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Assistant Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Embedding VC

Founding Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$182K/yr

Pebble - Founding Game Designer About us We're second-time founders and former Google and Synthesia leaders (Search, Voice, and Assistant). We're assembling a core team of engineers, artists and ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions ...

Nextrealmcards

Be Seen First

Tech savvy assistant animation and game designer

Palm City, FL · On-site

$17 - $27/hr

Designing and setting up a magical gaming and streaming environment * Bringing original ideas, solving problems and helping the business grow The ideal applicant is: * ✅ Creative, reliable, honest ...

New

Nextrealmcards

Be Seen First

Tech savvy assistant animation and game designer

Palm City, FL · On-site

$17 - $27/hr

Designing and setting up a magical gaming and streaming environment * Bringing original ideas, solving problems and helping the business grow The ideal applicant is: * ✅ Creative, reliable, honest ...

New

Nextrealmcards

Be Seen First

Tech savvy assistant animation and game designer

Palm City, FL · On-site

$17 - $27/hr

Designing and setting up a magical gaming and streaming environment * Bringing original ideas, solving problems and helping the business grow The ideal applicant is: * ✅ Creative, reliable, honest ...

New

Jobgether

Join a fully remote game development team where technical creativity and problem-solving are at the ... These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions ...

Jobgether

Join a fully remote game development team creating engaging third-person gameplay experiences ... These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions ...

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How much do assistant game designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant game designer in the United States is $24.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $28.61 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the 80 20 rule in game design?

The 80/20 rule in game design suggests that approximately 80% of player engagement or feedback comes from 20% of the game features or content. Assistant game designers can use this principle to prioritize core mechanics and refine the most impactful elements to improve player experience efficiently.

What does an Assistant Game Designer do?

An Assistant Game Designer helps create and develop video game concepts, mechanics, and features under the guidance of senior designers. They often assist in writing design documentation, prototyping gameplay ideas, and collaborating with other departments such as art, programming, and QA. Their role can also include playtesting, balancing game elements, and providing feedback to improve the overall player experience. This position is a great entry point for those looking to start a career in game design and learn from experienced professionals.

What are the 3 C's of game design?

The 3 C's of game design are Character, Conflict, and Context. These elements help create engaging gameplay by developing relatable characters, meaningful challenges, and a coherent world. As an assistant game designer, understanding these principles aids in designing compelling game experiences.

Is it hard to find a job as a game designer?

Finding a job as an assistant game designer can be competitive, as the industry often requires a strong portfolio, relevant skills in game development tools, and sometimes formal education in game design or related fields. Entry-level positions may be more accessible, but gaining experience through internships or personal projects can improve job prospects.

How much do entry level game designers make?

Entry-level game designers typically earn between $40,000 and $60,000 annually, depending on location, company size, and individual skills. Starting salaries may be lower in smaller studios or regions with a lower cost of living, while those with programming or scripting skills can command higher pay.

What are some common challenges an Assistant Game Designer faces when translating creative ideas into practical game features?

Assistant Game Designers often encounter the challenge of balancing creative vision with technical constraints, such as limited resources or platform requirements. You may need to adapt or refine ideas to fit within the project's scope, ensuring that features are both engaging and feasible for the development team to implement. Working closely with programmers, artists, and senior designers, clear communication and flexibility are key to finding solutions that preserve the game's fun while staying on schedule. This role is a great opportunity to learn the collaborative process behind turning concepts into playable experiences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Assistant Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Game Designer, you need a solid understanding of game mechanics, creative problem-solving abilities, and at least a foundational knowledge of game design principles, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, basic scripting skills, and experience with collaborative tools such as Jira or Trello are typically expected. Strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability help you effectively contribute ideas and incorporate feedback in a dynamic development environment. These skills ensure you can collaborate efficiently, translate creative concepts into playable features, and support the overall success of game development projects.
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Assistant Game Designer jobs near you

Founding Game Designer

Embedding VC

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$182K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Pebble - Founding Game Designer
About us
We're second-time founders and former Google and Synthesia leaders (Search, Voice, and Assistant). We're assembling a core team of engineers, artists and educators to build the interface between AI and childhood.
The problem we're solving
Kids between 6 and 10 spend hours every day on screens, but most digital content is passive (TV, YouTube) or repetitive (apps, games). Parents want safe, engaging, and educationally positive experiences. Kids crave play, parents crave development and safety, and the industry hasn't bridged that gap.
Our product
Pebble is building the first generative learning world. If you've read the Diamond Age, you know what that means. If you haven't, this video will bring you up to speed.
Pebble first version is a 2D exploration game built in Godot 4. Children explore a procedurally generated world alongside an AI companion character they interact with through voice. Conversations are open-ended, not scripted. The companion isn't a sidekick, it's the core relationship that drives engagement, learning and emotional investment.
The design challenge is unlike traditional game design. The world is generated and the narrative is emergent. The content adapts to each child's interests and developmental needs in real time. The game designer's job isn't to build levels, it's to design the systems and constraints that make a generative world feel coherent and worth coming back to.
Founders
Guillaume (CPTO): First product hire at Synthesia, where he scaled from $3 to $100M ARR and helped define the category of AI video. Spent 7 years at Google as a PM on Search. Dad of two (ages 7 and 9), giving him a front-row seat to what captivates and educates kids today.
Lio (CEO): Second-time entrepreneur: founder of Neoplants, raised $25M+ from top-tier US investors. Ex-Google PMM, part of the original Google Assistant EMEA launch team (2017). Creative technologist and product builder with 15 years across tech, storytelling, and consumer launches.
About you
You think of yourself as a pirate. Wait, maybe that's too specific. A bear will do too. The point is, you want to bring something special to this world. Something wonderful.
In corporate speak, we might say that we're looking for an ambitious and forward looking Game Designer who's excited at the prospect of inventing a new gaming paradigm with AI at its core. You're comfortable thinking from first principles about what makes a great game. You understand what AI will change and what will remain the same. You've worked on 2+ games from scratch, at reputable studios or on your own. You have strong opinions about what the future of games look like.
What we're looking for, really, is someone who knows games in and out, and wants to join us to build something extraordinary for children.
The role
You'll be Pebble's first game designer, responsible for defining how an AI-powered world actually feels to play. That means designing the exploration systems, pacing, and progression mechanics that make kids want to come back, not through dark patterns, but through genuine curiosity and a deepening relationship with an AI companion character. You'll work at the intersection of game design, child development, and generative AI, building design frameworks from scratch in a Godot 4 environment where the content is procedural and the interactions are voice-driven.
This is a unique opportunity to create a completely new kind of game experience that goes beyond entertainment. This is an opportunity to shape the future of parenting and education in the age of AI.
Requirements
You have:
  • Shipped at least one game or interactive product where you owned core design decisions: progression, pacing, systems, or economy design.
  • A portfolio or body of work that demonstrates systems thinking: you can show how you designed rules that produced emergent player behaviour, not just authored fixed content.
  • The ability to prototype quickly and iterate based on playtesting, not just theory.
  • Strong design communication skills. You can write a clear design doc, argue for a mechanic, and explain your reasoning to engineers and non-designers without hand-waving.

You're comfortable with:
  • Being the first designer. There's no existing design language, style guide, or established framework. You'll be making foundational calls with incomplete information and revising them as you learn.
  • Providing a strong input on the visual side. You have a strong visual eye and opinions about art direction
  • Designing for an audience that isn't you. Our players are 6-10 years old. You don't need a background in child development, but you need genuine curiosity about how kids think, play, and learn.
  • Working with generative systems. Much of Pebble's content is procedural and AI-driven, which means you're designing constraints, rules, and possibility spaces rather than hand-crafting every encounter.

Nice to have:
  • Experience with Godot, or any 2D game engine's design/prototyping tools.
  • Familiarity with educational game design, edutainment, or serious games.
  • Interest in or exposure to AI/LLM-powered interactive experiences.
  • Experience designing for young children or family audiences.

Genuinely optional:
  • Charizard card in mint condition to add to our cabinet of curiosities
Work conditions
  • Salary up to 80k-110k GBP depending on experience
  • Strong equity component
  • In person work from London Shoreditch, open to remote for the right candidate

Apply