Principal Game Designer

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Principal Game Designer

DISCIPLINE: Design

REPORTS TO: Game Director

The Studio

Compulsion Games is a proud member of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios, nestled in the vibrant city of Montreal, Canada. Since our inception in 2009, we’ve been dedicated to crafting extraordinary games that delve into the depths of human experience. Our titles, such as Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight have garnered acclaim for their distinctive art, immersive music, rich world-building, and captivating narratives.

Studio Culture

At Compulsion Games, we champion a human-first culture built on trust, autonomy, harmony, and exceptional craftsmanship. Our team thrives on experimentation and artistic expression, embracing diversity and accessibility as core values. We believe in fostering a close-knit, inclusive environment where creativity flourishes, and every voice is heard.

The Role

As a Principal Game Designer at Compulsion Games, you will play a key role in shaping the core gameplay experience of our projects. You will lead the design and iteration of game mechanics, progression systems, and player interactions, ensuring they align with the game’s creative vision.

You will work closely with designers, engineers, animators, artists, and writers to develop compelling and immersive gameplay experiences, while helping to define best practices in game design.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and iterate on core gameplay mechanics and progression systems.
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams to implement and refine mechanics in the game.
• Balance and fine-tune gameplay systems, difficulty, and player progression.
• Develop detailed design documentation and communicate effectively with all teams.
• Conduct playtests and analyze feedback to improve player experience.
• Collaborate with the narrative team to ensure engaging storytelling through gameplay.
• Stay informed on industry trends and best practices to drive innovation.

Skills and Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in game design (AAA or indie experience preferred).
• Deep understanding of game mechanics, player psychology, and engagement loops.
• Experience with ability systems and player progression systems that keep players engaged.
• Proficiency with Unreal Engine and scripting tools (Blueprint, Lua, or similar).
• Strong experience in system balancing and difficulty tuning.
• Ability to communicate complex design ideas clearly and effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and iteration skills.
• Experience mentoring junior designers and fostering team collaboration.
• Passion for creating unique and immersive gameplay experiences.

This is a full-time position offering a competitive salary and comprehensive studio benefits, which include full health care provided to you and your entire “party” (read family), RRSP matching, relocation support, mental health and wellbeing support, MS Store discounts, 3 weeks' vacation plus 2 x one-week studio closures, and a number of other perks.

Our downtown Montreal location, conveniently situated by Atwater Metro station, operates on a hybrid setup for employees based in or willing to relocate to the Montreal area.

If you’re eager to contribute to a team that’s redefining storytelling in games, we’d love to hear from you.