Tabletop Game Designer

Goliath; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending and health savings

Paid time off

Job summary

Goliath is seeking a highly creative Game Designer to invent and develop innovative tabletop games across preschool to licensed categories. You will own concepts through iterative development, create prototypes, test gameplay, refine mechanics, write rules, and collaborate with partners.

The role requires turning loose ideas into engaging, commercially viable games while managing multiple projects and adapting to stakeholder feedback with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop a game from idea to prototyping and final documentation.
• Strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, pacing, balance, and accessibility.
• Excellent writing and communication skills for clear rules and instructions.
• Experience planning, conducting, and documenting structured playtests.
• Ability to turn qualitative observations into actionable improvements.
• Strong organizational and project-management abilities to handle multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Invent and develop original games across multiple categories.
• Turn early-stage ideas into engaging prototypes and playable concepts.
• Manage multiple projects from concept through weekly iteration to production handoff.
• Plan and facilitate playtesting with internal teams and target consumers.
• Write clear, engaging instructions and develop manuals based on testing insights.
• Present concepts and findings to stakeholders while protecting game integrity.
• Lead brainstorms and provide creative direction to move ideas forward.
• Research trends and evaluate games to identify innovative opportunities.
• Attend trade shows and events to find inspiration and partners.
• Maintain knowledge of board games, mechanics, formats, materials, and construction.

Skills

Game design

Playtesting

Prototyping

Documentation

Job description

Goliath is an international manufacturer and distributor of toys and games, operating in 15 countries and reaching over 100 countries worldwide. At the heart of our business is a belief in great products and the magic of innovation. Our mission is to bring fun to every household, which we achieve through teamwork and clever collaboration.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly creative, resourceful, and organized Game Designer to invent and develop innovative tabletop games across a wide range of categories, including preschool, kids, family, party, crime and mystery, light strategy, and licensed games.

The Game Designer will turn early-stage ideas into engaging, intuitive, and commercially viable games. This person will own concepts through iterative development—creating prototypes, testing gameplay, refining mechanics, writing rules, and collaborating with internal teams and external creative partners.

The ideal candidate combines imaginative thinking with disciplined execution. They can take a loose idea and transform it into a compelling game experience with minimal supervision, while working quickly, managing multiple projects, and responding to changing priorities and stakeholder feedback.

Key Responsibilities

• Invent and develop original games across multiple categories using ideas from internal teams, inventors, licensors, external partners, consumer insights, and emerging trends.
• Turn early-stage ideas into engaging, accessible, and commercially viable prototypes.
• Manage multiple projects from concept through weekly iteration, documentation, final development, and production handoff.
• Plan and facilitate playtesting with internal teams and target consumers, translating feedback and observed behavior into actionable improvements.
• Write clear, engaging, audience-appropriate instructions and develop instruction-manual layouts informed by consumer testing.
• Present concepts, prototypes, playtest findings, and recommendations; incorporate stakeholder feedback while protecting the integrity of the game experience.
• Develop gameplay talking points and confidently demonstrate games for internal teams, licensors, and other partners.
• Plan and lead structured team brainstorms, providing creative direction and documentation to move the strongest ideas into development.
• Research social, cultural, entertainment, toy, and gaming trends; evaluate current, historical, and competitive games to identify innovations and market opportunities.
• Attend trade shows, conventions, inventor events, and industry gatherings to find inspiration, research products, and identify potential inventors and partners.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of current and historical board games, gameplay mechanics, formats, materials, components, and construction innovations.

Professional experience in board game development, game design, product development, toy development, or a closely related creative field.

• Demonstrated ability to develop a game from an early-stage idea through prototyping, playtesting, iteration, and final documentation.
• Strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, player psychology, pacing, balance, accessibility, and age-appropriate design.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain gameplay clearly and concisely.
• Experience planning, conducting, and documenting structured playtests.
• Ability to turn qualitative consumer observations into specific, actionable improvements.
• Excellent organizational and project-management abilities, including the capacity to manage several projects with shifting timelines and priorities.
• Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and move projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable giving, receiving, evaluating, and incorporating constructive feedback.
• A portfolio of published games, prototypes, instructions, or other relevant game-development work.

• 401(k) with company matching
• Health, dental, and vision insurance to keep you covered
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts to manage your healthcare costs
• Paid time off to recharge when you need it
• Join a fun, dynamic and creative industry—working with toys and games brings its own rewards