At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and expand gameplay features for the popular horror game Phasmophobia.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading game development studio.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, free lunches, and health insurance.
- Other info: Enjoy regular social events and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape thrilling experiences for millions of players in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Game Designer with a strong portfolio and passion for horror games.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 € per year.
About the role: We are looking for an organised and experienced Senior Game Designer to help define and expand content updates for Phasmophobia. You will work closely with the Game Director to turn creative direction into fully realised gameplay features and systems, taking them from concept through to release. You will take ownership of gameplay experiences across live updates, helping shape content played by millions of players worldwide. As a senior member of the team, you’ll collaborate closely with art, audio, narrative, production, QA, and programming to ensure features deliver on gameplay quality, atmosphere, and technical feasibility. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, iterative live-service environment and is passionate about multiplayer horror game design.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Work closely with the Game Director to develop and expand gameplay features, mechanics, and systems.
- Take ownership of feature design from concept through implementation, iteration, and release.
- Create and maintain clear, detailed, and actionable design documentation for cross-discipline teams.
- Flesh out gameplay systems, mechanics, progression, balancing, UX flows, edge cases, and technical considerations.
- Identify gameplay, scope, UX, and implementation risks early and work proactively with stakeholders to resolve them.
- Collaborate with production to ensure design work aligns with project scope, priorities, and milestone expectations.
- Work closely with programmers to improve designer workflows, tools, and pipelines.
- Confidently use Unity Editor tools to tune gameplay, implement content, and iterate on features hands-on.
- Collaborate with departmental stakeholders to ensure features are achievable within technical and production constraints.
- Gather and interpret internal and community feedback to improve player experience, gameplay readability, and feature quality.
- Play and test new updates regularly to ensure features meet gameplay, usability, and quality expectations.
Requirements:
- At least 1 shipped PC or Console game as a credited Game Designer with a strong portfolio.
- Strong experience designing multiplayer, co-op, horror, survival, or atmospheric gameplay systems.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.
- Strong understanding of gameplay systems, balancing, progression, pacing, and player psychology.
- Experience writing and maintaining detailed design documentation.
- A collaborative mindset and confidence working across multiple disciplines.
- Expert understanding of Phasmophobia and a passion for horror games.
- Ability to take ownership of features and drive them through iteration and delivery.
- Automatically have the right to work in the UK.
Nice To Have:
- Experience working on live-service or regularly updated games.
- Experience working on a VR game.
- Experience using Unity Editor.
- Experience with technical implementation, scripting, or designer tooling workflows.
- Experience using Jira, Confluence, or similar development tools.
- Experience analysing player feedback, telemetry, or gameplay metrics.
Benefits & Perks:
- Competitive salary
- 5% Employer Match Pension Scheme
- Annual performance bonus + Company performance bonus
- Weekly free team lunches – good food, great company!
- Regular social events – we love bringing our teams together!
- Hybrid & flextime working - because life doesn’t always fit 9–5
- Access to Southampton Football Club tickets - subject to availability and sponsor allocation
- Relocation package to help you settle in
- Electric Vehicle Car Scheme - Get a new car & Save money & the planet
- Employee of the Month vouchers
- Personal wellbeing allowance
- Referral scheme
- Training & Development Budget – invest in your growth with courses, conferences & learning resources
- Training & career development support
- Vitality Health Insurance – includes Vision, Dental & Travel cover
- Aviva Life Insurance
- 30 days holiday, including your birthday and a dedicated wellbeing day
- Christmas studio shutdown – enjoy the holidays, on us!
Senior Game Designer in Southampton employer: Kinetic Games
Join a dynamic and innovative team as a Senior Game Designer, where your creativity will shape gameplay experiences for millions of players worldwide. With a strong focus on collaboration, employee growth, and a vibrant work culture, we offer competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and numerous perks including weekly team lunches and a personal wellbeing allowance. Located in the heart of the UK, our studio fosters a passion for game design and provides ample opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Game Designer in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get your game face on! When you’re networking, don’t just stick to the usual suspects. Reach out to industry events, online forums, and social media groups where game designers hang out. We can make connections that could lead to job opportunities!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for horror games! When chatting with potential employers or during interviews, share your insights about Phasmophobia and similar titles. We want to see your enthusiasm and how well you understand the genre.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of playtesting! If you can, get involved in playtesting sessions for upcoming games. It’s a great way to meet people in the industry and show off your skills. Plus, we all love a good scare!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who can help us create amazing gameplay experiences.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Game Designer in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Horror Games:When you're writing your application, let your love for horror games shine through! Mention specific elements of Phasmophobia that excite you and how they inspire your design ideas. We want to see your enthusiasm!
Be Clear and Detailed:Make sure your application is clear and detailed, just like the design documentation we value. Highlight your experience with gameplay systems and provide examples of your past work. This helps us understand your thought process and design style.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor it to the Senior Game Designer role by aligning your skills and experiences with the job description. Show us how you can contribute to our team and the exciting updates for Phasmophobia.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinetic Games
✨Know Your Game Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of Phasmophobia. Play the game extensively, analyse its mechanics, and think about how you would enhance the gameplay experience. This will not only show your passion but also help you discuss specific ideas during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Be prepared to talk about your design process in detail. Bring examples from your portfolio that highlight your ability to take ownership of features from concept to release. Discuss how you’ve collaborated with different teams and how you’ve tackled challenges in past projects.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Since the role involves using Unity Editor and understanding technical implementation, brush up on your technical skills. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in previous projects and how you can improve workflows and pipelines in a collaborative environment.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
As a Senior Game Designer, you'll need to work closely with various departments. Highlight your communication skills and provide examples of successful collaborations. Discuss how you handle feedback and iterate on designs based on input from stakeholders and players alike.
