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Narrative Game Writer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

... narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II ... Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes * Drive ...

Ravensburger

Narrative Designer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$85 - $105/hr

... a trading card game that celebrates Disney intellectual property, Create written materials ... Demonstrate narrative and TCG expertise: Apply knowledge of trading card games and card mechanics ...

Electronic Arts

Writer - American Football

Orlando, FL · On-site

$50 - $80/hr

Any experience on game development teams in narrative design, writing and/or other aspects of design is desired, but not required. * Experience as a collaborative team player who understands good ...

Fanatics Collectibles

Game Designer - TCG

Seattle, WA

$176K/yr

Write clear, precise rules text and internal design documentation for your areas of ownership ... Collaborate with narrative design, creative, and product teams to ensure mechanics are well ...

Hasbro

Associate Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA

This includes mechanical and narrative design, play innovations, playtests, product exploration ... You'll write compelling, fun game content under the leadership of senior designers. Location & Work ...

Spin Master

Game Developer

New York, NY · On-site

$38 - $40/hr

Collaborate with designers to translate narrative horror elements into elegant analog rules that ... Exceptional technical writing skills with a focus on logic, syntax, and clarity for crafting ...

SpiderWare

Video Game QA Tester

From there the path is wide open: QA and Support people here have become quest designers, narrative writers, game designers, and heads of department, some within six months. If you're passionate and ...

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Narrative Game Writer information

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How much do narrative game writer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for narrative game writer in the United States is $24.29, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.51 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a narrative game writer?

A Narrative Game Writer is responsible for crafting the story, dialogue, and overall narrative experience in a video game. They develop characters, write scripts, and work closely with designers to ensure the story integrates seamlessly with gameplay. Their role often involves creating branching narratives, lore, and in-game text to enhance player immersion. Collaboration with artists, voice actors, and developers is essential to bring the game’s story to life.

What does a narrative game writer do?

A typical workday for a Narrative Game Writer involves creating dialogue, constructing story arcs, and coordinating with game designers, artists, and programmers to ensure the narrative integrates smoothly with gameplay. Writers often participate in team meetings, review scripts, provide feedback, and revise content based on playtesting results and creative direction. The role is highly collaborative, requiring ongoing communication and iteration as the game's vision evolves. Additionally, Narrative Game Writers may spend time researching themes, developing character backstories, and supporting marketing or localization efforts as needed. This dynamic environment fosters continual learning and creative problem-solving, making every day unique.

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

To thrive as a Narrative Game Writer, you need strong storytelling abilities, a solid grasp of narrative structure, and experience with game development workflows, often supported by a degree in creative writing, literature, or a related field. Proficiency with game engines (such as Unity or Unreal), interactive scriptwriting tools (like Twine or Ink), and documentation software is commonly required. Collaboration, creativity, adaptability, and excellent communication skills help writers align their work with the vision of designers, artists, and developers. These skills are crucial for crafting engaging, immersive stories that enhance gameplay and resonate with players.

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Narrative Game Writer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Narrative Game Writer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,519 per year, or $24.3 per hour.

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Ability to work onsite from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is required.
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.
What you will do:
  • Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes
  • Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors
  • Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable
  • Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you're owning
  • Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes
  • Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments
  • Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team

What skills you will use:
  • 5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games
  • At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred
  • Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required
  • Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)
  • Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the "let's try it" mentality
  • Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching
  • Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat
  • A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills

The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.
$145,100-$181,400 USD
Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
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