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Freelance Game Narrative Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TapBlaze

Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Our games run on warmth and restraint. Small daily emotional beats, not melodrama. We believe ... Collaborate with game designers so narrative and gameplay reinforce one another. * Create moments ...

TapBlaze

Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Our games run on warmth and restraint. Small daily emotional beats, not melodrama. We believe ... Collaborate with game designers so narrative and gameplay reinforce one another. * Create moments ...

Jam City

Narrative Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$55K - $78K/yr

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the ... We are looking for an experienced Narrative Designer to bring their expert writing and game design ...

Jam City

Narrative Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$55K - $78K/yr

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the ... We are looking for an experienced Narrative Designer to bring their expert writing and game design ...

Jam City

Narrative Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$55K - $78K/yr

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the ... We are looking for an experienced Narrative Designer to bring their expert writing and game design ...

Stillfront

Freelance Game Balancer (fully remote)

OR · On-site +1

Nanobit, a Stillfront Group studio, is looking for a highly experienced freelance game balancer to strengthen Big Farm: Merge Game, our free to play mobile Merge-2 title. This is a hands-on role for ...

Hasbro

Sr Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · Hybrid

We are seeking a Senior Game Designer to work with our design team to conceptualize and build ... Manage the work of freelance designers to ensure consistency and quality * Incorporate playtest ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

You understand the psychology of casual, cozy, and narrative-driven game players. * Long-term ... Experience designing for narrative-driven or cozy game genres specifically. * Familiarity with A/B ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

You understand the psychology of casual, cozy, and narrative-driven game players. * Long-term ... Experience designing for narrative-driven or cozy game genres specifically. * Familiarity with A/B ...

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Freelance Game Narrative Designer information

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How much do freelance game narrative designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance game narrative designer in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Game Narrative Designer vs Freelance Writer?

AspectFreelance Game Narrative DesignerFreelance Writer
Primary FocusCreating storylines, character arcs, and immersive narratives specifically for gamesWriting articles, blogs, scripts, or other content across various formats
Required SkillsGame storytelling, interactive storytelling, game design understandingGeneral writing, research, adaptability to topics
Work EnvironmentGame studios, freelance projects for game companiesMedia companies, freelance platforms, personal projects
Industry UsageCommonly hired for game development projectsUsed across multiple industries including media, marketing, publishing

While both roles involve storytelling, a Freelance Game Narrative Designer specializes in crafting interactive stories tailored for video games, focusing on gameplay integration and character development. A Freelance Writer has a broader scope, producing written content across various formats and industries. The key difference lies in the focus on game-specific storytelling versus general writing tasks.

How much do freelance game narrative designers make?

Freelance game narrative designers typically earn between $20 and $100 per hour, depending on experience, project complexity, and client budget. Many work on a per-project basis, with rates varying widely based on their portfolio and negotiation skills.

How to become a freelance game narrative designer?

To become a freelance game narrative designer, develop strong storytelling skills, create a portfolio showcasing your work, and gain experience through internships or personal projects. Proficiency in writing, understanding game mechanics, and familiarity with tools like Twine or Celtx are also important. Building a network and marketing your services can help attract clients in the industry.

What does a freelance game narrative designer do?

A freelance game narrative designer creates storylines, character dialogues, and world-building elements for video games on a project basis. They collaborate with game developers and use tools like scriptwriting software to craft engaging narratives that enhance gameplay. This role often requires strong storytelling skills, knowledge of game design, and the ability to work independently to meet deadlines.
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Cities with the most Freelance Game Narrative Designer job openings:

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Freelance Game Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Game Narrative Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 66% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

Narrative Designer

TapBlaze

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Help Shape the Future of the Good, Great Universe
Great games are remembered because of the worlds they create and the characters players never forget. At TapBlaze, we're looking for a Narrative Designer to help shape the future of Good Pizza, Great Pizza, Good Coffee, Great Coffee, and future titles in the Good, Great universe.
This role is about more than writing dialogue. You'll help imagine what comes next: creating new Chapters, memorable characters, compelling gameplay driven stories, and the lore that brings our worlds to life. Working closely with designers, artists, engineers, QA, and production, you'll transform ideas into experiences millions of players will enjoy around the world.
Our games run on warmth and restraint. Small daily emotional beats, not melodrama. We believe beauty is in the details, and we're looking for someone who believes the same. If you're constantly asking "What if?", finding stories in everyday life, and love building worlds players want to revisit, we'd love to meet you.
This is a full time, fully onsite position based in Los Angeles, California. We work together in person, five days a week. Remote and hybrid work are not available for this role.
About TapBlaze
TapBlaze is an independent game studio dedicated to creating games players will remember for decades. Since 2012, our games have been downloaded more than 300 million times worldwide. Every day, millions of players step into the worlds we've created. We don't chase trends. We build timeless experiences grounded in warmth, charm, memorable characters, and gameplay first storytelling.
As an independent studio, everyone has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Great ideas can come from anyone.
Our values guide every decision we make: Ambitious, Disciplined, Ownership-minded, Results oriented. Extra-ordinary.
What You'll Create
Expand the Good, Great Universe
  • Shape the future of the Good, Great universe through new Chapters, recurring characters, locations, organizations, traditions, and lore.
  • Create memorable characters with distinct personalities, motivations, and relationships.
  • Expand our universe while preserving the charm and consistency players love.

Design Gameplay Driven Stories
  • Pitch original Chapter concepts, seasonal events, and long term story arcs.
  • Design stories that players experience through gameplay, not passive exposition.
  • Collaborate with game designers so narrative and gameplay reinforce one another.
  • Create moments that connect emotionally through the small and the everyday: a regular who finally opens up, a two line exchange that lands.

Write In Game Narrative
  • Write dialogue for customers, recurring characters, and major story moments, keeping each character's voice unmistakable within tight line and character limits.
  • Create tutorials, UI copy, achievements, item descriptions, flavor text, and seasonal event content.
  • Write concise, memorable dialogue tailored for mobile gameplay.
  • Produce narrative documentation that supports localization across multiple languages.

Collaborate Across the Studio
  • Partner with designers, artists, engineers, QA, production, and community support.
  • Contribute creative ideas through brainstorming, playtesting, and iteration.
  • Maintain character bibles, worldbuilding documentation, timelines, and narrative style guides.

You're a Great Fit If...
You're more than a writer. You think like a designer. You naturally ask questions like:
  • What should happen in the next Chapter?
  • How can gameplay tell a better story?
  • What makes a character unforgettable?
  • How can we make this world feel more alive?

You enjoy collaboration, embrace feedback, and care deeply about creating experiences players will remember long after they finish playing.
What You'll Bring
Required
  • Based in the Los Angeles area, or relocating before your start date. This role is onsite five days per week and that is not flexible.
  • 3+ years of professional experience as a Narrative Designer, Narrative Writer, Game Writer, or similar narrative focused role in the video game industry, with at least one shipped title.
  • Proven experience creating engaging dialogue, memorable characters, worldbuilding, and gameplay driven storytelling.
  • Strong instincts for warmth and restraint. You know how to make a short exchange carry emotional weight without melodrama.
  • Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary game development teams.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing narrative design, dialogue writing, worldbuilding, character creation, and interactive storytelling.

Preferred
  • Experience developing narrative for live service games or seasonal events.
  • Experience writing for mobile free to play games.
  • Familiarity with Yarn Spinner or similar narrative tools.
  • Experience writing for localization and multilingual audiences.
  • Familiarity with Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Good Coffee, Great Coffee.

Physical Requirements
  • Los Angeles, CA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work;
  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and computer.

Compensation
The range for this role is $70,000 to $100,000 depending on experience.
Commitment to Diversity
As an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the needs of a multigenerational and multicultural workforce, TAPBLAZE recognizes that a diverse staff, reflective of our community, is integral to a successful and ethical business. We hire local talent at all levels regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability, and actively foster inclusion in all forms, both within our company and across interactions with vendors and partners.
Should you have any questions or encounter any fraudulent requests/emails/websites, please immediately contact careers@tapblaze.com. Our job applicant privacy policies are available here: California Privacy Notice

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