ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Game Narrative Designer Jobs in California (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

$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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGame Narrative Designer JobsGame Narrative Designer Jobs in California

Game Narrative Designer information

See California salary details

$46.4K

$154K

How much do game narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for game narrative designer in California is $147,165.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $153,000.00 and $153,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a game narrative designer?

A Game Narrative Designer is responsible for creating and shaping the story, characters, and world of a video game. They collaborate with writers, designers, and developers to integrate narrative elements into gameplay, ensuring a cohesive and immersive experience. Their work includes writing dialogue, developing lore, and designing branching story paths that respond to player choices. A strong understanding of storytelling, game mechanics, and player engagement is essential for this role.

What are the typical responsibilities of a game narrative designer within a development team?

A Game Narrative Designer is responsible for crafting stories, dialogue, character arcs, and world-building elements that drive the player's engagement. Day-to-day tasks often include writing and editing scripts, collaborating with designers and artists to ensure the narrative fits the gameplay, and helping to develop branching storylines or dialogue trees. The role also involves playtesting to assess narrative flow and working with audio teams to sync voiceover or sound elements with story moments. This collaborative, iterative process is key to creating immersive gaming experiences that successfully blend gameplay with storytelling.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game narrative designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Narrative Designer, you need strong storytelling abilities, a deep understanding of interactive narrative structures, and often a background in creative writing or game design. Familiarity with game engines (such as Unity or Unreal), branching narrative tools (like Twine or Ink), and sometimes scripting languages is beneficial. Outstanding collaboration, communication, and adaptability enable effective teamwork with designers, programmers, and artists. These skills ensure that compelling, cohesive stories are seamlessly integrated into engaging gameplay experiences.

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

The most popular types of Game Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Game Narrative Designer jobs in California?

For Game Narrative Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Game Narrative Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Game Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Game Narrative Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Game Narrative Designer job openings:

Game Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Narrative Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 77% In-person, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,165 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Narrative Designer

TapBlaze

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 26 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

Apply