Game Designer

Playdawn; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Playdawn in Bengaluru is seeking a Game Designer to shape gameplay mechanics, level design, balancing, economy design, and player experience across upcoming projects. You will collaborate with artists, programmers, writers, and producers to bring creative vision to life.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years shipping F2P titles, a strong portfolio, and expertise with Unity or Unreal. You will iterate on features, analyze feedback, and mentor juniors while contributing to narrative integration and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in game design with a track record shipping F2P titles.
• Strong portfolio showing design work on released games.
• Expertise across genres, platforms, and gameplay styles.
• Excellent communication and teamwork with mentoring ability.

Responsibilities

• Design gameplay mechanics, level layouts, progression, and balance.
• Collaborate with artists, programmers, writers, and producers.
• Analyze feedback and iterate on features to improve engagement.
• Mentor juniors and contribute to narrative and player experience.

Skills

Game design

Portfolio

System design

Leadership

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for a Game Designer to play a crucial role in shaping the gameplay mechanics, level design & balancing, economy design & balancing, new systems, and overall player experience of our upcoming projects.

You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including artists, programmers, writers, and producers, to bring your creative vision to life.

What You'll Do

Gameplay & Systems Design

• Develop and iterate on gameplay mechanics, level design & balancing, economy balancing, systems, and features for good engagement.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design, prototype, and implement game features that align with the project's creative vision.
• Balance gameplay elements to ensure a satisfying difficulty curve and progression throughout the game.
• Design gameplay systems to ensure that there is always a steady path for D1-D7 retention.
• Contribute to the development of new systems and features that enhance the overall player experience.

Level Design & Progression

• Create and maintain detailed design documentation, including game mechanics, level layouts, progression systems, and player interaction guidelines.
• Design and balance levels to create an engaging and satisfying gameplay experience.
• Ensure progression systems provide a steady and meaningful path for players throughout the game.

Game Design Analysis & Iteration

• Analyze player feedback, playtest results, and industry trends to refine and improve game mechanics and systems.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and provide creative input to enhance the overall game design.
• Stay current with industry trends, new game releases, and emerging technologies to continuously improve your design skills and apply them to the projects.

Narrative & Player Experience

• Contribute to narrative design by integrating gameplay mechanics with storytelling elements.
• Focus on creating engaging gameplay experiences while considering player psychology and user-centered design principles.
• Help shape the overall player experience through gameplay mechanics, systems, progression, and storytelling.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with artists, programmers, writers, and producers throughout the game development process.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design, prototype, and implement game features.
• Provide and receive constructive feedback in a collaborative environment.
• Communicate and present design ideas effectively to cross-functional teams.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in game design roles, with a proven track record of designing and shipping F2P games.
• Strong portfolio showcasing your design work on released games, demonstrating your ability to craft engaging gameplay mechanics and systems.
• Expertise in designing for various genres, platforms, and gameplay styles.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or equivalent.
• In-depth understanding of game mechanics, player psychology, and user-centered design principles.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback in a collaborative environment.
• Leadership and mentoring experience, with a passion for fostering the growth of junior team members.

Nice to Have

• Experience designing and shipping F2P games.
• Experience working across various genres, platforms, and gameplay styles.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including artists, programmers, writers, and producers.
• Experience contributing to narrative design and integrating gameplay mechanics with storytelling elements.
• Experience with leadership and mentoring of junior team members.

You'll do well in this role if you:

• Enjoy designing and iterating on gameplay mechanics, systems, and features.
• Have a strong understanding of level design, balancing, economy balancing, and progression systems.
• Can create engaging gameplay experiences while maintaining a satisfying difficulty curve.
• Understand the importance of D1-D7 retention when designing gameplay and progression.
• Enjoy analyzing player feedback and playtest results to continuously improve game mechanics.
• Can translate creative ideas into practical game features through design, prototyping, and implementation.
• Work effectively with multidisciplinary and cross-functional teams.
• Are comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• Enjoy mentoring and contributing to the growth of junior team members.

What You'll Get

• Opportunity to shape the gameplay mechanics, level design & balancing, economy design & balancing, new systems, and overall player experience of upcoming projects.
• Opportunity to work closely with artists, programmers, writers, and producers.
• Freedom to contribute creative input through brainstorming, prototyping, and game feature development.
• Opportunity to work on F2P games and contribute to engaging gameplay, progression, and retention.
• Exposure to industry trends, new game releases, and emerging technologies.

Please note: This position is for one of Playdawn's clients, and successful candidates will be hired directly by the client, not by Playdawn.
Our client is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. They believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity, and they strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared success.