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Narrative Game Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TapBlaze

Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Design Gameplay Driven Stories * Pitch original Chapter concepts, seasonal events, and long term ... Write In Game Narrative * Write dialogue for customers, recurring characters, and major story ...

TapBlaze

Narrative Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Design Gameplay Driven Stories * Pitch original Chapter concepts, seasonal events, and long term ... Write In Game Narrative * Write dialogue for customers, recurring characters, and major story ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Technical Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Narrative Gameplay Sequences * Encounter Design #LI-SP3 At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

Concept, prototype, and iterate on new gameplay mechanics for Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Good Coffee, Great Coffee with an emphasis on casual, cozy, and narrative-driven experiences. * Design ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

Concept, prototype, and iterate on new gameplay mechanics for Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Good Coffee, Great Coffee with an emphasis on casual, cozy, and narrative-driven experiences. * Design ...

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Narrative Game Design information

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.

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

The most popular types of Narrative Game Design jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Narrative Game Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Narrative Game Design job openings:

Narrative Game Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Narrative Game Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution.

Associate Game Designer, Technical

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.  Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

This is a hybrid / onsite position.  

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

In this role you'll be responsible for prototyping gameplay using our in-house tools and scripting language, which could range from combat encounters to narrative sequences to player mechanics and enemy behaviors. Then working across departments to bring your prototypes into production and polish your work to the high level of quality Naughty Dog is known for.  We're looking for self-motivated, proactive designers who enjoy creating unique experiences and can combine their technical and creative skills while iterating rapidly.

 What you will do 

  • Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, and AI behaviors
  • Collaborating with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicating with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the areas you're owning
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

 What skills will you use

  • Significant programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree preferred)
  • Knowledge of 3D math
  • Experience with C++, C#, Lua, or other scripting language
  • Broad understanding of gaming landscape
  • Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills
  • Willingness to take design direction when offered, brainstorm, iterate and come up with fun and creative solutions
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

 Bonus Skills

  • Experience developing third-person action games
  • Experience with 3D level editors
  • Understanding of narrative principles, and conveying emotion through gameplay
  • Experience with the following areas of design
    • Behavior Trees
    • Melee
    • Combat Systems
    • Character animation
    • Enemy & boss design

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview

#LI-SP3

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