Remote Senior Game Narrative Designer

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,482,000 - 2,141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Competitive salary and bonuses

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Professional growth opportunities

Access to cutting-edge tools

Collaborative team culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a remote Senior Game Narrative Designer to shape AAA storytelling. You will craft core narratives, write dialogue, develop lore, and ensure consistency across worlds for upcoming titles.

Collaborate with designers, artists, and writers in a distributed team; mentor junior designers; contribute to narrative innovations while delivering emotionally resonant player experiences.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional game narrative design, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles in a senior capacity.
• Portfolio showing high-quality writing and storytelling in interactive media.
• Proven ability to create complex characters, plots and world-building.
• Experience with remote collaboration and strong communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain core narrative, storyline, plot points, and character arcs for game projects.
• Write dialogue, quest descriptions, item lore, and in-game text aligned with the world.
• Collaborate with designers, artists, and level designers to integrate narrative into gameplay.
• Create narrative design documentation, including character bios, world bibles, and flowcharts.
• Champion the narrative vision across the team, ensuring tone and theme consistency.
• Contribute to player experience with emotionally resonant story content.
• Conduct research to deepen game world and lore.
• Provide feedback on narrative implementation and improve workflows.
• Mentor junior narrative designers and share knowledge.

Skills

Narrative design

Storytelling

Remote collaboration

Character development

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing

Tools

Unreal Engine

Scripting tools

Narrative software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge game development studio known for its immersive storytelling experiences, is searching for a talented and experienced Remote Senior Game Narrative Designer. This role is entirely remote, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere while contributing to the creation of compelling game worlds and characters. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of narrative structures, character development, and interactive storytelling techniques. You will be responsible for crafting the overarching narrative framework, writing dialogue, developing lore, and ensuring narrative consistency across all aspects of the game. This is a unique opportunity to shape the emotional core of our upcoming AAA titles and influence the player's journey through engaging and memorable storytelling. We are looking for a highly creative individual with a proven track record in narrative design for video games, who thrives in a collaborative, distributed team environment and is passionate about pushing the boundaries of interactive narrative. Your expertise will be crucial in building rich, believable universes that captivate players globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the core narrative, storyline, plot points, and character arcs for game projects.
• Write high-quality dialogue, quest descriptions, item lore, and in-game text that aligns with the established narrative and world.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, artists, and level designers to integrate narrative elements seamlessly into gameplay mechanics and environments.
• Create narrative design documentation, including character bios, world bibles, and narrative flowcharts.
• Champion the narrative vision across the development team, ensuring consistency in tone, voice, and theme.
• Contribute to player experience by crafting emotionally resonant and engaging story content.
• Conduct research to ensure the authenticity and depth of the game's world and lore.
• Provide feedback on narrative implementation and work with tools teams to improve narrative workflows.
• Mentor junior narrative designers and contribute to the team's knowledge base.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute innovative ideas for narrative innovation.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in game narrative design, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles in a senior capacity.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional writing skills, narrative design examples, and a deep understanding of storytelling in interactive media.
• Proven ability to create complex characters, intricate plots, and believable world-building.
• Experience with game engines and scripting tools is a plus.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate creative ideas effectively in a remote setting.
• Familiarity with narrative design software and documentation standards.
• Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, English, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage time effectively in a remote work environment.
• A passion for video games and a keen understanding of player engagement.
• Candidates will be asked to complete a writing test as part of the application process.

Benefits

• Fully remote position offering unparalleled work-life balance and flexibility.
• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holiday leave.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within a leading game studio.
• Access to cutting‑edge development tools and technologies.
• Collaborative and inclusive team culture that values creativity and innovation.