Senior Game Designer — Shape Innovative Gameplay

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based incentives

Health and wellness benefits

Generous paid time off

Vibrant studio culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Game Designer for our Pretoria studio. You will conceptualize, define, and iterate on core mechanics, systems, and player experiences that drive engaging gameplay across projects.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate visions into compelling interactive entertainment, ensuring a cohesive player journey from start to finish. This role emphasizes leadership, innovation, and market-aware design decisions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in game design
• At least 2 shipped titles in a senior capacity
• Proven ability to design engaging core gameplay mechanics and complex systems
• Strong understanding of player motivation and UX principles

Responsibilities

• Design and document core game mechanics, systems, and progression loops
• Create compelling game design documents (GDDs) that clearly communicate vision and requirements
• Collaborate with programmers, artists, and designers to implement and refine features
• Conduct playtesting sessions, gather feedback, and iterate on designs to improve gameplay
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to design culture in Pretoria

Skills

Game design

Gameplay systems

Player psychology

Communication

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Game Designer for our Pretoria studio. You will conceptualize, define, and iterate on core mechanics, systems, and player experiences that drive engaging gameplay across projects.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate visions into compelling interactive entertainment, ensuring a cohesive player journey from start to finish. This role emphasizes leadership, innovation, and market-aware design decisions.