Senior Game Narrative Designer & Writer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and incentives

Health, dental, vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Professional development and conf.

Creative work environment in Stellenb.

Team events and social gatherings

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking a highly creative Senior Game Narrative Designer & Writer to shape stories and player experiences for upcoming titles. You will craft immersive narratives, develop backstories, write dialogue, and design narrative systems integrated with gameplay.

Collaboration with designers, artists, and programmers is essential. The ideal candidate has 6+ years in game narrative design, a strong portfolio, and a passion for crafting memorable player

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of professional experience in game narrative design, writing, or a closely related field.
• A strong portfolio showcasing narrative design work and exceptional writing samples for games.
• Proven experience in creating compelling storylines, characters, and dialogue.
• Understanding of narrative design principles and interactive storytelling techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop and write compelling narratives, storylines, plot points, and character arcs for game projects.
• Craft engaging and natural-sounding dialogue for all characters, ensuring consistency in voice and tone.
• Design and implement narrative systems, including quest structures, branching dialogues, and lore integration.
• Collaborate closely with game designers to ensure narrative elements enhance and are supported by gameplay mechanics.
• Work with artists and animators to ensure narrative elements are visually and thematically represented.
• Create and maintain detailed narrative documentation, including plot summaries, character profiles, and world bibles.
• Contribute to world-building and lore development, ensuring a cohesive and believable game universe.
• Provide editorial feedback on narrative content and ensure quality across all written assets.
• Participate in playtesting sessions to evaluate narrative pacing and player engagement.
• Stay informed about trends and innovations in game narrative design and interactive storytelling.

Skills

Narrative design

Dialogue writing

Storytelling

World-building

Collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, English, Game Design, or related discipline

Tools

Scripting languages or game engines

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an award-winning game studio located in the heart of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking a highly creative Senior Game Narrative Designer & Writer. This role is critical in shaping the compelling stories and engaging player experiences within our ambitious new titles. You will be responsible for crafting immersive narratives, developing rich character backstories, writing engaging dialogue, and designing narrative systems that integrate seamlessly with gameplay mechanics. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional writing skills, a deep understanding of narrative structures in interactive media, and the ability to collaborate effectively with designers, artists, and programmers. This is an opportunity to leave your mark on memorable game worlds in the beautiful Stellenbosch region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and write compelling narratives, storylines, plot points, and character arcs for game projects.
• Craft engaging and natural-sounding dialogue for all characters, ensuring consistency in voice and tone.
• Design and implement narrative systems, including quest structures, branching dialogues, and lore integration.
• Collaborate closely with game designers to ensure narrative elements enhance and are supported by gameplay mechanics.
• Work with artists and animators to ensure narrative elements are visually and thematically represented.
• Create and maintain detailed narrative documentation, including plot summaries, character profiles, and world bibles.
• Contribute to world-building and lore development, ensuring a cohesive and believable game universe.
• Provide editorial feedback on narrative content and ensure quality across all written assets.
• Participate in playtesting sessions to evaluate narrative pacing and player engagement.
• Stay informed about trends and innovations in game narrative design and interactive storytelling.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in game narrative design, writing, or a closely related field.
• A strong portfolio showcasing narrative design work and exceptional writing samples for games.
• Proven experience in creating compelling storylines, characters, and dialogue.
• Understanding of narrative design principles and interactive storytelling techniques.
• Experience with scripting languages or game engines is a plus.
• Excellent command of the English language, with impeccable grammar and style.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, English, Game Design, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Passion for storytelling and creating memorable player experiences in the Stellenbosch area.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off and holiday leave.
• Opportunities for professional development and conference attendance.
• A creative and inspiring work environment in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
• Chance to work on innovative and critically acclaimed game titles.
• Team events and social gatherings.