Remote Lead Narrative Designer

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

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.