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Narrative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TapBlaze

Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

At TapBlaze, we're looking for a Narrative Designer to help shape the future of Good Pizza, Great Pizza , Good Coffee, Great Coffee , and future titles in the Good, Great universe. This role is about ...

TapBlaze

Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

At TapBlaze, we're looking for a Narrative Designer to help shape the future of Good Pizza, Great Pizza , Good Coffee, Great Coffee , and future titles in the Good, Great universe. This role is about ...

Jam City

Narrative Designer

San Francisco, CA

$55K - $78K/yr

We are looking for an experienced Narrative Designer to bring their expert writing and game design skills to our hit mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. You'll have the opportunity to ...

Jam City

Narrative Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$55K - $78K/yr

We are looking for an experienced Narrative Designer to bring their expert writing and game design skills to our hit mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. You'll have the opportunity to ...

Jam City

Narrative Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$55K - $78K/yr

We are looking for an experienced Narrative Designer to bring their expert writing and game design skills to our hit mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. You'll have the opportunity to ...

Lightspeed Studios

Senior Mission Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$93.10 - $216.70/hr

Collaborate with other game development teams--game designers, narrative designers, artists, and programmers--to ensure that the mission design aligns with the game's overall vision and mechanics.

Naughty Dog

Senior Technical Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$114K - $122K/yr

Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects ... Working with minimal supervision while keeping lead designers and directors well-informed. What ...

Weareyourstudio

Senior Graphic Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$110 - $120/hr

This is a role for a designer with strong editorial instincts and exceptional attention to detail ... Distil large volumes of information into clear, well-organised decks with a strong narrative arc ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

From early concept exploration to final design execution, you will craft compelling, expressive designs that resonate with both the narrative and audience. Working closely with directors, art leads ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

From early concept exploration to final design execution, you will craft compelling, expressive designs that resonate with both the narrative and audience. Working closely with directors, art leads ...

YZ Productions

Production Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... Designer to join the team behind an award-winning digital entertainment brand with more than 50 ... Our content is a mix of family-friendly challenges, competitions, transformations, and narrative ...

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Naughty Dog

Senior Technical Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects ... Working with minimal supervision while keeping lead designers and directors well-informed. What ...

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Narrative Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for narrative designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a narrative designer?

A Narrative Designer is responsible for shaping the story, dialogue, and overall storytelling experience in a game. They collaborate with writers, game designers, and other developers to ensure that narrative elements integrate seamlessly with gameplay. Unlike traditional writers, they focus on how story interacts with mechanics, level design, and player choices. Their work involves character development, world-building, and ensuring consistency in the game's narrative structure.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a narrative designer?

To thrive as a Narrative Designer, you need a strong background in creative writing, storytelling, and an understanding of narrative techniques, often supported by a degree in writing, game design, or a related field. Familiarity with interactive scripting tools, branching dialogue systems, and game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine is typically required. Collaboration, adaptability, and excellent communication skills are vital for working with multidisciplinary teams and incorporating feedback. These skills ensure the creation of compelling, player-centric narratives and smooth integration of story elements within interactive media.

What are common collaborative responsibilities for a narrative designer within a game development team?

Narrative Designers regularly work alongside game designers, artists, and programmers to ensure that story elements align with gameplay mechanics and visual storytelling. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, review narrative implementation in-game, and revise scripts based on team feedback. Effective cross-department collaboration is key, as the narrative must support and enhance the overall player experience while fitting technical and design limitations. This collaborative environment requires strong communication and a willingness to iterate on ideas based on input from various team members.

How much are narrative designers paid?

Narrative designers typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Senior or specialized narrative designers with industry experience can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000. Compensation may also include benefits such as bonuses, royalties, or profit sharing, especially in larger studios or successful projects.

How to get into narrative designer?

To become a narrative designer, develop strong storytelling skills, a background in writing or game design, and proficiency with tools like Twine or Ink. Building a portfolio of writing samples and gaining experience through internships or indie projects can also help entry into the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Narrative Designer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Narrative Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Narrative Designer job openings:

Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Narrative Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Narrative Designer

TapBlaze

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Help Shape the Future of the Good, Great Universe
Great games are remembered because of the worlds they create and the characters players never forget. At TapBlaze, we're looking for a Narrative Designer to help shape the future of Good Pizza, Great Pizza, Good Coffee, Great Coffee, and future titles in the Good, Great universe.
This role is about more than writing dialogue. You'll help imagine what comes next: creating new Chapters, memorable characters, compelling gameplay driven stories, and the lore that brings our worlds to life. Working closely with designers, artists, engineers, QA, and production, you'll transform ideas into experiences millions of players will enjoy around the world.
Our games run on warmth and restraint. Small daily emotional beats, not melodrama. We believe beauty is in the details, and we're looking for someone who believes the same. If you're constantly asking "What if?", finding stories in everyday life, and love building worlds players want to revisit, we'd love to meet you.
This is a full time, fully onsite position based in Los Angeles, California. We work together in person, five days a week. Remote and hybrid work are not available for this role.
About TapBlaze
TapBlaze is an independent game studio dedicated to creating games players will remember for decades. Since 2012, our games have been downloaded more than 300 million times worldwide. Every day, millions of players step into the worlds we've created. We don't chase trends. We build timeless experiences grounded in warmth, charm, memorable characters, and gameplay first storytelling.
As an independent studio, everyone has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Great ideas can come from anyone.
Our values guide every decision we make: Ambitious, Disciplined, Ownership-minded, Results oriented. Extra-ordinary.
What You'll Create
Expand the Good, Great Universe
  • Shape the future of the Good, Great universe through new Chapters, recurring characters, locations, organizations, traditions, and lore.
  • Create memorable characters with distinct personalities, motivations, and relationships.
  • Expand our universe while preserving the charm and consistency players love.

Design Gameplay Driven Stories
  • Pitch original Chapter concepts, seasonal events, and long term story arcs.
  • Design stories that players experience through gameplay, not passive exposition.
  • Collaborate with game designers so narrative and gameplay reinforce one another.
  • Create moments that connect emotionally through the small and the everyday: a regular who finally opens up, a two line exchange that lands.

Write In Game Narrative
  • Write dialogue for customers, recurring characters, and major story moments, keeping each character's voice unmistakable within tight line and character limits.
  • Create tutorials, UI copy, achievements, item descriptions, flavor text, and seasonal event content.
  • Write concise, memorable dialogue tailored for mobile gameplay.
  • Produce narrative documentation that supports localization across multiple languages.

Collaborate Across the Studio
  • Partner with designers, artists, engineers, QA, production, and community support.
  • Contribute creative ideas through brainstorming, playtesting, and iteration.
  • Maintain character bibles, worldbuilding documentation, timelines, and narrative style guides.

You're a Great Fit If...
You're more than a writer. You think like a designer. You naturally ask questions like:
  • What should happen in the next Chapter?
  • How can gameplay tell a better story?
  • What makes a character unforgettable?
  • How can we make this world feel more alive?

You enjoy collaboration, embrace feedback, and care deeply about creating experiences players will remember long after they finish playing.
What You'll Bring
Required
  • Based in the Los Angeles area, or relocating before your start date. This role is onsite five days per week and that is not flexible.
  • 3+ years of professional experience as a Narrative Designer, Narrative Writer, Game Writer, or similar narrative focused role in the video game industry, with at least one shipped title.
  • Proven experience creating engaging dialogue, memorable characters, worldbuilding, and gameplay driven storytelling.
  • Strong instincts for warmth and restraint. You know how to make a short exchange carry emotional weight without melodrama.
  • Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary game development teams.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing narrative design, dialogue writing, worldbuilding, character creation, and interactive storytelling.

Preferred
  • Experience developing narrative for live service games or seasonal events.
  • Experience writing for mobile free to play games.
  • Familiarity with Yarn Spinner or similar narrative tools.
  • Experience writing for localization and multilingual audiences.
  • Familiarity with Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Good Coffee, Great Coffee.

Physical Requirements
  • Los Angeles, CA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work;
  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and computer.

Compensation
The range for this role is $70,000 to $100,000 depending on experience.
Commitment to Diversity
As an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the needs of a multigenerational and multicultural workforce, TAPBLAZE recognizes that a diverse staff, reflective of our community, is integral to a successful and ethical business. We hire local talent at all levels regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability, and actively foster inclusion in all forms, both within our company and across interactions with vendors and partners.
Should you have any questions or encounter any fraudulent requests/emails/websites, please immediately contact careers@tapblaze.com. Our job applicant privacy policies are available here: California Privacy Notice

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