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Games Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Riot Games

Game Designer III (Card Rules) - Riftbound

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical ... Demonstrated experience working on rules for tabletop games * Broad mechanics and content design ...

Riot Games

Game Designer III (Card Rules) - Riftbound

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical ... Demonstrated experience working on rules for tabletop games * Broad mechanics and content design ...

MrBeast

Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Game Designer (Experience & Systems) About the Role We're looking for an exceptional Game Designer ... You'll work across original games, tournaments, quests, and social experiences, partnering closely ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

If you're someone who thinks about games constantly (in a good way), obsesses over what makes people laugh, connect, and come back for more, and loves turning great ideas into unforgettable ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

If you're someone who thinks about games constantly (in a good way), obsesses over what makes people laugh, connect, and come back for more, and loves turning great ideas into unforgettable ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

$169K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Working with and guiding our development partners, you will innovate new categories in games ... PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience designing player-facing AI features such as adaptive ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Spellbrush is a company focused on creating engaging gameplay experiences, and they are seeking a Level Designer to craft fun tactics missions using their in-house tools. The role involves designing ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

We need a game designer who actually plays casual F2P mobile games, not someone who tolerates them ... We aim to build games that are remembered for decades. * We are disciplined. We make deliberate ...

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All JobsGames Designer JobsGames Designer Jobs in California

Games Designer information

See California salary details

$46.4K

$154K

How much do games designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for games 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 games designer?

Games designers are creative professionals responsible for developing the concepts, rules, storylines, characters, and overall structure of video games or board games. They collaborate with artists, programmers, and writers to bring their ideas to life, ensuring the game is engaging, playable, and enjoyable for users. Games designers often create detailed documentation, prototypes, and design mechanics that shape the player’s experience. Their work involves both creative thinking and technical understanding of game development processes.

How do games designers typically collaborate with other team members throughout a game's development?

Game Designers work closely with artists, programmers, sound designers, and producers to bring a game's vision to life. They often participate in regular team meetings, provide detailed design documentation, and give feedback on prototypes and builds. Effective communication and adaptability are key, as designers must balance creative ideas with technical constraints and feedback from playtesting. This collaborative environment helps ensure that gameplay mechanics, visuals, and user experience align with the overall project goals.

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

To thrive as a Games Designer, you need a strong grasp of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as proficiency in scripting languages like C# or Python, is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving are essential soft skills that set successful designers apart. These abilities ensure compelling, engaging game experiences and effective teamwork throughout the game development process.

What is the difference between Games Designer vs Game Developer?

AspectGames DesignerGame Developer
CredentialsDegree in game design, computer science, or related fieldDegree in computer science, software engineering, or related field
Work EnvironmentCreative teams, design studios, game studiosProgramming teams, software development environments
Industry UsageDesigning game concepts, mechanics, storylinesWriting code, implementing game features, debugging
Common Search IntentUnderstanding design roles, responsibilities, skillsLearning programming, development tools, coding tasks

Games Designers focus on creating the concept, mechanics, and overall experience of a game, working closely with artists and developers. Game Developers primarily write code, implement features, and build the game engine. Both roles collaborate but have distinct responsibilities within the game development process.

Is it hard to get a game designer job?

Getting a game designer job can be competitive due to high demand and the need for a strong portfolio, relevant skills in design tools, and understanding of game development processes. Building experience through internships, personal projects, or certifications can improve chances of employment in this field.

What jobs can a games designer get?

A games designer can pursue roles such as game developer, level designer, character artist, or game producer. These positions often require skills in programming, storytelling, and familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. Many roles are found in the video game industry, mobile app development, or entertainment software companies.

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

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

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

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

Games Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Games Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 67% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 32% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,165 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Game Designer III (Card Rules) - Riftbound

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$167K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

As a Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity help craft in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work with every tool at hand to create and iterate player-focused designs that will delight millions around the world.
As a Senior Game Designer on Riftbound, you'll report to a Game Design Manager and work directly with other designers. You will design and improve the gameplay experience through the lens of game rules and their interactions with content: cards. Primary among your responsibilities will be working with set designers to build, improve, and execute on new mechanics, templates, and rules, and you will also be expected to contribute to card design across many products, and support other efforts related to the Riftbound game experience.
Responsibilities:
  • Understand the relevant audiences for the game, and from this, calibrate your design expertise to reflect appropriate taste for these audiences
  • Use data and sense-making to identify opportunities to improve the health of the game through cards
  • Articulate and consider a scope and depth of possible solutions, including possible effects, and collaboratively reach the best solution
  • Evaluate and improve rules across the game's design and execution, especially understanding the multiple ways the game will be played by players
  • Improve existing design frameworks, our approaches to design, and create new ones
  • Openly share work and seek feedback from other developers, while combine co-worker and player feedback to calibrate design direction
  • Provide mentorship to more junior members of the design team

Required Qualifications:
  • 4+ years experience as a game designer and/or tabletop game rules manager
  • Demonstrated experience working on rules for tabletop games
  • Broad mechanics and content design ability

Desired Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of CCGs and their features
  • Experience playing or judging in CCGs
  • Experience working with or playing PvP strategy games
  • Experience developing a competitive or multiplayer game

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!
Our Perks:
Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first . That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
(Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $150,000.00 - $209,600.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
  • (Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $150,000.00 - $209,600.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
Riot Games logo

About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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