Lead Game Narrative Designer (Remote)

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

competitive salary

comprehensive health insurance

performance-based bonuses

stock options

generous paid time off

professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Game Narrative Designer for a fully remote role. You will guide the narrative direction of our upcoming flagship title and lead a distributed team to craft immersive storytelling.

Responsibilities include developing the narrative vision, creating plots, dialogue, lore, and branching narratives, while collaborating with design, art, and audio teams. A proven track record with AAA projects and strong portfolio are essential for success in a remote, distributed setup.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in narrative design for video games with at least one shipped AAA title in lead capacity.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating writing, storytelling, and narrative design for interactive media.
• Proficiency in narrative design tools and game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity, proprietary tools).
• Deep understanding of narrative structure, character development, and pacing in interactive contexts.
• Experience leading creative teams in remote or distributed settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the overall narrative vision and strategy for game titles.
• Create narrative design documents including plot outlines, character backstories, and dialogue scripts.
• Collaborate with designers, writers, artists, and audio to ensure narrative integration across systems.
• Lead and mentor a team of narrative designers and writers, providing feedback and direction.
• Write dialogue, lore entries, and in-game text to enhance immersion.
• Design and implement narrative systems, branching dialogue, and quest structures in the game engine.
• Conduct playtesting and user research to gather feedback and iterate on narrative elements.
• Champion the narrative vision to stakeholders and other teams.
• Maintain narrative consistency and quality throughout development.
• Explore and document lore, history, and world-building of the game universe.

Skills

Narrative design

AAA title leadership

Team leadership

Dialogue writing

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Proprietary tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge game development studio recognized for its innovative storytelling, is seeking a highly experienced Lead Game Narrative Designer to join their fully remote team. This pivotal role will shape the narrative direction of our upcoming flagship title, guiding the player through an unforgettable interactive story. You will be instrumental in developing compelling game worlds, crafting intricate plotlines, and defining the voice and personality of characters that resonate with players globally. As a remote-first organization, we leverage the latest collaboration tools to ensure seamless communication and project execution, regardless of geographical location. This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary storyteller to make a significant impact on a highly anticipated project from the comfort of their home, bringing the narrative experience to life for players everywhere. The role requires a deep passion for interactive storytelling and a proven ability to lead creative teams in a distributed environment. Join us in building worlds and crafting experiences that will captivate audiences worldwide, all while enjoying the flexibility of a truly remote position.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own the overall narrative vision and strategy for game titles.
• Create detailed narrative design documents, including plot outlines, character backstories, and dialogue scripts.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, writers, artists, and audio teams to ensure narrative integration across all game systems and content.
• Lead and mentor a team of narrative designers and writers, providing constructive feedback and direction.
• Write engaging dialogue, lore entries, and in-game text that enhances player immersion.
• Design and implement narrative systems, branching dialogue, and quest structures within the game engine.
• Conduct playtesting and user research to gather feedback on narrative elements and iterate accordingly.
• Champion the narrative vision to stakeholders and other development teams.
• Maintain narrative consistency and quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Explore and document the lore, history, and world-building elements of the game universe.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in narrative design for video games, with at least one shipped AAA title in a lead capacity.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional writing, storytelling, and narrative design skills for interactive media.
• Proficiency in narrative design tools and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity, proprietary tools).
• Deep understanding of narrative structure, character development, and pacing in interactive contexts.
• Experience leading and managing creative teams in a collaborative, often remote, setting.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Ability to think critically and solve complex narrative problems.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate creative ideas effectively.
• Familiarity with scripting languages and version control systems is a plus.
• Passion for video games and a keen awareness of current trends in interactive storytelling.
• Comfortable working autonomously and collaboratively within a fully remote team structure.

Benefits

• competitive salary
• comprehensive health insurance (including dental and vision)
• performance-based bonuses
• stock options
• generous paid time off
• a professional development budget for online courses and conferences

We foster a supportive and inclusive remote work culture, encouraging work-life balance and providing opportunities for career advancement within a growing and innovative company. Equipment for remote work is provided, ensuring you have the tools needed to succeed.