Game Designer (Project Based Role)

## Game Designer (Project Based Role)****Location:**** Santa Fe, NM ****(****On-site) or Remote, providing the candidate resides in one of the following markets: Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Houston, TX; Dallas, TX; New York, NY; or Los Angeles, CAAs a ***Game Designer***, reporting to the Director, Experience Strategy, you will be integral in developing quest experiences within our themed interactive art exhibitions. These experiences will leverage game mechanics like inventory management, economy systems, puzzles, progression, rewards, and branching narratives. You will work closely with Story, UI, UX, and production teams to craft engaging, seamless gameplay that integrates with both physical installations and mobile applications. A strong focus will be placed on designing systems that bridge digital interactions with the physical space, offering guests unique, rewarding challenges as they explore and engage with the exhibition.* Design Quest Experiences: Develop engaging and immersive quest lines using familiar game mechanics like exploration, puzzle-solving, inventory, and progression systems.* Gameplay Systems Development: Create and iterate on core gameplay systems, including player progression, reward systems, narrative structures, and dynamic world interactions.* User-Centric Design: Collaborate with UX/UI designers to develop intuitive and accessible interfaces for quests, ensuring a seamless blend of physical and digital interactions.* Prototyping and Iteration: Use rapid prototyping techniques, including paper prototyping, to quickly test and validate ideas before moving to digital implementation. Iterate on gameplay mechanics based on playtesting feedback and data.* Workflow Development: Establish workflows for the development of quests and interactive gameplay, ensuring clear milestones, iterative feedback loops, and effective cross-team collaboration.* Collaborative Development: Work with cross-disciplinary teams (art, engineering, product management) to ensure alignment on game vision and execution.* Integration of Mobile App & Physical Space: Develop gameplay that leverages the physical space in tandem with a mobile app, ensuring smooth transitions between real-world and in-app interactions.* Data-Informed Design: Utilize data insights from playtesting, guest interactions, and user feedback to continuously improve and refine gameplay systems.* Storytelling and World-Building: Collaborate with the story team to integrate storytelling into quest design, ensuring that gameplay is both fun and narratively meaningful, building a sense of immersion and progression.* Technical Collaboration: Work with developers to ensure that game systems are optimized for performance across both mobile platforms and physical installations.* Experience: 8+ years of experience in game design or system design, with a portfolio showcasing your work in video games and/or interactive experiences.* Industry Tools: Proficiency with industry-standard tools and game engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or similar platforms.* Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving abilities, able to think critically about how digital and physical gameplay can merge to create unique experiences.* Collaboration: Demonstrated experience working in cross-functional teams, including UX/UI, product management, and development teams, with the ability to communicate design intent clearly and effectively.* Data Analytics: Experience using analytics tools to track and analyze user behavior, using that data to iterate on design elements.* Story-Driven Design: Proficiency in narrative-driven game design, creating systems that enhance storytelling and player agency.* AR/VR/MR Experience: Experience with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), or mixed reality (MR) design, bridging physical and digital gameplay.* Cross-Platform Development: Experience designing for multiple platforms, with a focus on mobile-first gameplay that interacts with physical environments.* Live Operations (LiveOps): Experience working on games with live service elements, managing updates, balancing, and ongoing content releases post-launch.* Familiarity with Industry Design Patterns: Knowledge of design philosophies from major game studios and the ability to apply these insights to real-world, live entertainment.* Frequent keyboard and mouse use, and sustained visual attention to screens for design, testing, and documentation* Periodic onsite visits that may require walking through exhibition spaces, navigating multi-level environments, or standing for extended periods during playtests or reviews* Occasional lifting or carrying of light items up to 15 pounds (e.g., a laptop, prototype materials, paper prototypes)* Ability to participate in hands-on prototyping sessions, which may occasionally include bending, crouching, or moving small objects* Ability to travel by air or car as needed for onsite work**INCLUSION**:

Meow Wolf is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are **committed** to ensuring all employees enjoy and thrive in a work environment where differences make us the vibrant, wonderful community we are! All employment decisions at Meow Wolf are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, service in the military or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.* Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP\** Dental and Vision Insurance\** HSA, HRA, and FSA options\** 401k Retirement Plan* Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)\** Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies\** Company Paid Employee Assistance Program* Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks* Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes* Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests #J-18808-Ljbffr