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Tabletop Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Goliath

WI · On-site

$65 - $90/hr

Position Summary We are seeking a highly creative, resourceful, and organized Game Designer to invent and develop innovative tabletop games across a wide range of categories, including preschool ...

Goliath

Tabletop Game Designer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$176K/yr

Position Summary We are seeking a highly creative, resourceful, and organized Game Designer to invent and develop innovative tabletop games across a wide range of categories, including preschool ...

Goliath

Tabletop Game Designer

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$65 - $90/hr

Position Summary We are seeking a highly creative, resourceful, and organized Game Designer to invent and develop innovative tabletop games across a wide range of categories, including preschool ...

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Tabletop information

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$24

$36

$68

How much do tabletop jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for tabletop in the United States is $36.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.85 and $39.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a tabletop?

Tabletop jobs refer to roles involved in the creation, production, and playtesting of tabletop games such as board games, card games, and role-playing games. These jobs can include game designers, illustrators, writers, playtesters, editors, and marketing professionals. People in tabletop jobs work to develop game mechanics, create engaging narratives, produce artwork, and bring games to market. Opportunities exist both at established game publishers and as independent creators. The industry values creativity, collaboration, and a passion for games.

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

To thrive as a Tabletop Game Designer, you need a deep understanding of game mechanics, creative storytelling, and strong mathematical or logical reasoning, often supported by a background in game design or related fields. Familiarity with design software (like Adobe Creative Suite), prototyping tools, and playtesting platforms is typical, and knowledge of publishing processes or crowdfunding can be beneficial. Strong collaboration, adaptability, and communication skills help designers work effectively with artists, writers, and playtesters. These competencies ensure engaging, balanced games that appeal to target audiences and succeed in a competitive market.

What are common challenges faced by tabletop game designers, and how can they be addressed?

Tabletop Game Designers often encounter challenges such as balancing game mechanics, playtesting for fairness, and ensuring engaging player interaction. Balancing mechanics requires frequent iteration and feedback from diverse playtest groups to spot unintended advantages or strategies. Collaboration with illustrators, writers, and manufacturers is key to addressing component limitations and consistent theme integration. Staying open to constructive criticism and maintaining clear communication within the team helps streamline the development process and produce a more polished final product.

What is the difference between Tabletop vs Board Game Designer?

AspectTabletopBoard Game Designer
CredentialsOften requires knowledge of game mechanics, creativity, and sometimes design certificationsRequires similar skills, often with a focus on game mechanics, storytelling, and prototyping
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, freelance, or remote workDesign studios, freelance, or remote work
Industry UsageUsed broadly for any physical game design involving tabletop gameplaySpecifically refers to designing physical or digital board games
Search & Comparison IntentCommonly compared to board game designer due to overlapping rolesOften compared with tabletop designer as a related role

Both roles involve designing physical or digital games played on a table, with significant overlap in skills and work environment. 'Tabletop' is a broader term that can include various types of physical games, while 'Board Game Designer' specifically focuses on designing board games. Understanding these nuances helps clarify job expectations and industry terminology.

More about Tabletop jobs

What cities are hiring for Tabletop jobs?

Cities with the most Tabletop job openings:

What states have the most Tabletop jobs?

States with the most job openings for Tabletop jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Tabletop jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Tabletop jobs are:

Tabletop jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tabletop job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,799 per year, or $36.4 per hour.

Tabletop Game Designer

Goliath

WI • On-site

$65 - $90/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Goliath is an international manufacturer and distributor of toys and games, operating in 15 countries and reaching over 100 countries worldwide. At the heart of our business is a belief in great products and the magic of innovation. Our mission is to bring fun to every household, which we achieve through teamwork and clever collaboration.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly creative, resourceful, and organized Game Designer to invent and develop innovative tabletop games across a wide range of categories, including preschool, kids, family, party, crime and mystery, light strategy, and licensed games.

The Game Designer will turn early-stage ideas into engaging, intuitive, and commercially viable games. This person will own concepts through iterative development—creating prototypes, testing gameplay, refining mechanics, writing rules, and collaborating with internal teams and external creative partners.

The ideal candidate combines imaginative thinking with disciplined execution. They can take a loose idea and transform it into a compelling game experience with minimal supervision, while working quickly, managing multiple projects, and responding to changing priorities and stakeholder feedback.

Key Responsibilities
  • Invent and develop original games across multiple categories using ideas from internal teams, inventors, licensors, external partners, consumer insights, and emerging trends.
  • Turn early-stage ideas into engaging, accessible, and commercially viable prototypes.
  • Manage multiple projects from concept through weekly iteration, documentation, final development, and production handoff.
  • Plan and facilitate playtesting with internal teams and target consumers, translating feedback and observed behavior into actionable improvements.
  • Write clear, engaging, audience-appropriate instructions and develop instruction-manual layouts informed by consumer testing.
  • Present concepts, prototypes, playtest findings, and recommendations; incorporate stakeholder feedback while protecting the integrity of the game experience.
  • Develop gameplay talking points and confidently demonstrate games for internal teams, licensors, and other partners.
  • Plan and lead structured team brainstorms, providing creative direction and documentation to move the strongest ideas into development.
  • Research social, cultural, entertainment, toy, and gaming trends; evaluate current, historical, and competitive games to identify innovations and market opportunities.
  • Attend trade shows, conventions, inventor events, and industry gatherings to find inspiration, research products, and identify potential inventors and partners.
  • Maintain a strong working knowledge of current and historical board games, gameplay mechanics, formats, materials, components, and construction innovations.
Professional experience in board game development, game design, product development, toy development, or a closely related creative field.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop a game from an early-stage idea through prototyping, playtesting, iteration, and final documentation.
  • Strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, player psychology, pacing, balance, accessibility, and age-appropriate design.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain gameplay clearly and concisely.
  • Experience planning, conducting, and documenting structured playtests.
  • Ability to turn qualitative consumer observations into specific, actionable improvements.
  • Excellent organizational and project-management abilities, including the capacity to manage several projects with shifting timelines and priorities.
  • Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and move projects forward with minimal supervision.
  • Comfortable giving, receiving, evaluating, and incorporating constructive feedback.
  • A portfolio of published games, prototypes, instructions, or other relevant game-development work.
  • 401(k) with company matching
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance to keep you covered
  • Life insurance
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts to manage your healthcare costs
  • Paid time off to recharge when you need it
  • Join a fun, dynamic and creative industry—working with toys and games brings its own rewards
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