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Card Game Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Game Designer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$78K - $116K/yr

Who We Think Will be an Excellent Fit: 5+ years of game design experience, with a focus on free-to-play mobile games. Experience designing card-collecting, card-battling, and/or deck-building games ...

Game Designer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$78K - $116K/yr

Who We Think Will be an Excellent Fit: 5+ years of game design experience, with a focus on free-to-play mobile games. Experience designing card-collecting, card-battling, and/or deck-building games ...

Game Designer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$78K - $116K/yr

Who We Think Will be an Excellent Fit: * 5+ years of game design experience, with a focus on free-to-play mobile games. Experience designing card-collecting, card-battling, and/or deck-building games ...

Game Designer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$78K - $116K/yr

Who We Think Will be an Excellent Fit: * 5+ years of game design experience, with a focus on free-to-play mobile games. Experience designing card-collecting, card-battling, and/or deck-building games ...

About the Team Fanatics TCG is a new trading card game business, the newest member of the Fanatics ... Drive cross-functional execution across game design, art, product, brand, licensing, and operations ...

Business Strategist

Seattle, WA · On-site

$123K - $154K/yr

About the Team Fanatics TCG is a new Seattle-based trading card game studio within the Fanatics ... Partner with game design, product, and commercial teams to ensure strategic analysis is grounded in ...

Design Lead

New York, NY · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

As Design Lead you have expertise in developing Kids/Family games and puzzles. Executes concepts ... Possesses a deep familiarity with the trading card game space. Knowledge of players, mechanics ...

Coordinate with Creative Set Leads to ensure goals for card sets are represented in art briefs and ... Game design or background in art is a plus Additional Details: Please note that this is a temporary ...

Art Lead (San Francisco)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $147K/yr

We're a venture-backed indie studio working on a surreal card game set inside your own dreaming ... Experience and intuition working on visual, UI/UX, and product design in Figma or similar.

Showing results 41-60

Card Game Design information

See salary details

$79.5K

$130.8K

$196K

How much do card game design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for card game design in the United States is $130,762.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,000.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a card game designer do?

A card game designer is responsible for creating the rules, mechanics, and overall experience of a card game. This includes developing the concept, designing the cards, balancing gameplay, and often playtesting to refine the game's flow and fairness. Card game designers may work on traditional games, collectible card games, or digital card games. Their role often involves collaborating with artists, developers, and publishers to bring the game to market.

What is the difference between Card Game Design vs Board Game Design?

AspectCard Game DesignBoard Game Design
Required CredentialsDesign skills, understanding of game mechanics, creativityDesign skills, understanding of mechanics, prototyping experience
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, often in game studios or freelanceSimilar, with focus on physical components and prototyping
Industry UsageUsed in tabletop gaming, card game companies, indie developersUsed in tabletop gaming, board game publishers, hobby industry
Search & Comparison IntentPeople comparing specific design roles in card gamesPeople interested in designing physical tabletop games

Card Game Design and Board Game Design share many skills, including mechanics development and prototyping. However, card game designers focus specifically on creating engaging card-based gameplay, while board game designers work on entire physical game systems. Both roles are vital in the tabletop gaming industry and often overlap in skills and work environment.

What are some common challenges card game designers face when balancing game mechanics for both new and experienced players?

Card game designers often encounter the challenge of creating mechanics that are engaging for experienced players while still being accessible to newcomers. Balancing complexity and simplicity is key—too many intricate rules can overwhelm beginners, while overly simple mechanics may not hold the interest of seasoned players. Playtesting with diverse groups, gathering feedback, and iterating designs frequently are standard industry practices to achieve this balance. Additionally, designers must ensure that the game's elements promote fairness and minimize dominant strategies to keep gameplay dynamic and enjoyable for all.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a card game designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Card Game Designer, you need a strong understanding of game mechanics, probability, and player psychology, often supported by a background in game design, mathematics, or related fields. Familiarity with digital design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, prototyping software, and sometimes experience with playtesting platforms is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help designers iterate ideas and collaborate with artists and developers. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, balanced, and marketable card games that appeal to a wide audience.
What cities are hiring for Card Game Design jobs? Cities with the most Card Game Design job openings:
What states have the most Card Game Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Card Game Design jobs include:
Infographic showing various Card Game Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,762 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Game Designer

2K

Kirkland, WA • On-site

$78K - $116K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Cat Daddy Games is more than just a mobile video game company; we are a passionate and close-knit family of creators. Based in Kirkland, Washington, we combine our innovative spirit with the support and expertise of Take-Two Interactive to push the boundaries of what's possible in the gaming industry. With our focus on live service projects like WWE SuperCard and NBA 2K Mobile, we constantly strive to deliver engaging and unforgettable moments for our players. What We Need: Cat Daddy is seeking a Game Designer to join our team of artists, engineers, and product managers to collaborate on game feature designs and monetization strategies for free-to-play mobile games. The ideal candidate has shipped multiple F2P mobile games in a design role, from concept to live operations. This is an in-office position, located in Kirkland, WA. What You Will Do: Design new gameplay experiences including time-limited events, alternative game modes, and mini-games that add variety and excitement to the core game loop. Pitch and prototype creative concepts that align with player motivations, game themes, and business goals. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to balance fun, difficulty, and monetization across your designs. Build and maintain clear documentation, wireframes, and specs to communicate design intent. Analyze player feedback and data to refine designs and identify opportunities for future content. Stay on top of mobile game trends and competitor features to ensure our game remains fresh and competitive. Who We Think Will be an Excellent Fit: 5+ years of game design experience, with a focus on free-to-play mobile games. Experience designing card-collecting, card-battling, and/or deck-building games is a plus! Bachelor's degree in a related field, and/or comparable, relevant work experience. Expert-level understanding of the mobile game landscape from a game design perspective, including game economies, data analysis, and back-end environments. World-class communication skills, with proven ability to produce effective design documentation A great teammate who can collaborate with engineers and artists on game development. At Cat Daddy, we believe diversity of experience is fundamental to creating accessible and fun gaming experiences for all of our players. We encourage everyone to consider being a part of our team. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. By clicking on this link, you consent to the processing of your personal information by 2K Games, Inc. and its affiliate Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. in accordance with the Privacy Notice for Job Applicants. The Notice provides information about how we use your data and how you can exercise your right of access, rectification or deletion. If you need more information, please contact the Privacy Contact identified in the Notice. Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com or catdaddy.com accounts. The pay range for this position in Washington at the start of employment is expected to be between $78,900 and $116,760 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses. #J-18808-Ljbffr