an open, collaborative and symbiotic industrial ecology, and create high-quality digital life experiences for players. About the Hiring Team Game Research Center(GRC) is a department focusing on game industry study, game analysis, game design research, data analysis and game development supporting.

We’re one of the world’s leading research facility in game industry, building a global knowledge tank to help our teams make better decisions.

We’re looking for innovative and passionate team members who love all kinds of games and have insight about the challenging global market.

What the Role Entails This role sits within the GRC (Game Research Center) team. Its core mission is to bring in a highly authoritative game design leader with extensive hands‑on development experience across global shooter, casual competitive and RPG game genres. We are looking for a true genre expert who can help define the next generation of gameplay standards. This individual will provide Tencent’s overseas portfolio with stronger strategic direction on product design trends, solve critical design challenges in active development, and identify opportunities for the next evergreen game franchise.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and refine best-in-class minute-to-minute gameplay experience, including controls, movement, and player feedback across visual, audio, and haptic layers. Build scalable and deeply engaging gameplay systems, including combat systems, character control, level interaction, mission flow, progression systems, and long‑term engagement loops. Lead the design evaluation and strategic improvement of core gameplay pillars, including 3C, combat/system design, level design, mission structure, world interaction, and player progression. Ensure systems are accessible, strategically deep, highly replayable, and fun over the long term.
• Analyze leading global games in global shooter, casual competitive and RPG game genres, and turn those insights into reusable design frameworks. Set high‑quality design benchmarks for core projects, including 3C, system interaction, and world exploration pacing.
• Work directly with project teams to solve critical design problems, especially in GaaS systems, gameplay innovation, and economy balance. Review prototypes and milestone builds to ensure projects are both fun and distinctive in the global market. Provide hands‑on design consultation to teams in development, with particular focus on high‑priority shooter‑related challenges, while also supporting selected opportunities in innovative casual and RPG projects. Help identify genre opportunities, product risks, and improvement areas early through expert review, structured feedback, and design modeling.
• Represent the company through thought leadership at industry events such as GDC, Devcom, and similar conferences. Use your industry reputation and network to connect with top global design talent and strengthen Tencent’s influence in game development.

Who We Look For

10+ years of experience in game design. with at least the past 5 years spent as a lead designer or core systems owner on globally recognized large‑scale game projects. Proven success in at least two of the following areas: Shooter games, with strong practical experience in level design, 3C, combat design, and/or gameplay systems design Casual competitive games, especially products involving creative sandbox, party royale, social‑creative, or AI‑enhanced gameplay experiences RPG games, with strong experience in narrative design, world‑building, and/or quest design. Experience working on major global IPs or well‑known live game franchises. Strong industry recognition, ideally demonstrated through thought leadership and speaking engagements at major industry conferences or forums.

Core Skills

Strong ability to design systems from the ground up that support long‑term player engagement. Deep understanding of gameplay loops such as combat, progression, mission structure, exploration, social interaction, player creativity, and long‑term retention. Strong expertise in 3C feel, including responsiveness, combat impact, camera, and audiovisual feedback. Strong understanding of hardcore players, competitive fairness, and player communities.

Soft Skills

Fluent English, with the ability to work effectively with global development teams. Strong structured thinking: able to turn creative ideas into clear design documents and system models. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a practical and supportive approach.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.

Who we are

Tencent is a world‑leading internet and technology company that develops innovative products and services to improve the quality of life for people around the world.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.