Lead Game Designer - Narrative Focus

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Flexible working hours

Bonuses based on performance

Professional development opportunities

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Game Designer with a strong narrative focus to join a fully remote team. You will shape the core player experience, define the narrative direction, and lead a design team with experience across dialogue, quests, and lore.

The role requires coordinating with writers and engineers to deliver cohesive storytelling and gameplay, mentoring designers, and driving innovative narrative mechanics in a remote-first environment.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in game design with at least 2 years in a lead/senior role.
• Proven success shipping at least one narrative-heavy title.
• Strong portfolio with dialogue, quest design, and lore.
• Experience leading remote design teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and champion the game's narrative vision, ensuring integration with gameplay mechanics.
• Design and document core gameplay systems, focusing on progression, quest design, and narrative branching.
• Write high-quality dialogue, character backstories, and lore.
• Collaborate with writers, level designers, artists, and engineers to bring the narrative to life.
• Lead, mentor, and provide feedback to a team of game designers.
• Develop and maintain detailed GDDs related to narrative and systems.

Skills

Narrative design

Leadership

Storytelling

Communication

Game design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Game Design

Creative Writing

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly innovative independent game studio renowned for its critically acclaimed story-driven titles, is seeking a Lead Game Designer with a strong narrative focus to join their fully remote team. This role is critical in shaping the core player experience and weaving compelling narratives that resonate deeply with audiences. You will be responsible for defining the game's narrative direction, designing engaging quest systems, character arcs, and dialogue, and ensuring a cohesive and immersive storytelling experience. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in game design, a passion for narrative excellence, and the ability to lead and inspire a design team in a remote-first environment. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute your creative vision to exciting new projects within the Arts & Entertainment industry from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and champion the game's narrative vision, ensuring it is integrated seamlessly with gameplay mechanics.
• Design and document core gameplay systems, focusing on player progression, quest design, and narrative branching.
• Write high-quality dialogue, character backstories, and lore that enrich the game world.
• Collaborate closely with writers, level designers, artists, and engineers to bring the narrative to life.
• Lead, mentor, and provide feedback to a team of game designers.
• Develop and maintain detailed game design documents (GDDs) related to narrative and systems.
• Prototype and iterate on narrative mechanics and player experiences.
• Conduct playtesting sessions and analyze feedback to refine gameplay and narrative elements.
• Stay abreast of trends in interactive storytelling and narrative design.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in game design, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role, with a demonstrated focus on narrative in the Arts & Entertainment sector.
• Proven success in designing and shipping at least one narrative-heavy game title.
• Exceptional writing skills with a strong portfolio of narrative design work (e.g., sample dialogues, quest designs, story outlines).
• Deep understanding of player psychology and engagement drivers.
• Proficiency in game design documentation and prototyping tools.
• Experience leading and mentoring creative teams in a remote setting.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Creative Writing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of up to ZAR .
• Fully remote position with flexible working hours.
• Opportunity to shape the narrative of unique and acclaimed game titles.
• Collaborative and supportive remote work culture.
• Generous performance-based bonuses.
• Professional development opportunities and conference attendance.
• Contribution to health and wellness programs.