Game Designer

Company Description

Studio Nuwa is a newly founded indie studio that believes games should be fun, period. We believe in celebrating that joy as developers and as players, and embed that deeply in our studio's DNA.

As a newly founded studio, we value experimentation and fast iteration but not at the expense of our team's wellbeing. We strive to create incredible and immersive virtual worlds but we also prioritize making development sustainable and as fun as the worlds we create. If this excites you, we welcome you to join our team!

Role Overview

We are currently working on a stylized survival-craft action adventure game set in a unique, dark fantasy universe.

As our Gameplay Designer, you will take ownership of the game's survival, crafting, and environmental interaction systems from concept to implementation. You'll work closely with our engineering and art team to design mechanics that challenge players to survive in dynamic, hostile environments. Development is currently in early stages and our team is small, so this will be an opportunity for a lot of creative freedom and space to experiment. You can work either on-site, in our office in Pasadena, CA – or remotely.

Responsibilities:

• Design & Own Survival Systems: Architect and implement core survival mechanics and environmental hazards unique to each biome that are challenging but interactive and fun.
• Crafting & Progression: Design crafting and crafting-adjacent progression paths that reward exploration and experimentation.
• Balance & Tuning: Balance resource economy, difficulty curves, and risk-reward scenarios to maintain tension and engagement throughout the game.
• Prototype & Iterate: Rapidly prototype new mechanics using Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprint scripting) to prove or disprove design concepts.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with programmers, artists, and level designers to ensure seamless integration of your systems.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of professional experience in game design within the gaming industry.
• Strong understanding of the foundational elements of the survival genre—crafting, resource management, base-building, environmental threats, and emergent gameplay.
• Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in level design, system documentation, and functional prototyping.
• Ability to design interconnected systems and anticipate how changes in one area impact others.
• Ability to anticipate player expectations and design intuitive, rewarding experiences for both new and experienced players.

Nice to have:

• Enjoy experimenting and prototyping new mechanics and systems.
• Experience working on co-op survival craft or action adventure games.
• Experience prototyping in Unreal Engine 5.
• Technical design experience — ability to script, implement, or prototype beyond paper design.
• Curiosity, open-mindedness, and willingness to explore different approaches.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary.
• Share in profits after the game’s release.
• Flexible working hours (core hours 11am - 3pm PST)
• Remote work options: partially, or fully remote.
• Modern office located in Pasadena, CA

Contract:

• Role Type: 3 Month contract initially with opportunity to convert to Full Time.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.