Senior Game Designer

Senior Game Designer Casual Games (fulltime)

The world of emerging game platforms

Games distribution via new platforms, beyond the traditional app-stores, is taking off quickly. Players can now instantly start a game from within Facebook, Discord, Netflix and many other ‘Big Tech’ game channels. And even the web is back as a serious (HTML5 based) games distribution channel, with more people playing via websites each year.

In this changing landscape, where Apple and Google are no longer the sole destinations for casual gamers, CoolGames is successfully publishing high quality HTML5 games that are played by millions every month. For our studio, we have an ambitious roadmap to start the development of new game projects to further expand our portfolio for the years ahead.

For this, we’re looking for a motivated Senior Game Designer to help us build the foundation of future success with highly engaging and commercially successful new game IP.

CoolGames and high-qualilty casual games

Founded in 2010, CoolGames is a leading HTML5-specialized studio based in the historic center of Amsterdam, developing high-quality casual games for emerging game platforms. Our games are published on post app-store game platforms, such as Facebook Play, Microsoft Start, Google Game Snacks, Discord and dozens of media- or gaming websites worldwide.

And while many other studios with a traditional app-store distribution approach are struggling with unsustainable UA models to gain traction for their games, at CoolGames we see that the demand for our quality titles is only growing. 

And as the market of emerging game platforms with HTML5 technology has matured over the years, so have our casual games. Most of the games from our active portfolio have significant development budgets. They include deep meta-game layers, social and multiplayer-hooks to enhance virality and sometimes embed famous third-party IP. The games are monetized in a balanced combination of advertising, IAP and paid subscriptions.

And when a game is launched, it is not the finish of a project, but actually the beginning with a LiveOps team further optimizing the game experience and adding new content and features over time. The roadmap of each game is driven by KPI analysis and prioritization based on required efforts versus expected impact.

Does this sound familiar to you? Do you have an analytical mindset and want to truly understand the impact of certain game mechanics and player behavior? And are you used to design and further improve complex casual games based on KPI results? Then CoolGames might just be the place for you!

About you

• You have worked on casual games as a (senior/lead) Game Designer / Product Manager, or in a related role, for at least 5 years and have experience in leading a team;
• You have a proven track-record in revenue optimization and balancing a game-economy with F2P and/or ad-based mobile games;
• You have a highly analytical mindset: you live and breathe the key gaming KPIs;
• You can combine the creative development process with clear data-driven decisions;
• You are able to motivate your team and clearly explain with data-points or other evidence, what it is that actually makes a game highly engaging, or what it is lacking to be more successful;
• You are actively following game design market trends, both on high-level as well as on detailed implementations, and are able to present your findings to relevant stakeholders within CoolGames.

Your responsibilities will include 

• Mentor and train our Game Designers, overseeing their GDDs with a special focus on improving monetization cycles, in-game economy and IAP models;
• Directly report to the CEO and regularly present to wider management, other internal stakeholders or external partners;
• Develop business cases with our Product Managers and with input from the Business teams;
• Help our Game Producers to successfully execute LiveOps and prioritize roadmaps for existing games;
• Work closely together with colleagues from the game teams, such as the Game Producers, Artists, Developers and QA staff in the Studio;
• Establish best practices and benchmarks from the wider industry within CoolGames;
• As a Senior Game Designer at CoolGames, you will work closely with other Game Designers, Artists, Developers, Producers, Quality Assurance experts and further stakeholders to create games that delight players globally.

The right candidate meets most of the following requirements:

• At least 5 years of experience in the (mobile) games industry within an international studio;
• Experience with LiveOps for existing titles;
• Excellent insights in game KPIs, game system design and balancing in-game economy;
• Deep knowledge of top grossing games, F2P mechanics and latest trends in the market;
• Experience in leading and motivating teams;
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously;
• Excellent communication skills in English.

CoolGames offers you a challenging job with a broad responsibility and an attractive compensation package:

• A competitive salary;
• Health care insurance & travel compensation and company pension plan;
• Sports allowance;
• An environment that supports learning and professional growth;
• Flexibility to work remotely part-time;
• An attractive office location in the historic center of Amsterdam;
• High-end PC, Macbook Pro or other laptop;
• A fun, informal and super international company culture.

If this resonates with you, you might be a great fit to join our team. Please send us your resume with a clear motivation letter why you think you are the right person for the job!

CoolGames is part of the Keesing Media Group, the world’s leading braintainment company. 

*EU candidates only!