Senior Game Designer

Company: Red Elk

Website: Visit Website

Business Type: Startup

Company Type: Product

Business Model: B2B

Funding Stage: Bootstrapped

Industry: Gaming

Salary Range: ₹ 25-30 Lacs PA

Job Description

At Red Elk Studious (www.redelk.co), we’re crafting immersive and unforgettable gaming experiences. Our latest endeavor is a partnership with Battle Creek Games, USA on next-gen open sandbox hunting simulation game that pushes the boundaries of realism, exploration, and player freedom. We're looking for a seasoned Senior Game Designer with a passion for open-world systems and player-driven narratives to help shape this ambitious project.

Role Overview

As Senior Game Designer, you will lead the design and development of core gameplay systems, world interactions, and player progression within a vast, living ecosystem. You'll be responsible for crafting an authentic hunting experience, with rewarding gunplay, layered progression, and mission-driven gameplay that encourages exploration and mastery.

Key Responsibilities

• Gameplay Systems Design: Own the design of core systems such as hunting mechanics, tracking, weapon usage, and stealth/survival mechanics.
• Progression Systems: Design and implement satisfying player progression systems, including XP-based advancement, skill unlocks, gear upgrades, and mastery paths.
• Mission & Quest Design: Create mission systems that support open-ended play, incorporating objectives such as hunts, tracking challenges, conservation tasks, and story-driven exploration.
• Weapon & Gear Upgrades: Design and balance gun upgrade systems, attachments, ammunition types, and equipment progression that reward investment and skill.
• World Integration: Ensure all systems are deeply embedded into the world—affecting and reacting to player actions and the in-game ecosystem.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Collaborate with engineers and artists to rapidly prototype and refine new gameplay ideas based on feedback and testing.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Partner with narrative, audio, art, and programming teams to bring a holistic experience to life.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed design documents that clearly communicate system logic, feature intent, and progression pathways.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) / Metrics for Success

• Feature Completion Milestones: Timely delivery of high-quality design documentation, prototypes, and system implementation per the project roadmap.
• Player Engagement Metrics: Design features that contribute to high average session length, mission completion rates, and progression retention.
• Design Iteration Effectiveness: Rapid iteration and improvement cycles with measurable impact based on internal playtests and user feedback.
• Cross-Team Alignment: Clear communication and strong collaboration with engineering, art, narrative, and QA — ensuring minimal rework and smooth handoffs.
• User Feedback & Playtest Scores: Positive response from playtests or closed alpha/beta sessions, particularly in areas of progression, mission design, and combat feel.
• System Balance & Tuning: Well-balanced game economy, upgrade paths, and progression pacing that result in minimal rework post-release.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in game design with at least 2 shipped titles in a senior or lead role.
• Hands-on experience with player progression systems, mission/quest frameworks, and weapon customization or upgrade systems.
• Deep understanding of sandbox/open-world game loops, player psychology, and long-term engagement strategies.
• Proven track record in balancing freedom and structure in mission or objective-based gameplay.
• Familiarity with designing or tuning AI, ecosystems, or systemic world behavior is a plus.
• Passion for hunting, survival, or wilderness-based games and simulations.
• Strong skills in Unity Engine or equivalent.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing systems for hunting, tactical shooters, survival, or wildlife simulation games.
• Familiarity with ballistics, environmental storytelling, and crafting systems.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills to balance and fine-tune complex systems.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary & performance bonuses
• Flexible work environment (remote/hybrid)
• Health and benefits comparable to the best companies in India
• Creative autonomy and ownership
• A collaborative and respectful team culture

Ready to Create the Wild?

If you're passionate about designing immersive sandbox experiences and want to shape the future of wilderness simulation games, we’d love to hear from you.