Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.
We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.
That's where you come in.
As a Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity help craft in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work with every tool at hand to create and iterate player-focused designs that will delight millions around the world.
As a Senior Game Designer (Systems – Balancing & Economy) on the Unpublished R&D Product team, you will help design, build, and refine gameplay systems that support engaging player experiences. You will partner with designers, artists, and engineers to develop, iterate, and improve systems through rapid prototyping, testing, and cross-functional collaboration. This role requires a hands-on designer who is comfortable working in an evolving development environment, balancing experimentation with thoughtful decision-making while continuously improving gameplay systems and player experiences. You will report into the Game Director of the team.
Responsibilities:- Design, implement, and improve gameplay systems that deliver engaging player experiences.
- Develop multiple system design solutions and clearly communicate implementation trade-offs and associated risks.
- Establish design principles and best practices for future systems design work.
- Lead small cross-functional teams to develop gameplay systems aligned with product objectives.
- Create clear design documentation that can be understood and implemented across disciplines.
- Collaborate closely with designers, artists, engineers, and production partners to create cohesive player experiences.
- Utilize prototyping, playtesting, and data-informed iteration to validate and improve system designs.
- Incorporate feedback and continuously refine systems to achieve high-quality player experiences.
- 6+ years of professional experience in Game Design.
- Strong expertise in one or more of the following areas: progression systems, game balance, economy systems, or mathematical modeling.
- Experience owning gameplay features or leading systems design efforts for at least one shipped title.
- Demonstrated ability to create and improve complex gameplay mechanics and systems with consideration for player experience and long-term maintainability.
- Experience integrating multiple gameplay systems into cohesive player experiences.
- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
- Experience leading systems, economy, or game balance design.
- Experience with prototyping and iterative game development.
- Experience collaborating across disciplines throughout the game development lifecycle.
- Experience mentoring or coaching other designers.
- Significant proficiency (3+ years) using Unreal Engine.
- Fluent in spoken and written English.
For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!
Skills Required
- 6+ years of professional experience in Game Design
- Expertise in progression systems, game balance, economy systems, or mathematical modeling
- Experience owning gameplay features or leading systems design efforts for at least one shipped title
- Ability to create and improve complex gameplay mechanics and systems with long-term maintainability
- Experience integrating multiple gameplay systems into cohesive player experiences
- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese
- Experience leading systems, economy, or game balance design
- Experience with prototyping and iterative game development
- Experience collaborating across disciplines throughout the game development lifecycle
- Experience mentoring or coaching other designers
- Significant proficiency (3+ years) using Unreal Engine
- Fluent in spoken and written English
Riot Games Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Riot Games and has not been reviewed or approved by Riot Games.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision plans extend to employees, spouses/domestic partners, and children, with mental health and LGBTQIA+ support. Coverage breadth is reinforced by disability insurance and access to wellness and therapy programs.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Open Paid Time Off, company-wide end-of-year and mid-year breaks, and paid sabbaticals provide significant time to disconnect and recharge. These are complemented by holidays, sick time, and paid volunteer time.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — A Wellness Fund, Play Fund, free meals and office snacks/drinks, fitness stipends/classes, and commuter benefits add meaningful day-to-day value. Donation matching and relocation support further enhance the lifestyle component of total rewards.
Riot Games Insights
What We Do
Since 2006, Riot Games has stayed committed to changing the way video games are developed, published, and supported for players. From our first title, League of Legends, to 2020’s VALORANT; we have strived to evolve the community with growth in Esports, and expansion from games into entertainment. Players are the foundation of Riot's community and because of them, we’re able to reach new heights.
