Game Designer
Design / Tokyo, Japan
Experience Level
Must have professional experience in game design (multiplayer experience strongly preferred)
Must have shipped at least one game
About the Role
As a Game Designer at Savage Astronaut, you will help define the core player experience of our game. From combat systems to progression and moment-to-moment decision-making, your work will shape how the game feels, flows, and evolves over time.
This role is both creative and systemic. You’ll design mechanics and systems that are deep, readable, and competitive—while ensuring they align with the overall vision and player experience goals.
You will work closely with programmers, artists, and other designers to bring ideas to life, iterating quickly through playtesting and feedback to refine systems into something cohesive and satisfying.
You Will
Design and own gameplay systems, mechanics, and features from concept through implementation
Define player-facing rules, behaviors, and interactions that drive meaningful decisions
Prototype ideas quickly and iterate based on playtesting and data
Collaborate closely with engineering, art, and design to bring systems to life in-game
Balance gameplay for clarity, fairness, and competitive integrity
Create and maintain clear design documentation and communicate intent across the team
Contribute to the overall direction and cohesion of the game experience
We’re Looking For Someone Who
Actively plays and understands competitive multiplayer games
Thinks deeply about player psychology, decision-making, and game feel
Designs systems that are clear, cohesive, and meaningful—not just complex
Can connect mechanics, progression, and moment-to-moment gameplay into a unified experience
Brings ideas and design vision, not just execution
Can clearly communicate design intent and collaborate across disciplines
Is comfortable iterating quickly and refining ideas through feedback and playtesting
Is proactive, communicative, and comfortable taking ownership
Bonus Points
Experience working on competitive PvP games
Experience designing combat systems or player abilities
Experience with systemic or emergent gameplay design
Experience with progression or meta systems
Experience working in Unreal Engine or similar tools
Required Documents
CV
Portfolio (must include design work and process)
Work Samples
CV should include:
Projects you have worked on, with your specific design contributions clearly described
Systems or features you designed and owned
Your role in the development process (concepting, implementation, tuning, etc.)
Experience collaborating with engineering, art, and other disciplines
Please also include (if available):
Design documentation or breakdowns of your work
Examples of systems you designed and how they evolved through iteration
Playable builds, prototypes, or videos demonstrating your work
Employment Status
Contract Employee (possibility of promotion to Permanent Employee)
Location
Hybrid / Tokyo, Japan
Work Hours
10:00 – 19:00 or Discretionary Labor System
Standard hours begin at 10:00, but exact working style will be discussed individually
Salary
Annual Salary (Negotiable)
Compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and our internal salary framework
Benefits
Social Insurance
Transportation Expenses Covered
Salary Review System
Annual Health Checkups
Corporate Defined Contribution Pension Plan (for permanent employees)
Interested in this role and think you’re a good fit? Apply below!
