Remote Senior Game Narrative Designer

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Generous paid time off

Home office stipend

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is partnering with a globally recognized game studio to recruit a Senior Game Narrative Designer. This fully remote role lets you craft storylines, characters, and immersive worlds for next-generation AAA titles from your home.

You will collaborate with writers, level designers, and artists to ensure narrative coherence within gameplay, designing interactive dialogues, branching quests, and detailed narrative documents.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in game narrative design or related fields.
• Proven track record of delivering compelling narratives for released video games, preferably in the AAA space.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with a strong grasp of narrative structure and pacing.
• Proficiency with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and scripting languages is a significant advantage.
• Experience with narrative design tools such as Twine or Articy:Draft.
• Strong understanding of player psychology and how to create emotional engagement through narrative.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, essential for remote work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and write engaging game narratives, storylines, character backstories, and dialogue for unannounced AAA titles.
• Design and implement interactive narrative systems, branching dialogues, and quest structures within game engines.
• Collaborate with lead designers, writers, and other disciplines to ensure narrative coherence across the game.
• Create detailed narrative design documents, including plot outlines, character profiles, world-building bibles, and dialogue scripts.
• Work with voice actors and audio teams to ensure emotive delivery of dialogue.
• Provide creative feedback and direction to junior narrative designers and writers.
• Champion the narrative vision throughout development and adapt content for different platforms and mechanics.
• Conduct research to ensure historical, cultural, or thematic accuracy.

Skills

Storytelling

Writing

Editing

Communication

Education

Degree in Creative Writing / Game Design / Literature

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Twine

Articy:Draft

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized and innovative game development studio, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Game Narrative Designer to join their expanding team. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere. You will be at the forefront of crafting compelling storylines, intricate characters, and immersive worlds for our next generation of video games. This role requires a master storyteller with a deep understanding of interactive narrative design principles and a proven ability to translate complex themes into engaging player experiences. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including writers, level designers, and artists, to ensure the narrative is seamlessly woven into the core gameplay. The ideal candidate is passionate about video games, possesses exceptional writing skills, and thrives in a collaborative, remote-first environment. This is a unique opportunity to shape the narrative heart of cutting-edge gaming experiences from the comfort of your home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and write engaging game narratives, storylines, character backstories, and dialogue for unannounced AAA titles.
• Design and implement interactive narrative systems, branching dialogues, and quest structures within game engines.
• Collaborate closely with lead designers, writers, and other disciplines to ensure narrative coherence and impact across the game.
• Create detailed narrative design documents, including plot outlines, character profiles, world-building bibles, and dialogue scripts.
• Work with voice actors and audio teams to ensure accurate and emotive delivery of dialogue.
• Provide creative feedback and direction to junior narrative designers and writers.
• Champion the narrative vision throughout the development process, ensuring its integrity.
• Conduct research to ensure historical, cultural, or thematic accuracy as needed.
• Adapt narrative content for different platforms and game mechanics.
• Participate in playtesting and iteration based on player feedback and QA reports.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in game narrative design or related fields (e.g., scriptwriting, interactive storytelling).
• Proven track record of delivering compelling narratives for released video games, preferably in the AAA space.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with a strong grasp of narrative structure and pacing.
• Proficiency with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and scripting languages is a significant advantage.
• Experience with narrative design tools and software (e.g., Twine, Articy:Draft).
• Strong understanding of player psychology and how to create emotional engagement through narrative.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, essential for remote work.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A degree in Creative Writing, Game Design, Literature, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A deep passion for video games and a critical understanding of the medium's narrative potential.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package tailored for remote employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. You'll have the opportunity to work on ambitious, high-profile projects with a talented and passionate global team. We provide a stipend for home office setup and ongoing professional development opportunities to help you grow your career. This role offers unparalleled flexibility and the chance to make a significant impact on the future of interactive entertainment, all from your chosen location.