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Senior Video Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Senior Game Designer to work with our design team to conceptualize and build Dungeons & Dragons products. In this role, you'll help craft the future of D&D by designing and writing ...

As a senior team member, this role is additionally expected to lead workstreams, mentor other designers, and contribute to discipline initiatives. The Video Design team is responsible for video and ...

As a senior team member, this role is additionally expected to lead workstreams, mentor other designers, and contribute to discipline initiatives. The Video Design team is responsible for video and ...

The Senior Video Editor combines advanced editorial craft with strong graphic and motion ... designers, copywriters and marketers to translate briefs and scripts into compelling visual ...

The Senior Video Editor combines advanced editorial craft with strong graphic and motion ... Collaborate with producers, designers, copywriters and marketers to translate briefs and scripts ...

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Senior Video Game Designer information

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$79.5K

$130.8K

$196K

How much do senior video game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior video game designer 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Video Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Video Game Designer, you need advanced game design experience, a strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, and a portfolio demonstrating successful shipped titles, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, scripting languages, and project management systems is essential. Creative problem-solving, leadership, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and guiding junior designers. These skills ensure the creation of engaging game experiences, efficient development processes, and the ability to lead projects from concept to completion.

What does a Senior Video Game Designer do?

A Senior Video Game Designer is responsible for leading the creative and design aspects of video game development. They work closely with other designers, programmers, artists, and producers to conceptualize gameplay mechanics, develop storylines, and ensure the overall vision of the game is realized. Senior designers often mentor junior team members, oversee the design process, and help solve complex design challenges. Their experience allows them to make critical decisions that shape the user experience and contribute to the game's success.

How to become a senior game designer?

To become a senior game designer, professionals typically need several years of experience in game design, a strong portfolio demonstrating their work, and proficiency with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Developing skills in storytelling, level design, and collaboration, along with a deep understanding of game mechanics and player engagement, is essential for advancement to senior roles.

What is the highest salary for a video game designer?

Senior video game designers can earn salaries exceeding $120,000 annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and work at major studios or in high-cost regions. Top-tier professionals with strong portfolios and leadership roles may earn even higher compensation, including bonuses and profit sharing.

What are the 3 C's of game design?

The 3 C's of game design are Character, Conflict, and Context. These elements help create engaging and meaningful gameplay by developing relatable characters, compelling challenges, and a coherent world. A senior video game designer focuses on balancing these aspects to ensure player immersion and satisfaction.

How much do senior game designer directors make?

Senior game designers with leadership responsibilities, such as director roles, typically earn between $90,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. These roles often require strong project management skills and proficiency with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine.

How does a Senior Video Game Designer typically collaborate with other departments during the development process?

As a Senior Video Game Designer, you’ll frequently work cross-functionally with artists, programmers, audio engineers, and producers to bring game concepts to life. You'll translate high-level ideas into actionable tasks, provide detailed design documentation, and participate in regular meetings to ensure alignment across departments. Effective communication and the ability to incorporate feedback from various teams are essential, as you’ll often need to balance creative vision with technical and production constraints.
What cities are hiring for Senior Video Game Designer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Video Game Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Video Game Designer jobs? The most popular types of Video Game Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Video Game Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Video Game Designer jobs include:
Game Designer III (Card Rules) - Riftbound

Game Designer III (Card Rules) - Riftbound

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA

$167K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

As a Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity help craft in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work with every tool at hand to create and iterate player-focused designs that will delight millions around the world.

As a Senior Game Designer on Riftbound, you'll report to a Game Design Manager and work directly with other designers. You will design and improve the gameplay experience through the lens of game rules and their interactions with content: cards. Primary among your responsibilities will be working with set designers to build, improve, and execute on new mechanics, templates, and rules, and you will also be expected to contribute to card design across many products, and support other efforts related to the Riftbound game experience.

Responsibilities:
  • Understand the relevant audiences for the game, and from this, calibrate your design expertise to reflect appropriate taste for these audiences
  • Use data and sense-making to identify opportunities to improve the health of the game through cards
  • Articulate and consider a scope and depth of possible solutions, including possible effects, and collaboratively reach the best solution
  • Evaluate and improve rules across the game's design and execution, especially understanding the multiple ways the game will be played by players
  • Improve existing design frameworks, our approaches to design, and create new ones
  • Openly share work and seek feedback from other developers, while combine co-worker and player feedback to calibrate design direction
  • Provide mentorship to more junior members of the design team
Required Qualifications:
  • 4+ years experience as a game designer and/or tabletop game rules manager
  • Demonstrated experience working on rules for tabletop games
  • Broad mechanics and content design ability
Desired Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of CCGs and their features
  • Experience playing or judging in CCGs
  • Experience working with or playing PvP strategy games
  • Experience developing a competitive or multiplayer game

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!

Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.

It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security. 


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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

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