ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Independent Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games

Senior Gameplay Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

$94K - $101K/yr

We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development. DESIGN What We Do Put ... Ability to work independently, take initiative, and react quickly to changing project needs, drive ...

TapBlaze

Senior Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $100K/yr

Reporting to the Game Director, you will own narrative across chapters, seasonal events, and live ... Our core values are the reason we have found success as an independent studio and guide our hiring ...

TapBlaze

Senior Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $100K/yr

Reporting to the Game Director, you will own narrative across chapters, seasonal events, and live ... Our core values are the reason we have found success as an independent studio and guide our hiring ...

ProbablyMonsters

Technical Designer

Bellevue, WA

$77K - $108K/yr

ProbablyMonstersis looking for a Technical Designer . You will be responsible for implementing ... About ProbablyMonsters ProbablyMonsters is a AAA independent video game company that aims to change ...

ProbablyMonsters

Technical Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$77K - $108K/yr

Description THE ROLE: ProbablyMonsters is looking for a Technical Designer . You will be ... About ProbablyMonsters™ ProbablyMonsters is a AAA independent video game company that aims to ...

Templar Media

Game Writer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

About Us As an independent developer and publisher, Templar develops the games that we want, on our ... Collaborate with game designers to integrate narrative seamlessly with mechanics (player choices ...

Intrepid Studios

Gameplay Programmer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$136K - $151K/yr

Company Description Founded in 2015, Intrepid Studios is the independent developer and publisher of ... Work with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create compelling experiences * Break ...

Intrepid Studios

Gameplay Programmer

San Diego, CA

$136K - $151K/yr

Company Description Founded in 2015, Intrepid Studios is the independent developer and publisher of ... Work with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create compelling experiences * Break ...

Catface

Mobile Game Developer

Austin, TX · Remote

$25 - $30/hr

In this role, you will help bring a fully designed game concept to life for iOS and Android. This ... Ability to work collaboratively with a team and independently on project deliverables. * Excellent ...

Rockstar Games

Graphic Designer

New York, NY · On-site

Rockstar Games is seeking a passionate Graphic Designer. The successful candidate will be ... games, music, film, and contemporary culture in general is critical. * Independently take ...

Catface

Mobile Game Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

$25 - $30/hr

In this role, you will help bring a fully designed game concept to life for iOS and Android. This ... Ability to work collaboratively with a team and independently on project deliverables. * Excellent ...

AGS

Technical Sound Designer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

Responsibilities * Exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of ... Capable of presenting game content and demonstrations to key stakeholders Skills/Requirements

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsIndependent Game Designer Jobs

Independent Game Designer information

See salary details

$47K

$156K

How much do independent game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for independent game 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 are some common challenges independent game designers face when working on their own projects?

Independent game designers often encounter challenges such as limited resources, balancing creative vision with technical constraints, and managing multiple roles—from programming to marketing. Since most indie designers work in small teams or solo, time management and prioritizing development tasks become crucial. Additionally, gaining visibility in a competitive market requires effective networking and self-promotion. Despite these hurdles, indie designers enjoy creative freedom and opportunities to build a diverse portfolio.

What is the difference between Independent Game Designer vs Game Developer?

AspectIndependent Game DesignerGame Developer
CredentialsOften self-taught or with design-focused coursesTypically holds degrees in computer science, software engineering, or related fields
Work EnvironmentIndependently or in small teams, often freelance or indie studiosEmployed by game studios or companies, working on larger projects
Industry UsageDesigning game concepts, mechanics, and storylinesImplementing, coding, and building the game software

While both roles are integral to game creation, an Independent Game Designer primarily focuses on conceptualizing and designing game elements, often working solo or in small teams. In contrast, a Game Developer handles the technical implementation, coding, and development of the game. Understanding these differences helps aspiring professionals choose their career path in the gaming industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Independent Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Independent Game Designer, you need a strong grasp of game design principles, creativity, and proficiency in programming or digital art, often supported by a portfolio of completed projects. Familiarity with popular game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as knowledge of scripting languages and asset creation tools, is highly valuable. Excellent problem-solving, project management, and communication skills help you collaborate with others and manage all aspects of development. These capabilities are crucial for delivering engaging, polished games and successfully navigating the challenges of independent production.

What is an Independent Game Designer?

An Independent Game Designer, often called an indie game designer, is a professional who creates video games independently or with a small team, without the backing of a large game publisher. They are responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and often programming and marketing their games. Indie game designers have creative control over their projects, allowing for unique and innovative gameplay experiences. This role typically involves a broad range of tasks, including art, coding, and business management, to bring their game ideas to life.
More about Independent Game Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Independent Game Designer jobs? Cities with the most Independent Game Designer job openings:
What job categories do people searching Independent Game Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Independent Game Designer jobs are:
Independent Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Independent Game Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Gameplay Designer

Senior Gameplay Designer

Epic Games

Cary, NC • On-site

$94K - $101K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
DESIGN
What We Do
Put your design skills to work at a cutting-edge company that challenges the norm. From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is looking for a Gameplay Designer to help create compelling gameplay experiences across combat, progression, systems, moment-to-moment mechanics, and live gameplay content for our collaboration with LEGO. In this role, you'll partner closely with design leadership, art, engineering, animation, UX, audio, production, and QA to deliver high-quality features from concept through ship.
You will own and iterate on gameplay systems, mechanics, and content while balancing player experience, readability, accessibility, engagement, and long-term retention. The ideal candidate is highly collaborative, deeply player-focused, and comfortable working in a fast-paced cross-disciplinary environment where iteration and feedback are core to development.
In this role, you will
  • Work in close collaboration with project leads & directors to design, prototype, tune, and ship features and systems that support the engagement, gameplay, and creative vision of the project
  • Document and create clear, actionable design documents, and iterate on these features, working with a team of developers across multiple disciplines, and oversee their successful implementation from start to finish
  • Get hands-on creating the scripting, data, and content required by those features, diving into the engine, and leveraging other tools
  • Be responsible for soliciting and rapidly integrating feedback from across the team on your own initiative, ensuring we're continually delivering a fun and fresh experience to our players
  • Help establish and maintain design pipelines, best practices, and cross-discipline communication standards to scope, prioritize deliverables, and hit milestone goals
What we're looking for
  • 5+ years of experience shipping first or third-person shooter titles as a Gameplay Designer, working on itemization, gameplay systems, combat, ability systems, features, and content
  • Strong scripting and technical capabilities. Bonus points if you have experience with Unreal Engine and the Ability System
  • Experience working on live-service multiplayer environments
  • Demonstrated talent and a deep understanding of gameplay feel, player motivations or intent, gameplay mechanics, weapon/itemization use, and combat systems contributing to delivering the most emergent player experience
  • Ability to break down high-level creative direction into actionable gameplay features and production-ready tasks
  • Ability to work independently, take initiative, and react quickly to changing project needs, drive decisions, and then own the outcome and vision
  • Commitment to quality, rapid iteration, and delivering exceptional player experiences
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.

Apply