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Games Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Embedding VC

Founding Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$182K/yr

You've worked on 2+ games from scratch, at reputable studios or on your own. You have strong ... That means designing the exploration systems, pacing, and progression mechanics that make kids want ...

TW Group LLC

Slot Game Designer - Remote

Las Vegas, NV · On-site +1

$148K/yr

Slot Game Designer Location: Las Vegas, NV, or Chicago, IL ( or fully-remote ) Your Mission in the Reel World: As a Slot Game Designer, you'll be the captain of your own gaming ship, navigating ...

Rush Street Interactive

Game Designer, Mathematician

$158K/yr

The Game Designer defines features, bonus structures, paytable economics, and underlying math ... Design and define the functional mechanics for original online casino games, including base game ...

Jobgether

$119K/yr

As a Game Designer, you will play a key role in shaping the systems, economy, and long-term player ... service games, and innovative approaches to player engagement. Accountabilities * Design and ...

TW Group LLC

Slot Game Designer - Remote

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$151K/yr

Slot Game Designer Location: Las Vegas, NV, or Chicago, IL ( or fully-remote ) Your Mission in the Reel World: As a Slot Game Designer, you'll be the captain of your own gaming ship, navigating ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Austin, TX · Remote

We take immense pride in the games we create and the team behind them. As a group of skilled and ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

TW Group LLC

Slot Game Designer - Remote

Atlanta, GA · On-site +1

$152K/yr

Slot Game Designer Location: Las Vegas, NV, or Chicago, IL ( or fully-remote ) Your Mission in the Reel World: As a Slot Game Designer, you'll be the captain of your own gaming ship, navigating ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Dallas, TX · Remote

We take immense pride in the games we create and the team behind them. As a group of skilled and ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Reno, NV · Remote

We take immense pride in the games we create and the team behind them. As a group of skilled and ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Houston, TX · Remote

We take immense pride in the games we create and the team behind them. As a group of skilled and ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Stillfront

Game Designer

Miami, FL

$143K/yr

Our collaborative team of developers, designers, and storytellers pushes the boundaries of interactive entertainment by creating games that are as fun as they are impactful. Over 100 million players ...

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Games Designer information

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$47K

$156K

How much do games designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for games 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 jobs can you get as a game designer?

As a game designer, you can pursue roles such as lead designer, level designer, systems designer, narrative designer, or gameplay programmer. These positions involve creating game concepts, designing mechanics, and collaborating with artists and developers, often requiring skills in design tools and understanding of game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.

Is 30 too old to get into game dev?

Games designers can enter the industry at any age, as success depends on skills, portfolio, and experience rather than age. Many professionals start or transition into game development later in life, often bringing valuable perspectives and skills. Continuous learning and building a strong portfolio are key to breaking into the field regardless of age.

Will Game Dev be replaced by AI?

Game designers create the concepts, mechanics, and user experience for video games, and while AI tools can assist with tasks like asset generation and testing, they are unlikely to fully replace the creative and strategic aspects of game development. Human creativity, storytelling, and understanding of player engagement remain essential in the industry. Skills in programming, art, and design are still vital for game designers to adapt to evolving technology.

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.

How much does an AAA game designer make?

AAA game designers typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior designers or those with specialized skills can earn higher salaries, especially at major studios working on high-profile titles.

How do Game 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 games designers?

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.
More about Games Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Games Designer jobs? Cities with the most Games Designer job openings:
What states have the most Games Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Games Designer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Games Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Games Designer jobs are:
Games Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Games Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 63% Full Time, 33% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 63% Physical, and 37% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Technical Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product

Senior Technical Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

All Game Designers at Riot have a base set of skills: you design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity aid in crafting in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players.
As a Senior Technical Game Designer on an unpublished R&D product, you excel in designing exceptional experiences with high novelty and filled with unique challenges to overcome. You partner with other designers, artists, and engineers to create and iterate on a variety of memorable content types for players. You will also help designers and engineers build and expand our engine capabilities creating powerful tools that can empower other designers to create their own unique experiences. You will partner closely with designers and engineers to translate ambitious creative visions into actionable, scalable technical designs. Through a mix of mentorship and content reviews, you also ensure that local designers are building the game with strong technical rigor. Reporting directly to the Lead Technical Designer, your contributions will elevate the capabilities of the entire team on this ambitious project.
Responsibilities:
  • Work collaboratively to design, prototype and deliver compelling player experiences from the beginning to the end of an activity.
  • Be a hands-on owner for a portion of systems and other content that pushes for novel, unique, and challenging player experiences.
  • Collaborate with engineering to define the technical strategy and execution of content systems and reusable content tools
  • Build out solutions to design problems that require a deep level of technical expertise and leaving those problems with the ability to teach others how to work in those spaces in the future.
  • Develop, advocate, and enforce a system of organizational excellence in content creation that allows for the long-term sustainability of software without being cumbersome to rapid prototyping culture.
  • Implement gameplay workflows and tools within Unreal Engine to enable designers and artists to rapidly prototype and iterate.
  • Proactively identify technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate clearly with team leadership and stakeholders.
  • Ensure high-quality implementation of complex gameplay systems, promoting performance, scalability, and maintainability.

Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of experience in professional Technical Game Design or related Tech Design or Engineering roles
  • 2+ years of experience in content design in real-time games
  • Proven experience shipping high-quality titles using Unreal Engine, demonstrating expertise in Blueprints, scripting, and technical workflows
  • Experience with C++ and C#
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with experience working cross-functionally between engineering, test, production, art, and design

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience working on a live product
  • Experience with technical optimization and performance profiling within Unreal Engine
  • Deep understanding of gameplay system architecture, online networking, and AI behaviors

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 $185,200.00 - $258,000.00 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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