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Full Time Game Narrative Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hasbro

Associate Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

This includes mechanical and narrative design, play innovations, playtests, product exploration, and other design-related tasks. This Associate Game Designer role draws on your D&D knowledge, your ...

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 ...

Hasbro

Associate Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

$33.30 - $50/hr

This includes mechanical and narrative design, play innovations, playtests, product exploration, and other design-related tasks. This Associate Game Designer role draws on your D&D knowledge, your ...

Templar Media

Lead Game Designer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

The Lead Designer should have excellent game design ability in both single and multiplayer and be a ... This position is full-time onsite at our studio in Alpharetta, GA.

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 ...

Absurd Ventures

Mission Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site +1

$100K - $115K/yr

Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design. Plus If... * Experience building game ... Description * Full time job with benefits * Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA * Office is located ...

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Full Time Game Narrative Designer information

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How much do full time game narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time 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 full time game narrative designer?

A Full Time Game Narrative Designer is a professional responsible for creating and shaping the story, dialogue, and overall narrative experience within a video game. They work closely with game developers, artists, and other writers to ensure that the narrative elements align with gameplay and visual design. Their role includes developing characters, writing scripts, designing branching story paths, and integrating narrative with gameplay mechanics. Full time positions typically involve working regular hours as part of a studio’s core team, collaborating throughout the entire game development process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a full time game narrative designer?

To thrive as a Full Time Game Narrative Designer, you need strong storytelling abilities, creative writing skills, and a solid understanding of game design principles, often supported by a degree in creative writing, English, or game design. Familiarity with interactive narrative tools like Twine, Ink, or scripting systems within engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine is typically required. Excellent collaboration, adaptability, and communication skills help you work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and respond to iterative feedback. These skills are crucial for creating immersive, engaging narratives that enhance the overall player experience and align with the game's vision.

What are some of the main challenges a full time game narrative designer faces when integrating story elements into gameplay?

A major challenge for Full Time Game Narrative Designers is ensuring that narrative elements are seamlessly woven into gameplay without disrupting player immersion. Balancing storytelling with interactive mechanics often requires close collaboration with game designers, artists, and programmers. Designers must adapt storylines to fit technical constraints and player choices, all while maintaining a cohesive and engaging narrative. This often involves revising dialogue, pacing story beats, and responding to feedback from playtesting sessions.

What is the difference between Full Time Game Narrative Designer vs Full Time Game Writer?

AspectFull Time Game Narrative DesignerFull Time Game Writer
Primary RoleDesigns story structure, character arcs, and narrative flow for gamesCreates dialogue, scripts, and written content for games
Skills & CredentialsStorytelling, game design, narrative scripting, often with a background in creative writing or game designWriting, scripting, storytelling, with a focus on dialogue and narrative content
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with designers, artists, and developers within game development teamsWorks closely with writers, designers, and voice actors in a similar environment

While both roles focus on storytelling, the Full Time Game Narrative Designer primarily crafts the overall story structure and narrative experience, whereas the Full Time Game Writer focuses on scripting dialogue and specific written content. Both roles require strong storytelling skills and collaboration within game development teams, but they differ in scope and focus.

More about Full Time Game Narrative Designer jobs

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

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Full Time Game Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Game Narrative Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Internship, 60% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.

Game Designer, Level (Contingent)

Santa Monica, CA

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

$174K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 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 based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA

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:

  • Design the layouts for your levels, blocking out simplified geometry to create engaging environments 
  • Develop level composition, architectural concepts, and create evocative shapes in collaboration with the art department 
  • Create scenarios, place game objects, and implement level progression using game editor tools 
  • Produce and maintain documentation that establishes the core concepts of your level 
  • Drive communication and collaboration for spaces you design as well as other parts of the game, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines 
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments 
  • Coordinate extensive playtesting, reviews, and iteration 
  • Additional Responsibilities may be assigned as needed 

What skills you will use: 

  • 3+ years of industry experience in Level Design experience for games 
  • Experience blocking out environments for games using 3D software packages such as Maya, Unreal Editor or otherwise, that exemplify understanding of level design fundamentals 
  • Experience using a game editor such as Unreal Editor and scripting/programming using a language such as C#, Lua, Python, Visual Scripting 
  • Excitement for learning and growing as a designer. Keen to develop new skills. 
  • Proficient and effective communication skills 
  • Welcomes criticism and has experience collaborating as part of a team, innovating without losing sight of the gameplay vision 
  • Understanding the single player gaming landscape 
  • Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends 
  • Problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude. 

As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete a design test.

Apply