Game Designer Jobs in California
Game Designer jobs in California are among the most active in the world, concentrated in the video game studios, interactive entertainment companies, and mobile gaming firms anchored in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, with openings at every level from junior designer to creative director. Established employers like Electronic Arts, Riot Games, and Blizzard Entertainment maintain major California studios and hire continuously across design disciplines including level design, narrative design, and systems design. Demand is especially strong for designers with experience in live-service games, UX-driven mobile titles, and VR or AR development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Game Designer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 14+ Game Designer jobs
Team Name:
StarCraftJob Title:
Game Designer, Player Systems - StarCraft | Irvine, CARequisition ID:
R028142Job Description:
Blizzard Entertainment is assembling a team to build the next chapter of StarCraft, returning to a universe forged in interstellar war. This mission offers something new: crafting an original story-driven, open-world shooter while honoring the legacy of one of Blizzard's most beloved games.
We are here to reignite this universe alongside you. We are here to make StarCraft, and it's about damn time.
We are seeking a Game Designer to shape the features and systems that will drive combat, moment-to-moment player experiences, and progression in this new game for Blizzard. In this role, you will design and refine player movement, weapons, abilities, and how they interact with progression systems that create long-term engagement. You have demonstrable knowledge and/or experience in player-focused gameplay design systems: movement, combat, power fantasy, progression, and systems. You are able to look at problems from the perspectives of all types of players-from the most casual to the most advanced-and help build features and designs that make Blizzard games enjoyable by all.
You are the type of designer who is driven by accessibility and simplicity in what you create, and you excel at working alongside other disciplines to create exhilarating moment-to-moment gameplay experiences for players. You are comfortable with iterative, feedback-driven workflow. You have a creative drive that seeks and implements input from the team and players. You can quickly adapt to changes in scope and priority and think about the user experience in everything you do.
Most importantly, you are a strong communicator, and you want to be a part of a focused, seasoned team that openly shares knowledge and experience.
This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.
Requirements
5+ years of experience as a designer with a focus on gameplay.
Demonstrable knowledge of moment-to-moment gameplay experiences: movement, weapons, abilities, combat, and how they come together for high-quality AAA gameplay loops.
Understanding of progression systems that provide players with hundreds of hours of systematically driven content.
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills.
Strong problem-solving skills.
Excellent grasp of standard mathematics, statistics, and probability as pertains to game design and game balance.
Strong technical skills with experience with visual scripting languages and/or industry-standard toolsets (Unity, Unreal, etc.)
Expertise with MS Office, specifically Excel.
Pluses
Prior experience working on core moment-to-moment gameplay features or systems.
Hands-on experience designing a feature or system from idea to completion.
Analytical prowess at understanding how to make games “feel good” to players.
Strong math skills.
Experience working closely with UI/UX.
Experience developing and/or playing games within the shooter genre.
Prior work experience or education in other (non-design) disciplines: art, programming, production, or audio.
Experience designing systems that run equally well on console and PC.
Required Application Materials
Resume
Portfolio demonstrating relevant design work, or shipped game contributions.
Your Platform
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
Our World
Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!
Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!
The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.
We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
- 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
- If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.
Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $30.47 - $56.35 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.Team Name:
StarCraftJob Title:
Game Designer, Player Systems - StarCraft | Irvine, CARequisition ID:
R028142Job Description:
Blizzard Entertainment is assembling a team to build the next chapter of StarCraft, returning to a universe forged in interstellar war. This mission offers something new: crafting an original story-driven, open-world shooter while honoring the legacy of one of Blizzard's most beloved games.
We are here to reignite this universe alongside you. We are here to make StarCraft, and it's about damn time.
We are seeking a Game Designer to shape the features and systems that will drive combat, moment-to-moment player experiences, and progression in this new game for Blizzard. In this role, you will design and refine player movement, weapons, abilities, and how they interact with progression systems that create long-term engagement. You have demonstrable knowledge and/or experience in player-focused gameplay design systems: movement, combat, power fantasy, progression, and systems. You are able to look at problems from the perspectives of all types of players-from the most casual to the most advanced-and help build features and designs that make Blizzard games enjoyable by all.
You are the type of designer who is driven by accessibility and simplicity in what you create, and you excel at working alongside other disciplines to create exhilarating moment-to-moment gameplay experiences for players. You are comfortable with iterative, feedback-driven workflow. You have a creative drive that seeks and implements input from the team and players. You can quickly adapt to changes in scope and priority and think about the user experience in everything you do.
Most importantly, you are a strong communicator, and you want to be a part of a focused, seasoned team that openly shares knowledge and experience.
This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.
Requirements
5+ years of experience as a designer with a focus on gameplay.
Demonstrable knowledge of moment-to-moment gameplay experiences: movement, weapons, abilities, combat, and how they come together for high-quality AAA gameplay loops.
Understanding of progression systems that provide players with hundreds of hours of systematically driven content.
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills.
Strong problem-solving skills.
Excellent grasp of standard mathematics, statistics, and probability as pertains to game design and game balance.
Strong technical skills with experience with visual scripting languages and/or industry-standard toolsets (Unity, Unreal, etc.)
Expertise with MS Office, specifically Excel.
Pluses
Prior experience working on core moment-to-moment gameplay features or systems.
Hands-on experience designing a feature or system from idea to completion.
Analytical prowess at understanding how to make games “feel good” to players.
Strong math skills.
Experience working closely with UI/UX.
Experience developing and/or playing games within the shooter genre.
Prior work experience or education in other (non-design) disciplines: art, programming, production, or audio.
Experience designing systems that run equally well on console and PC.
Required Application Materials
Resume
Portfolio demonstrating relevant design work, or shipped game contributions.
Your Platform
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
Our World
Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!
Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!
The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.
We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
- Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
- 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
- Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
- Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
- If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.
Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $30.47 - $56.35 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.See All 14 Game Designer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Game Designer JobsGame Designer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Game Designer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Gaming & Esports
- Media & Entertainment
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in game designer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a closely related field
- Shipped portfolio demonstrating level, systems, or narrative design work
- Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or proprietary editors
- Experience collaborating cross-functionally with engineers, artists, and producers
- Strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, player psychology, and live-service design loops
- Familiarity with player data analysis and iterative design informed by playtesting feedback
Game Designer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a game designer in California?
Game design has no state-issued license in California, so the path centers on education and a demonstrated body of work. Most California studios expect a bachelor's degree in game design, interactive media, or computer science from programs offered at schools like USC, UCI, or Cogswell College. Building a polished portfolio of playable prototypes or shipped titles is the single most important step, and many designers enter the field through QA testing or associate producer roles at California studios before transitioning into design.
How much do game designers make in California?
Game designers in California earn a median of about $136,110 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $68,090 for the lowest 10% to over $219,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire game designers in California?
Employers hiring game designers in California right now include Riot Games, TapBlaze, and PlayStation, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of major studios and independent developers means openings appear across a wide range of genres and platforms, from console and PC titles to mobile and VR.
Which California cities have the most game designer jobs?
Los Angeles, Irvine, and Santa Monica have the most game designer openings in California. Los Angeles leads because it hosts the largest cluster of major studios and publisher headquarters, while San Francisco and the South Bay draw roles tied to mobile gaming and tech-adjacent interactive entertainment companies that have long based operations in the region.
Are there remote game designer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than many creative fields. About 36% of game designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the industry's shift toward distributed teams following studio expansions during the last several years. Roles in narrative design, systems design, and UX design tend to be the most remote-friendly, while level design and roles requiring daily collaboration with art teams are more likely to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a game designer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a QA tester or associate producer role at a California studio and moving into design from within. Large California employers like Electronic Arts and Riot Games hire entry-level QA testers who gain hands-on exposure to game systems and build internal relationships with design teams. Completing a capstone project through a California game design program and submitting it to student showcases or indie festivals also helps. A playable portfolio demonstrating one well-executed mechanic or level is more persuasive than a broad but unfinished collection of projects.
Where can I find and apply to game designer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to game designer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to each one. No profile creation or sign-up is required to search and apply.
See All 14 Game Designer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Game Designer Jobs