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Contract Narrative Game Writer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

... narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II ... Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes * Drive ...

Ravensburger

Narrative Designer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$85K - $105K/yr

... a trading card game that celebrates Disney intellectual property, Create written materials ... Demonstrate narrative and TCG expertise: Apply knowledge of trading card games and card mechanics ...

mpathic

Mental Health Writers or Actors (Contract)

Contract Mental Health Writers And Actors mpathic is keeping humans safe in the AI era through ... Participation or familiarity with Discord, Reddit, gaming communities, or narrative role-play ...

ProEdit, Inc.

Contract Technical Writer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

$40 - $46/hr

Contract Technical Writer -- Alpharetta, GA Location: On-site in Alpharetta, Georgia Contract ... Experience working in software development, technology, gaming, or another high-tech industry is a ...

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 ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

This is a contract position for the role of Game Designer, anticipated to run for approximately ... Write instructions & "How to Play" video scripts with accessibility and clarity in mind * Partner ...

Fanatics Collectibles

Game Designer - TCG

Seattle, WA

$176K/yr

Write clear, precise rules text and internal design documentation for your areas of ownership ... Collaborate with narrative design, creative, and product teams to ensure mechanics are well ...

Hasbro

Associate Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

This includes mechanical and narrative design, play innovations, playtests, product exploration ... You'll write compelling, fun game content under the leadership of senior designers. Location & Work ...

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Contract Narrative Game Writer information

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How much do contract narrative game writer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract narrative game writer in the United States is $38.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.85 and $47.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract narrative game writer?

A Contract Narrative Game Writer is a professional hired on a temporary or project basis to create storylines, dialogue, and characters for video games. They work closely with game designers, artists, and developers to ensure the narrative integrates seamlessly with gameplay. Their responsibilities may include writing scripts, developing branching story paths, and building immersive worlds that engage players. Contract writers typically work remotely or on-site for the duration of a specific project, rather than as full-time staff.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract narrative game writer?

To thrive as a Contract Narrative Game Writer, you need excellent storytelling abilities, a strong grasp of narrative structure, and experience in creative writing, often supported by a portfolio of game or interactive fiction work. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Twine, Ink, or game engines like Unity, as well as understanding branching dialogue systems, is typically required. Strong collaboration, adaptability, and effective communication skills help writers integrate storylines with gameplay and work well with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, immersive narratives that enhance player experience and align with the game's vision.

What are some common challenges faced by contract narrative game writers when working with remote development teams?

Contract narrative game writers often collaborate with remote development teams, which can lead to challenges such as time zone differences, asynchronous communication, and aligning creative vision. It is important to be proactive in scheduling meetings, maintaining clear documentation, and using collaborative tools to ensure everyone stays on the same page. Building strong relationships with designers, artists, and other writers helps facilitate smooth workflows and ensures narrative elements are effectively integrated into the game.

What is the difference between Contract Narrative Game Writer vs Contract Script Writer?

AspectContract Narrative Game WriterContract Script Writer
Primary FocusDeveloping storylines, character arcs, and world-building for gamesWriting dialogue, scenes, and scripts for various media including games
Skills & CredentialsCreative writing, storytelling, game design knowledgeScreenwriting, dialogue writing, storytelling skills
Work EnvironmentGame development studios, freelance projectsMedia production, gaming, advertising agencies
Industry UsageCommonly used in game development for narrative designUsed across media including film, TV, and games

While both roles involve storytelling and writing skills, a Contract Narrative Game Writer specializes in crafting immersive stories and characters specifically for video games, focusing on world-building and narrative flow. In contrast, a Contract Script Writer typically writes dialogue and scripts for various media, including films, TV, and games. Understanding these distinctions helps employers and writers target the right skills for each role.

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Contract Narrative Game Writer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Narrative Game Writer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $81,001 per year, or $38.9 per hour.

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

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

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Ability to work onsite from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is required. 

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.

What you will do: 

  • Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes 
  • Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors 
  • Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable 
  • Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems  
  • Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you're owning 
  • Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes  
  • Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines  
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments  
  • Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences 
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team 

What skills you will use:  

  • 5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games 
  • At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred 
  • Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required  
  • Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)  
  • Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the "let's try it" mentality 
  • Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching 
  • Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends  
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat 
  • A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful  
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills 

Apply