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Game Reviewer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Game Designer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$182K/yr

Review and collaborate with external game studios to raise the quality of gameplay and player experience across the ecosystem. We're Looking For * You've designed and shipped games players genuinely ...

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential ...

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential ...

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$167K/yr

We need a game designer who actually plays casual F2P mobile games, not someone who tolerates them ... Use player feedback, reviews, community sentiment, and analytics data to understand how players ...

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$167K/yr

We need a game designer who actually plays casual F2P mobile games, not someone who tolerates them ... Use player feedback, reviews, community sentiment, and analytics data to understand how players ...

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Game Reviewer information

See California salary details

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How much do game reviewer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for game reviewer in California is $20.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.99 and $23.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to get a job as a game reviewer?

To become a game reviewer, build a portfolio by regularly writing reviews for personal blogs, social media, or freelance platforms. Develop strong writing skills, stay informed about gaming trends, and gain experience with gaming consoles and PC to provide informed critiques.

What is a game reviewer?

Game reviewers are individuals who play and evaluate video games, then write or create content that shares their opinions and analysis with the public. They assess various aspects of games, such as graphics, gameplay, story, sound, and overall enjoyment, to help consumers decide which games are worth playing. Game reviewers work for magazines, websites, blogs, or create their own content on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Their role is essential in the gaming industry, providing feedback to both gamers and developers.

How much money do game reviewers make?

Game reviewers typically earn between $30,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, reputation, and the employer. Freelance reviewers may earn per review or project, with rates varying widely. Salaries can increase with industry experience and specialized knowledge of gaming platforms and genres.

What are some common challenges faced by game reviewers when balancing objectivity and personal preference in reviews?

Game Reviewers often navigate the challenge of providing fair, balanced feedback while acknowledging their own gaming tastes and preferences. It's essential to assess a game from multiple perspectives, considering both the intended audience and broader industry standards. Reviewers must be transparent about their biases and strive to support their opinions with clear examples and comparisons. This approach helps readers trust the review's credibility, even if they have different tastes.

What is the difference between Game Reviewer vs Game Journalist?

AspectGame ReviewerGame Journalist
CredentialsKnowledge of gaming industry, writing skillsJournalism degree or experience, strong writing skills
Work EnvironmentIndependent or company-based reviews, online platformsMedia outlets, magazines, online publications
Industry UsageFocuses on evaluating games for consumersReports on gaming news, trends, and industry events

Game reviewers primarily evaluate and provide opinions on video games for consumers, often working independently or for review sites. Game journalists cover a broader range of gaming news, industry trends, and events, often working for media outlets. While both roles require strong writing skills and gaming knowledge, game reviewers focus on game assessments, whereas game journalists report on industry happenings.

What does a game reviewer do?

As a game reviewer, your job is to review video games and associated content, such as physical items included with the purchase of a game. In this role, you may provide your opinion through a blog, vlog, physical publication, or website. You communicate with publishers to obtain review copies of games and play a certain amount before or immediately after its release. You can work as a game reviewer at the hobby, amateur, and professional levels. Hobbyist reviewers typically post short reviews on game sales platforms like Steam or other online stores. Amateur reviewers write or record longer and more-detailed reviews but receive little or no pay. Professional game reviewers work for major websites and magazines and review games as a full-time job.

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

To thrive as a Game Reviewer, you need strong writing abilities, in-depth knowledge of gaming trends, and an analytical mindset, usually supported by experience or a background in journalism, communication, or related fields. Familiarity with content management systems, video editing software, and various gaming platforms is often required. Creativity, objectivity, and clear communication are vital soft skills for engaging audiences and providing balanced, insightful critiques. These skills ensure game reviews are informative, authoritative, and resonate with diverse gaming communities.

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

The most popular types of Game Reviewer jobs in California are:

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Game Reviewer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Game Reviewer job openings:

Infographic showing various Game Reviewer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, 33% Part Time, and 34% Contract. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,990 per year, or $20.7 per hour.

Game Designer

MrBeast

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 hours ago


Job description

About Us
Beast Industries is a multifaceted media and entertainment company founded by Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, the most watched person in the world. Renowned for revolutionizing digital content creation, Beast Industries encompasses a diverse portfolio of ventures that extend far beyond its origins on YouTube. With a mission to entertain, inspire, and create significant social impact, Beast Industries operates across various domains including digital media, philanthropy, consumer products, and innovative business initiatives. At Beast Industries, we believe in the transformative power of digital media and its potential to entertain, educate, and effect positive change. Our commitment to innovation, creativity, and philanthropy drives us to explore new frontiers, create unforgettable experiences, and build a legacy that inspires future generations.
Game Designer (Experience & Systems)
About the Role
We're looking for an exceptional Game Designer to help build the most fun and engaging consumer app in the world.
This is not a traditional game design role. You'll design the mechanics, UI, UX, progression, and reward systems that power games and interactive experiences. You'll think deeply about how players discover, learn, play, compete, and come back.
You'll work across original games, tournaments, quests, and social experiences, partnering closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Data Science, and Creative.
We're looking for someone who has shipped games, has outstanding product instincts, and understands what makes games genuinely fun. Someone who loves elegant mechanics, intuitive UX, and memorable moments not manipulative monetization. And because a meaningful part of our audience is young, we design experiences that are safe, fair, and fun for everyone on purpose, from the start.
What You'll Do
  • Design game mechanics and the systems around them: progression, quests, achievements, tournaments, leaderboards, collectibles, and in-game economies that are simple to learn and rewarding to master.
  • Own the end-to-end player experience: onboarding, tutorials, HUDs, menus, rewards, and game flows, building the interaction patterns that keep every game feeling consistent.
  • Design the moments of delight, interaction, animation, feedback, and reward presentation that give our games their feel.
  • Communicate ideas through wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes, then playtest and iterate fast on player feedback and product metrics.
  • Partner daily with Product Designers, Motion Designers, Engineers, Artists, and Data Scientists to bring ideas to life.
  • Review and collaborate with external game studios to raise the quality of gameplay and player experience across the ecosystem.
We're Looking For
  • You've designed and shipped games players genuinely loved, 5+ years of experience, but we weigh what you've shipped over how long you've been shipping.
  • Experience designing both game mechanics and player UX/UI, with excellent visual and interaction design instincts.
  • Strong understanding of player psychology, engagement, progression, retention, and game feel.
  • Polished wireframes, mockups, and prototypes in Figma or similar tools.
  • Strong systems thinking and the ability to balance interconnected gameplay mechanics.
  • Comfortable using data to validate ideas while maintaining strong creative intuition.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration across design, engineering, product, and creative.
Bonus Points
  • Experience designing multiplayer, live-service, or social games.
  • Experience balancing virtual economies and progression systems.
  • Experience designing all-ages or age-appropriate experiences kids and families are part of our world, and we build for them deliberately.
  • Familiarity with Unity, Unreal, Godot, or similar game engines.
  • Experience designing for mobile-first experiences.
  • Passion for YouTube creators, MrBeast, and building products for millions of users.
What Success Looks Like
  • Players immediately understand how to play and want to keep coming back.
  • Every interaction feels intuitive, rewarding, and polished.
  • Game mechanics are engaging without relying on exploitative monetization.
  • You develop a recognizable gameplay style that is fun, social, accessible, and uniquely "Beast."
The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here
You have a deep obsession with the core of what makes games fun.
You analyze the world's best games to grasp their underlying principles rather than just copying them. You value mechanics, UX, motion, and game feel as a single, cohesive experience. You can whiteboard a concept by morning, build a Figma prototype by afternoon, and iterate based on real playtest feedback before the day is done.
You believe engagement should be earned through mastery, surprise, and elegant design never through dark patterns or exploitative monetization strategies.
If you have shipped experiences that players truly love and want to help redefine interactive entertainment alongside a massive global creator brand, we should talk.
Benefits
The Perks, Why Work On the MrBeast Team
We are redefining what entertainment and storytelling look like at global scale. Every piece of content we publish reaches millions and influences culture in real time. This is your opportunity to lead the team that decides how those moments come to life across every screen.
  • Competitive Salary
  • Generous Medical (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Dental, Vision and company-paid Life Insurance
  • Company contributions to employee Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
  • 401k Plan with Safe Harbor company-matching
  • Flexible vacation policy and paid company holidays
  • Company-provided technology package
  • Relocation assistance where applicable, including travel and company-provided housing for the first 90 days