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Combat Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Warnerbros

Advanced Gameplay Designer

Canute, OK · On-site +1

Under the direction of the Lead Designer & Design Director, you will design high quality game play experiences, traversal mechanics, player abilities, and combat systems which support the vision and ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for scripting and shaping ... Create and script engaging gameplay encounters that highlight the core systems and pacing of the ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for scripting and shaping ... Create and script engaging gameplay encounters that highlight the core systems and pacing of the ...

Atari, Inc.

Technical Systems Designer

Ownership of player progression, combat abilities, resource scarcity, and core RPG systems. * Design and prototype puzzles and minigames. * Assist the designs of enemy behaviors and auxiliary game ...

Atari, Inc.

Technical Systems Designer

OR · Remote

Ownership of player progression, combat abilities, resource scarcity, and core RPG systems. * Design and prototype puzzles and minigames. * Assist the designs of enemy behaviors and auxiliary game ...

AGBO

NPC Designer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

As a NPC Designer, you'll be hands-on in designing and implementing the moment-to-moment gameplay ... Qualifications & Skills: * 3+ years of experience in gameplay or combat design with at least one ...

AGBO

NPC Designer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

As a NPC Designer, you'll be hands-on in designing and implementing the moment-to-moment gameplay ... Qualifications & Skills: * 3+ years of experience in gameplay or combat design with at least one ...

AGBO Films LLC

NPC Designer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

As a NPC Designer, you'll be hands-on in designing and implementing the moment-to-moment gameplay ... Qualifications & Skills: * 3+ years of experience in gameplay or combat design with at least one ...

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All JobsCombat Game Designer Jobs

Combat Game Designer information

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$47K

$156K

How much do combat game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for combat game designer in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Combat Game Designer vs Level Designer?

AspectCombat Game DesignerLevel Designer
Required SkillsGame mechanics, combat systems, player engagementLevel layout, environment design, pacing
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with gameplay, art, and programming teamsWorks closely with art and level teams to craft environments
Industry UsageUsed in action, shooter, and fighting gamesCommon in adventure, platformer, and open-world games

While both roles involve designing aspects of a game, Combat Game Designers focus on creating engaging combat mechanics and systems, whereas Level Designers craft the environments and levels players explore. Both roles require collaboration across teams and are vital to game development, but they specialize in different facets of gameplay experience.

What is a Combat Game Designer?

A Combat Game Designer is a professional in the video game industry who specializes in designing, balancing, and refining the combat systems within a game. They are responsible for creating engaging and fair mechanics for player battles, including character abilities, weapons, enemy behavior, and progression systems. Combat Game Designers work closely with programmers, artists, and other designers to ensure that combat feels satisfying and aligns with the game's overall vision. Their work often involves prototyping, playtesting, and iterating on combat features based on feedback from both the development team and players.

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

A Combat Game Designer needs a solid understanding of game design principles, experience with balancing gameplay mechanics, and often a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unity or Unreal Engine, scripting languages like C#, and version control systems is typically required. Creativity, teamwork, and strong problem-solving skills help designers collaborate effectively and craft engaging combat experiences. These abilities are crucial for developing immersive, balanced, and enjoyable combat systems that keep players engaged.

How does a Combat Game Designer typically collaborate with other departments during the development process?

As a Combat Game Designer, you will work closely with various teams such as artists, animators, programmers, and sound designers to create engaging and balanced combat systems. Collaboration often involves frequent meetings to discuss mechanics, prototyping features, and iterating based on feedback. You'll also coordinate with narrative and level design teams to ensure that combat fits seamlessly within the game's world and story. Effective communication and a willingness to adapt your ideas are essential, as your work will impact many aspects of the game's overall experience.
Infographic showing various Combat Game Designer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 2% Temporary. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Combat Designer, Unannounced Project | Irvine, CA

Senior Combat Designer, Unannounced Project | Irvine, CA

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site

$109K - $117K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Team Name:
Unannounced Project
Job Title:
Senior Combat Designer, Unannounced Project | Irvine, CA
Requisition ID:
R027565
Job Description:
Your Mission
At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations-only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.
We are looking for a Senior Combat Designer to help drive combat design for a new, unannounced game. As a senior individual contributor, you will set the vision and direction for combat systems and encounters, partnering closely with cross-disciplinary leads to deliver best-in-class gameplay experiences. You will operate with a high degree of ownership, shaping both moment-to-moment combat and long-term system design, ensuring a cohesive and compelling player experience.
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work onsite and some work from home. The home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.
Responsibilities
Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:
  • Own and drive the design vision for combat systems and gameplay experiences from early concept through final execution.
  • Design and implement core combat mechanics, including player abilities, enemy behaviors, and systemic interactions.
  • Establish combat design pillars, ensuring consistency in feel, responsiveness, readability, and player satisfaction.
  • Create and oversee the development of complex enemy encounters that scale across progression and difficulty levels.
  • Partner with level design to ensure combat spaces support gameplay clarity, pacing, and engagement.
  • Collaborate with engineering and technical design to evolve tools, pipelines, and systems supporting combat development.
  • Provide leadership through influence by mentoring designers, reviewing work, and raising the overall quality bar for combat design.
  • Drive iteration efforts using playtest feedback, metrics, and qualitative insights to refine gameplay experiences.
  • Author clear, structured design documentation that effectively communicates systems, features, and intent across teams.
  • Act as a key stakeholder in cross-disciplinary decision-making, ensuring alignment between gameplay, narrative, and technical constraints.
  • Identify risks early and proactively propose solutions to maintain quality and production timelines.

Experience
  • 10+ years of experience in combat design, systems design, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Demonstrated ownership of major gameplay systems through multiple phases of development, from prototyping to ship.
  • Shipped at least one AAA title in a senior or lead-level design capacity with measurable impact on gameplay systems.
  • Experience influencing cross-functional teams and contributing to product-level design decisions.
  • Experience working in modern AAA engines and development pipelines.

Knowledge and Skills
  • Deep expertise in combat design fundamentals including player feedback, encounter design, progression systems, and tuning.
  • Strong systems design capability, with the ability to design scalable, extensible gameplay frameworks.
  • Solid technical proficiency with scripting, data-driven design tools, or engine-based implementation workflows.
  • Strong analytical mindset with experience applying playtest data and feedback to improve design outcomes.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to align diverse teams around a shared vision.

Key Attributes
  • Player-focused mindset with a passion for delivering exceptional gameplay experiences.
  • High level of ownership, accountability, and craftsmanship in all areas of work.
  • Ability to lead through influence, mentorship, and constructive feedback.
  • Strong collaboration skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
  • Adaptability in an iterative and evolving development environment.

Extra Points
  • Experience designing combat systems for AAA titles
  • Experience contributing to franchise-defining gameplay or live service titles.
  • Background in mentoring or developing other designers.
  • Familiarity with scripting or programming languages such as C++, C#, Blueprint, Lua, or similar.
  • Experience building scalable combat systems that support long-term content development.
  • Broad knowledge of game genres and systems, with strong critical analysis skills.

Your Platform
Best known for iconic videogame universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games and engages millions of players worldwide across PC and consoles.
Our World
Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We strive to create a culture where everyone can thrive and contribute to connecting players around the world through epic entertainment.
The videogame industry is fast-paced and continually evolving. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may change as necessary to support business needs.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $97,200.00 - $179,900.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.
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About Blizzard Entertainment

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blizzard Entertainment is a globally recognized leader in the Digital Gaming industry, renowned for creating some of the world's most popular video games such as "World of Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo." The company was founded in 1991 and is currently based in Irvine, California, USA. Aside from creating engaging video games, Blizzard Entertainment also develops and supports a wide range of software products within the realm of entertainment. The company prides itself on its commitment to quality, an element that can be recognized in its vast array of legendary games. Notably, its creation, World of Warcraft, remains one of the highest-grossing video games of all time.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

1991

Social media

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