Senior Narrative Designer - Immersive Storytelling

Placements24; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 1,493,000 - 2,156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Remote-first culture

Paid time off

Professional development

Flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Narrative Designer to join a fully remote game studio. You will craft core storylines, world-building, and character arcs, writing dialogue and lore that drive immersive gameplay.

Collaborate with designers, artists, and audio to weave narrative into gameplay, oversee voice sessions, and mentor junior designers. Remote-first culture emphasizes creativity and collaboration for a global audience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in narrative design or game writing.
• Two shipped titles in a significant role.
• Strong portfolio with dialogue, outlines and world-building.
• Experience creating and managing narrative documentation (bibles, dialogue trees).
• Experience integrating narrative within interactive systems and gameplay.
• Excellent remote collaboration and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and document the core narrative structure, plot, themes and backstories for games.
• Write high-quality dialogue, in-game text, quest descriptions and lore documents.
• Collaborate with level designers, game designers and system designers to integrate narrative into gameplay.
• Oversee voice recording sessions with audio directors to align performances with narrative intent.
• Create narrative bibles and style guides for consistent storytelling.
• Develop branching narrative structures and player choice systems.
• Champion the narrative vision across development disciplines and iterate on elements from playtesting feedback.
• Mentor junior narrative designers and provide constructive feedback.

Skills

Narrative design

Game writing

Dialogue writing

World-building

Collaboration

Remote teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Scripting languages

Visual scripting

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking independent game studio celebrated for its deeply engaging narratives and innovative gameplay, is seeking a Senior Narrative Designer to join their fully remote team. This role is crucial in crafting compelling storylines, rich lore, and believable character arcs that form the heart of their immersive gaming experiences. You will be responsible for developing the overarching narrative framework, writing engaging dialogue, and collaborating with design, art, and audio teams to ensure the story is woven seamlessly into every aspect of the game. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional writing skills, a profound understanding of interactive storytelling, and a passion for creating worlds that resonate with players. This is a unique opportunity to contribute your creative vision to cutting-edge narrative projects from the comfort of your home, shaping experiences that captivate and emotionally connect with a global audience. We are committed to fostering a collaborative, remote-first culture that values creativity and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and document the core narrative structure, plot, themes, and character backstories for games.
• Write high-quality dialogue, in-game text, quest descriptions, and lore documents.
• Collaborate closely with level designers, game designers, and system designers to integrate narrative elements organically into gameplay.
• Work with audio and voice directors to oversee voice recording sessions, ensuring performances align with character and narrative intent.
• Craft compelling environmental storytelling that enhances player immersion and world‑building.
• Contribute to the creation of narrative bibles and style guides.
• Develop branching narrative structures and player choice systems that impact the game world.
• Champion the narrative vision across all development disciplines, ensuring consistency and emotional impact.
• Iterate on narrative elements based on playtesting feedback and team input.
• Mentor junior narrative designers and provide constructive feedback.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in narrative design or game writing, with at least two shipped titles in a significant role.
• Exceptional writing skills with a strong portfolio of narrative design work, including samples of dialogue, story outlines, and world‑building documents.
• Proven ability to craft engaging plots, compelling characters, and evocative dialogue.
• Experience with creating and managing narrative documentation (e.g., narrative bibles, dialogue trees).
• Understanding of how to integrate narrative effectively within interactive systems and gameplay.
• Familiarity with scripting languages or visual scripting tools for implementing narrative in-game is a plus.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, particularly within a remote team setting.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• A deep passion for video games and storytelling.
• Bachelor's degree in English, Creative Writing, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, and a performance‑based bonus structure.
• Employees receive generous paid time off, flexible working hours, and the opportunity to work from anywhere.
• Professional development opportunities, including online courses and virtual conferences, are supported.
• The company culture is collaborative, inclusive, and focused on creative excellence.
• We believe in empowering our team members and fostering a sustainable work‑life balance.