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Contract Game Narrative Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Akima, LLC

Part Time Unreal Game Designer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$152K/yr

... contract that we are hiring for ends. Responsibilities * Collaborate with artists, software engineers, and other game designers to implement gameplay features and training content for serious games.

Lightspeed Studios

Senior Mission Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$93K - $216K/yr

Collaborate with other game development teams--game designers, narrative designers, artists, and programmers--to ensure that the mission design aligns with the game's overall vision and mechanics.

Spin Master

Game Developer

New York, NY · On-site

$38 - $40/hr

This is an on going contract opportunity. 4 days in office How will you create impact? * Review ... Collaborate with designers to translate narrative horror elements into elegant analog rules that ...

Gearbox

Level Designer

Frisco, TX · Remote

$102K/yr

Prototype, iterate, and polish moment-to-moment gameplay while working with narrative designers, enemy designers, artists, and other disciplines to ensure quality combats and mission experiences for ...

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

As of Sep 13, 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 is a contract game narrative designer?

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.

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.

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.
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Contract Game Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Game Narrative Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 21% Contract. Highlights an 71% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.

Associate Game Designer, Technical

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

Naughty Dog
PC Games • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Naughty Dogexternal

$37 - $50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 12 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, and AI behaviors

  • Collaborating with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems

  • Communicating with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the areas you're owning

Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.
This is a hybrid / onsite position.
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
In this role you'll be responsible for prototyping gameplay using our in-house tools and scripting language, which could range from combat encounters to narrative sequences to player mechanics and enemy behaviors. Then working across departments to bring your prototypes into production and polish your work to the high level of quality Naughty Dog is known for. We're looking for self-motivated, proactive designers who enjoy creating unique experiences and can combine their technical and creative skills while iterating rapidly.
What you will do
  • Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, and AI behaviors
  • Collaborating with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicating with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the areas you're owning
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

What skills will you use
  • Significant programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree preferred)
  • Knowledge of 3D math
  • Experience with C++, C#, Lua, or other scripting language
  • Broad understanding of gaming landscape
  • Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills
  • Willingness to take design direction when offered, brainstorm, iterate and come up with fun and creative solutions
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Bonus Skills
  • Experience developing third-person action games
  • Experience with 3D level editors
  • Understanding of narrative principles, and conveying emotion through gameplay
  • Experience with the following areas of design
    • Behavior Trees
    • Melee
    • Combat Systems
    • Character animation
    • Enemy & boss design

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview
#LI-SP3
At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.
$37-$50 USD
Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

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