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Freelance Game Narrative Designer 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 ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

Fanatics Collectibles

Game Designer - TCG

Seattle, WA

$176K/yr

Collaborate with narrative design, creative, and product teams to ensure mechanics are well ... Deep passion for trading card games as both a designer and a player Location All employees of ...

Hasbro

Sr Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

$112K - $168K/yr

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 ...

1r Agency

Freelance Digital Designer

New York, NY

Freelance Digital Designer 1R is a rapidly growing eCommerce design, strategy and technology firm ... Experience with translating brand narrative across various channels. * Experience with eCommerce ...

Fanatics Collectibles

Game Designer - TCG

Seattle, WA · On-site

$98K - $123K/yr

Collaborate with narrative design, creative, and product teams to ensure mechanics are well ... Deep passion for trading card games as both a designer and a player Location All employees of ...

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Freelance Game Narrative Designer information

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$47

$132

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:

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Narrative Designer jobs?

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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.

Game Designer, Technical (Contingent)

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$56.70 - $65/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 20 days ago

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. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PC 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:
  • Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, AI behaviors, and other 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.
  • Collaborating closely with lead designers and directors to effectively act on feedback and quickly iterate.

What skills will you use:
  • 2+ years of industry experience in Technical Design for games
  • Strong programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree
  • ‭ preferred)
  • Understanding of narrative principles and how to convey emotion through gameplay
  • Proficiency in 3D math
  • Fluent in C++, C#, Lua, or other text-based scripting language
  • Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills

‭
Bonus Skills
  • ‭Experience developing third-person action games
  • Experience making improvements to tools and workflows
  • ‭Experience with the following areas of design
    • Behavior Trees
    • Melee
    • Combat Systems
    • Enemy & boss design

‭
‭Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
#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.
$56.70-$65 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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