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Narrative Game Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Video Game Design Tutor

Miami, FL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Trenton, NJ ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Tuscaloosa, AL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Glen Cove, NY ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

Video Game Design Tutor

TX ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Miramar, FL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Akron, OH ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user interface design, game engines including Unity and Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset ...

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Narrative Game Design information

See salary details

$79.5K

$130.8K

$196K

How much do narrative game design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for narrative game design in the United States is $130,762.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,000.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is narrative game design?

Narrative game design is the art and science of crafting the story, characters, dialogue, and world-building elements within a video game. Narrative game designers work closely with writers, artists, and gameplay designers to integrate storytelling into interactive gameplay, ensuring that the story unfolds naturally as players progress. Their goal is to create immersive experiences where players not only witness but also influence the narrative through their choices and actions.

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

To thrive as a Narrative Game Designer, you need a strong background in creative writing, storytelling, and an understanding of game design principles, often supported by a degree in game design, literature, or a related field. Familiarity with interactive storytelling tools (such as Twine or Ink), scripting languages, and game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine is highly beneficial. Exceptional collaboration, adaptability, and communication skills help you integrate narrative seamlessly with gameplay and work effectively within multidisciplinary teams. These abilities are crucial for crafting engaging, immersive stories that enhance player experience and drive the game's emotional impact.

How does a narrative game designer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

Narrative Game Designers work closely with teams such as art, programming, audio, and gameplay design to ensure that the story is seamlessly integrated into the overall game experience. They often participate in cross-functional meetings to align narrative elements with gameplay mechanics and visual style. Effective communication and adaptability are crucial, as narrative elements may need to be revised based on feedback or technical constraints. This collaborative process helps create cohesive and immersive storytelling within the game.

What is the difference between Narrative Game Design vs Level Designer?

AspectNarrative Game DesignLevel Designer
Primary FocusStorytelling, plot development, character arcsLevel layout, environment design, gameplay flow
Skills RequiredWriting, storytelling, creative thinking3D modeling, spatial design, technical skills
Work EnvironmentGame studios, creative teamsGame studios, environment teams
Common Industry UsageStory-driven games, narrative-heavy titlesAction, adventure, puzzle games

While Narrative Game Designers focus on crafting compelling stories and characters, Level Designers concentrate on designing engaging environments and gameplay experiences. Both roles are essential in game development but serve different creative and technical purposes.

More about Narrative Game Design jobs

What cities are hiring for Narrative Game Design jobs?

Cities with the most Narrative Game Design job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Narrative Game Design jobs?

The most popular types of Narrative Game Design jobs are:

What states have the most Narrative Game Design jobs?

States with the most job openings for Narrative Game Design jobs include:

Infographic showing various Narrative Game Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,762 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Narrative Designer - Trading Card Game

Fanatics Collectibles

Seattle, WA โ€ข On-site

$176K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

About the Company

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company operating at the intersection of collectibles, culture, and technology. Backed by world-class investors, operators, and sports & entertainment partners, we are building the global leader in next-generation collectibles. As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over 900 sports properties and engages more than 81 million fans. Together, we are reimagining every part of the collectibles experience for fans, partners, and creators.

Role Overview

Fanatics Collectibles is building the future of trading card games.

The Fanatics TCG studio is focused on creating original worlds that are designed to live for decades - expressed through gameplay, art, story, and collectible objects. Our ambition is to build franchises that are not only widely played, but deeply felt.

We are seeking aย Narrative Designer to help shape the worlds, characters, and stories that define our games.

This is not a role focused solely on writing text. It is a role aboutย building worlds - establishing the underlying logic, tone, and emotional core of new universes, and ensuring that every part of the player experience reflects that foundation.

You will work closely with Creative, Game Design, and Art to develop narrative systems that live inside the cards themselves - where mechanics, visuals, and story reinforce one another.

The ideal candidate brings strong storytelling instincts, a systems mindset, and a passion for creating worlds that players want to return to again and again.

What You'll Do

Build Worlds That Can Sustain a Franchise

  • Develop theย foundational lore, cosmology, and narrative structureย of new TCG worlds.ย 
  • Define factions, cultures, characters, and conflicts that can evolve over many sets and years.ย 
  • Help establish theย tone, themes, and emotional identityย of each franchise.ย 

Integrate Story with Game and Product

  • Partner with Game Design to ensure thatย mechanics and narrative reinforce each other.ย 
  • Collaborate with Art and Creative teams to align onย visual storytelling and world cohesion.ย 
  • Contribute to the development ofย set themes, narrative arcs, and character moments.ย 

Design Narrative Systems for Cards

  • Develop approaches for how story is expressed throughย card names, flavor text, mechanics, and set structure.ย 
  • Ensure that narrative isย discoverable through play and collection, not just external content.ย 
  • Help define how narrative evolves across releases and expansions.ย 

Create and Support Narrative Content

  • Writeย flavor text, card names, and supporting narrative content.ย 
  • Contribute to world guides, story bibles, and internal documentation.ย 
  • Support external storytelling efforts (e.g., web content, marketing beats, potential media extensions).ย 

Collaborate Across the Studio

  • Work closely with Creative, Design, Product, and Marketing teams to ensure narrative consistency.ย 
  • Participate in early ideation, helping shape concepts before they become fully defined.ย 
  • Provide feedback that elevates theย coherence and emotional impactย of the world.ย 

What You Bring

  • 3+ years of experienceย in narrative design, writing, or worldbuilding for games, publishing, or related media.ย 
  • Strong ability to developย original worlds, characters, and narrative frameworks.ย 
  • Experience working inย collaborative, cross-functional environments.ย 
  • Ability to balanceย creative vision with system constraints.ย 
  • Excellent writing skills across bothย short-form (e.g., flavor text)ย andย long-form (e.g., lore, story guides).ย 
  • Passion forย fantasy, sci-fi, and worldbuilding-driven storytelling.ย 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working onย trading card games, tabletop games, or live service games.ย 
  • Background inย fantasy or sci-fi writing.ย 
  • Familiarity with how narrative can be expressed throughย game systems and mechanics.ย 
  • Experience contributing toย original IP or franchise development.ย 

Why Join Fanatics TCG

Fanatics Collectibles is building the future of fandom.

The Fanatics TCG studio is a rare opportunity to create entirely new worlds - worlds that will be expressed through millions of cards, shared across global communities, and evolved over many years.

As a Narrative Designer, you will help define the stories that live inside those worlds - shaping the characters, conflicts, and moments that players and collectors connect with.

If you're excited about building worlds and telling stories that unfold one card at a time, we'd love to hear from you.

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don't fall victim to fraud.ย  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants.ย Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com).ย  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website atย www.fanaticsinc.com/careers