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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 ...

TapBlaze

Senior Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $100K/yr

You will write the dialogue, character arcs, and world building that make our games feel alive ... Own narrative for chapters, seasonal events, and live ops content across Good Pizza, Great Pizza ...

TapBlaze

Senior Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $100K/yr

You will write the dialogue, character arcs, and world building that make our games feel alive ... Own narrative for chapters, seasonal events, and live ops content across Good Pizza, Great Pizza ...

Hasbro

Narrative Designer - Contract

Renton, WA · On-site

$50/hr

Are you a creative writer who loves the intersection of game mechanics and flavor? Can you write ... The Magic Studio has an exciting opportunity for a Narrative Designer on our Magic team! Magic ...

Pocket FM

Slate Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

... gaming, streaming, and serialized entertainment. * Contribute to future slate planning by ... Experience writing web novels, serialized fiction, screenplays, narrative content, or audio drama ...

ProbablyMonsters

Technical Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$77K - $108K/yr

You understand the functional needs of the narrative team and will support them through systems implementation, blueprint creation and reviewing their technical work for game submission. * Write ...

Hoskinson Biotechnology

TTRPG Creative Writer

Gillette, WY · On-site

$52K - $70K/yr

If you live and breathe tabletop gaming and have a passion for structured storytelling, we want you ... World-Building & Narrative Design: Conceptualize and draft rich settings, factions, NPCs, histories ...

Spin Master International

Game Developer

New York, NY · Hybrid

$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 ...

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 ...

ProbablyMonsters

Technical Designer

Dallas, TX

$77K - $108K/yr

You understand the functional needs of the narrative team and will support them through systems implementation, blueprint creation and reviewing their technical work for game submission. * Write ...

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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 Jul 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 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 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 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.

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

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.
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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 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 $81,001 per year, or $38.9 per hour.
Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

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 Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us.
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

The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.
$145,100-$181,400 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.
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