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Contract Game Narrative Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Reporting to the Game Director, you will own narrative across chapters, seasonal events, and live ... Design story beats alongside game designers so the player drives the narrative rather than ...

From our genre-defining games like Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons to our growing ... The Magic Studio has an exciting opportunity for a Narrative Designer on our Magic team! Magic ...

Reporting to the Game Director, you will own narrative across chapters, seasonal events, and live ... Design story beats alongside game designers so the player drives the narrative rather than ...

From our genre-defining games like Magic: The Gathering ® and Dungeons & Dragons ® to our growing ... The Magic Studio has an exciting opportunity for a Narrative Designer on our Magic team! Magic ...

This is a contract position for the role of Game Designer, anticipated to run for approximately three months with the possibility of extension based on business needs. The Game Designer plays a key ...

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Contract Game Narrative Designer information

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$47K

$156K

How much do contract game narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract game narrative 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 are Contract Game Narrative Designers?

Contract Game Narrative Designers are professionals hired on a temporary or project basis to develop the storyline, dialogue, and world-building elements for video games. They collaborate with game developers, artists, and programmers to ensure that the narrative fits seamlessly with gameplay and overall design. Their responsibilities often include writing scripts, creating character backstories, and ensuring the consistency of the game’s tone and plot. Unlike full-time employees, contract narrative designers typically work for a set duration or on specific projects before moving on to new assignments.

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

A Contract Game Narrative Designer should possess strong storytelling abilities, experience with narrative design principles, and a background in creative writing or game development. Familiarity with game engines (such as Unity or Unreal), branching dialogue tools (like Twine or Ink), and version control systems is often required. Exceptional communication, adaptability, and collaboration skills help them work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and adjust narratives based on feedback. These competencies ensure engaging, cohesive game stories that enhance player experience and align with project goals.

How does a contract game narrative designer typically collaborate with other departments during a game's development?

As a contract game narrative designer, you'll regularly interact with game designers, artists, and programmers to ensure the story integrates seamlessly with gameplay and visuals. You'll participate in meetings to align on narrative direction, provide feedback on dialogue implementation, and adjust scripts based on technical or design constraints. Clear communication and flexibility are key, as you'll often need to adjust your work to fit changing timelines or evolving game mechanics. Your contributions help shape the player's emotional journey while ensuring consistency and feasibility within the project's scope.
More about Contract Game Narrative Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Game Narrative Designer jobs? Cities with the most Contract Game Narrative Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Narrative Designer jobs? The most popular types of Game Narrative Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Game Narrative Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Game Narrative Designer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Contract Game Narrative Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 62% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Narrative Designer (6-Month Contract)

Senior Narrative Designer (6-Month Contract)

Gunfire Games

Austin, TX • On-site

$101K - $108K/yr

Full-time, Contractor

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

Description:

What We Do:

At Gunfire Games, we’re passionate about creating unforgettable worlds and experiences. With a legacy built on titles like Darksiders III, Chronos, and the Remnant series, we continue to push the boundaries of game development through creativity, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to quality. We’re looking for talented, passionate developers who are excited to help shape the next chapter of our story.


Gunfire Games is seeking a highly skilled Senior Narrative Designer on a contract basis for 6 months with the possibility of extension to help shape the stories, characters, and worlds that define our upcoming titles. This role sits at the intersection of storytelling and gameplay, partnering closely with Design, Art, Engineering, Audio, Animation, and Creative Direction to create compelling narrative experiences that feel seamlessly woven into the player journey.


This is a contract opportunity for an experienced narrative designer who thrives in a collaborative game development environment and can help deliver high-quality narrative experiences within a production-focused team.


We are specifically seeking designers with demonstrated experience crafting narrative for PC and console games. Candidates should have portfolios that showcase narrative design documentation, shipped game work, dialogue, quest design, or world-building that complements the dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and action-oriented worlds that define Gunfire Games titles.


Portfolios consisting primarily of novels, screenplays, film, television, or other non-interactive writing samples are not a fit for this role unless accompanied by relevant game development experience.


Requirements:

What You'll Do:

  • Develop compelling narrative concepts, story arcs, characters, factions, and world lore.
  • Collaborate with creative direction and cross-functional teams to develop and deliver a cohesive narrative vision.
  • Partner with level designers to create meaningful environmental storytelling and memorable gameplay-driven narrative moments.
  • Write, edit and implement dialogue, item descriptions, codex entries, barks, and other in-game narrative content.
  • Update and maintain narrative documentation, including lore guides, dialogue documentation, and narrative flows.
  • Work closely with cinematic, audio, and voice-over teams to support high-quality narrative implementation.
  • Work within development tools such as Jira, Trello and Miro to track narrative tasks, document changes and ensure alignment across discipline throughout production.
  • Champion storytelling that enhances gameplay, allowing players to uncover the world's history through exploration, combat, and interaction rather than exposition alone.

Who You Are:

  • 7+ years of professional game development experience in Narrative Design, Game Design, or a closely related discipline.
  • Experience working in Unreal Engine.
  • You have shipped at least one AA or AAA title in a Narrative Designer role.
  • Exceptional storytelling, dialogue writing, and world-building abilities.
  • Deep understanding of how narrative supports gameplay, player agency, and level design.
  • Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams throughout all phases of game development.
  • Strong communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
  • Proven ability to provide creative feedback and collaborate effectively with senior development teams.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative production environment with evolving project needs.
  • Passionate about creating memorable worlds, characters, and stories through interactive experiences.
  • You can provide portfolio pieces demonstrating narrative design work, including shipped games, documentation, dialogue samples, quest design, or comparable interactive storytelling examples.

Bonus XP:

  • Experience developing action, action RPG, shooter, or adventure games.
  • Familiarity with cinematic pipelines, dialogue implementation, and narrative scripting tools.
  • Experience designing branching dialogue, reactive narrative systems, or player-driven storytelling.
  • Experience collaborating on voice-over recording sessions or cinematic production.
  • Passion for dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic, science fiction, or horror worlds.

The responsibilities listed above are not intended to be exhaustive. The selected contractor may be expected to perform additional duties as required.


This position is offered as a six-month contract position, with the possibility of extension based on project needs, performance, and business requirements. This is not a regular full-time employee position. Contract terms, duration, and compensation will be discussed with qualified candidates based on their experience, skills, and alignment with the needs of the project.


Gunfire Games LLC is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates for contract opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran status (including protected veterans, as may be required by federal law), sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.