We believe that gameplay is the heartbeat of every great game. As a Principal Technical Gameplay Designer, you will be at the forefront of crafting and elevating the core gameplay experience for our upcoming unannounced project. This role calls for an innovative mind with a deep understanding of gameplay mechanics as well as being an adept collaborator and a champion of our design vision. You’ll have the opportunity to lead the charge in implementing complex gameplay systems and features that align with our mission to create connected and immersive worlds through play.
Gardens
Responsibilities:
Author gameplay abilities in GAS using proprietary FSM framework
Work with engineering to expand and improve our proprietary FSM framework as needed
Work across departments to implement player navigation, combat abilities, and progression systems
Work across departments to implement enemy behaviors and combat abilities
Partner closely with Design leadership to ensure gameplay aligns with the vision
Champion gameplay vision and goals to the team
Push the gameplay experience forward through receiving and processing feedback
Requirements:
5+ years experience as a Gameplay Designer with at least one shipped title
Extensive knowledge of player controls, abilities, Ai, and game balance
Experience working with Gameplay Ability System in Unreal Engine
Experience working with AI behaviors in Unreal Engine including Behavior Trees, Perception, and EQS
Experience with Finite State Machines
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to take ownership of features and champion them forward
Bonus:
Experience in C++ for Unreal Engine.
Familiarity with Blueprints, animations, and/or VFX.
Who We Are
We're a forward-thinking, distributed game studio founded by the creators behind titles like Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Blaseball, Dustforce, Ashen, Guild Wars 2, Firewatch, and more! Our name reflects our mission: to cultivate rich, immersive worlds that foster meaningful connections and lasting friendships. We believe in creating lush, living environments where players can engage in surprising multiplayer experiences and grow together with the support of their communities.
Our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and transparency drives us to create a work environment where every voice is heard and valued. As a fully-distributed studio, we support our team in living and working from wherever they choose, offering competitive pay, stock options, flexible non-accrual paid time off, 35-hour work weeks, and comprehensive benefits, including full medical, vision, dental, and 401k contributions.
We're excited to be developing our flagship project — a shared 3D fantasy adventure inspired by our favorite online gaming memories. This is the world we’re passionate about building and the world we want to experience every day.
Gardens Offers:
Competitive Salaries and Pay Transparency
Stock Options
Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage (100% for Individuals and 90% for Dependents)
Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, and other numerous benefits
401k contributions (USA) / RRSP plan + DPSP contributions (Canada)
Paid Parental Leave
Biannual Company Retreats
Continued Education Allowance
A fully-distributed studio. We aspire to support employees living and working where they want.
Benefits and perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Gardens and the country in which you work.
Encouragement:
We believe that diverse perspectives make our team stronger and our games better. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. Studies show that marginalized groups, especially those of women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every criterion. At Gardens Interactive, we value potential, passion, and a willingness to grow. We hope you will join us in shaping the future of gaming.
Note:
Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that people have been contacted by scammers impersonating Gardens Interactive. Said individuals are offering opportunities with the intent of stealing financial information. Please be advised that our team's correspondence regarding positions (including tests, offers, and interviews) is associated with a gardens.dev email. Don't hesitate to reach out via direct message on LinkedIn or careers@gardens.dev . We will never ask you for your financial information.
Location United States - Remote (EST - PST), Canada - Remote (EST - PST)
Compensation
Level 4: $186.1K – $204.7K • Offers Equity
At Gardens Interactive, we champion fairness and growth through our transparent pay structure. Our Skill and Level Matrix aligns compensation with individual achievements and potential, not just tenure. This ensures a clear path for development and recognizes each team member's unique contributions.
A remote games studio from developers of games like Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch , Blaseball , Dustforce , Guild Wars 2 , Firewatch, and more. We’re named after the games we grow together — lush, living worlds that bring players together to cultivate lasting friendships. Worlds that offer surprising multiplayer experiences and flourish with the help of their communities.
Our upcoming flagship game is a shared fantasy adventure inspired by some of our favorite memories playing online games, particularly moments shared with strangers. Players will find themselves crossing paths in a shapeshifting, unpredictable wilderness filled with mystery and magic, featuring a timeless visual direction and tactile multiplayer play.
It’s the world we want to adventure in every day.
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