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Gaming Designer Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Lightspeed Studios

Lead Gameplay Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Ability to collaborate with other engineers, designers, artists and other game developers * Ability to work well in a fluid, changing environment as creative challenges evolve * Deep knowledge of ...

WATG Holdings, Inc.

Intermediate Designer

Tustin, CA · On-site

$60 - $80/hr

Along with our interior design studio, Wimberly Interiors , we specialize in hospitality, gaming ... We stay true to our values of designing spaces that respect, protect, and enhance the natural magic ...

WATG

Intermediate Designer

Tustin, CA · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Along with our interior design studio, Wimberly Interiors, we specialize in hospitality, gaming ... We stay true to our values of designing spaces that respect, protect, and enhance the natural magic ...

WATG

Intermediate Designer

Tustin, CA · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Along with our interior design studio, Wimberly Interiors, we specialize in hospitality, gaming ... We stay true to our values of designing spaces that respect, protect, and enhance the natural magic ...

Lightspeed Studios

Gameplay Engineer II

Irvine, CA · On-site

$78.39 - $202.90/hr

S.-based, AAA game development studio for Tencent Games. Lightspeed LA is focused on building ... Collaborate directly and proactively with engineers, designers, artists and animators to explore ...

Lightspeed Studios

Senior Gameplay Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

S.-based AAA game development studio for Tencent Games. Lightspeed LA focuses on building ... Collaborate directly and proactively with engineers, designers, artists, and QA to explore and ...

Anthro SoCal

Printshop Designer

Ontario, CA · On-site

Printshop Designer Division: Operations Department: Printshop Reports to: Printshop Lead Position ... gaming, and social connection. Our success depends on the dedication and enthusiasm of our ...

Socket.dev

TCP Designer I

Irvine, CA · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

TCP Designer I At EKN Engineering, we solve challenging problems with innovative engineering and ... BBQs, sports games, holiday celebrations, and dedicated team-building days. * JOYA Health ...

Twitch

Senior UX Designer, Monetization

Irvine, CA · On-site

... around gaming, entertainment, music, sports, cooking, and more. It is where thousands of ... A Senior UX Designer on the Monetization Team is expected to lead design work at the program level ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsGaming Designer JobsGaming Designer Jobs in Riverside, CA

Gaming Designer information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$49K

$162.8K

How much do gaming designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for gaming designer in Riverside, CA is $155,570.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $161,700.00 and $161,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a gaming designer do?

A Gaming Designer is responsible for creating the concepts, rules, and structure of video games. They work with a team to develop the game's storylines, characters, gameplay mechanics, and levels. Gaming Designers often collaborate with artists, programmers, and writers to ensure the game offers a compelling and enjoyable experience. Their work involves both creative and technical skills, including problem-solving, prototyping, and playtesting to refine ideas. Ultimately, they help shape the player's experience from the initial idea to the final product.

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

To thrive as a Gaming Designer, you need a strong grasp of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, typically supported by a degree in game design, computer science, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and graphic design software, as well as knowledge of scripting languages, is highly valued. Creativity, teamwork, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating on multidisciplinary teams and bringing innovative ideas to life. These skills are crucial for creating engaging, playable games that meet both player expectations and project objectives.

What are some common challenges gaming designers face when working on collaborative projects?

Gaming designers often collaborate with developers, artists, and writers, which can present challenges in aligning creative visions and managing feedback from multiple stakeholders. Balancing gameplay mechanics with visual and narrative elements requires clear communication and flexibility. Additionally, meeting tight deadlines while accommodating changes in scope or design can be demanding. Successful gaming designers are proactive in soliciting input, open to iteration, and skilled at resolving conflicts to keep the project on track.

What is the difference between Gaming Designer vs Game Developer?

AspectGaming DesignerGame Developer
CredentialsTypically a degree in game design, computer science, or related fieldsUsually a degree in computer science, software engineering, or programming
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, creative teams, collaborative settingsProgramming environments, coding teams, technical development
Industry UsageFocuses on game concept, mechanics, and user experienceFocuses on coding, software architecture, and technical implementation

While both roles are essential in game development, Gaming Designers primarily focus on creating game concepts, mechanics, and user experience, whereas Game Developers handle the technical coding and software development. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and collaboration in the gaming industry.

How do you become a gaming designer?

To become a gaming designer, individuals typically pursue a bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a related field, and develop skills in programming, storytelling, and graphic design. Gaining experience through internships, creating a portfolio of game projects, and familiarizing oneself with game development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine are also important steps.

What jobs can a gaming designer get?

A gaming designer can pursue roles such as game developer, level designer, game artist, or user experience designer within the video game industry. These positions often require skills in programming, graphic design, storytelling, and familiarity with game development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine.

What are popular job titles related to Gaming Designer jobs in Riverside, CA?

For Gaming Designer jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Gaming Designer jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Gaming Designer jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Gaming Designer jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Gaming Designer job openings:

Gaming Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gaming Designer job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 49% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,570 per year, or $74.8 per hour.

Software Engineer, Gameplay Combat - Unannounced Game

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site, Remote

$38.08 - $70.44/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Blizzard Entertainment rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 78 rated media

Job description

Team Name:

Unannounced ProjectJob Title:Software Engineer, Gameplay Combat - Unannounced GameRequisition ID:R028084Job Description:

At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations, only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.

We are looking for a Gameplay Engineer, Combat to help create the next generation of gameplay experiences in an unannounced title. You will be responsible for developing combat experiences, character behaviors, navigation systems, and gameplay technologies that make combat gameplay fun. Alongside a talented team of engineers, designers and artists, you will build the foundations that power engaging, responsive, and immersive gameplay.

This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine, CA location.

This role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

  • Develop and maintain combat systems supporting interactions between players and NPCs, with a strong emphasis on performance, scalability, and maintainability.
  • Partner with encounter, character, and system designers to transform gameplay goals into robust technical solutions.
  • Collaborate with designers, artists, animators, and gameplay engineers to implement polished combat experiences.
  • Identify performance bottlenecks, technical risks, and implementation challenges while proposing practical solutions.
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary and technical partners to diagnose issues and drive fixes to resolution.

Requirements

  • Minimum 5 years of experience in gameplay engineering or a combination of applicable training and related experience.
  • Contributions on action focused combat systems, NPC AI, navigation, or gameplay features on at least one shipped title.
  • Strong C++ programming skills, including performance analysis and optimization.
  • Experience delivering high-quality features as part of a cross-functional team including designers, artists, animators, level designers, FX artists, etc.

Bonus Points

  • Experience working with Unreal Engine
  • Experience and interest in character animation, navigation, combat or gameplay mechanics
  • Experience and interest in combat gameplay
  • Console development experience

Your Platform

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we've been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We're on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences...ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard "secret recipe," but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us.

Our World

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being for Every World - we've got our employees covered.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $38.08 - $70.44 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

What Blizzard Entertainment employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Blizzard Entertainment logo

About Blizzard Entertainment

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blizzard Entertainment is a globally recognized leader in the Digital Gaming industry, renowned for creating some of the world's most popular video games such as "World of Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo." The company was founded in 1991 and is currently based in Irvine, California, USA. Aside from creating engaging video games, Blizzard Entertainment also develops and supports a wide range of software products within the realm of entertainment. The company prides itself on its commitment to quality, an element that can be recognized in its vast array of legendary games. Notably, its creation, World of Warcraft, remains one of the highest-grossing video games of all time.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

1991

Social media

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