If you’re preparing for a Game Designer job interview, this guide will help you showcase your skills effectively.
1. Research the Company & Role
- Understand their games – Play or watch gameplay of their past games.
- Know their genre – Are they focused on FPS, RPG, mobile, or open-world games?
- Check their design approach – Study their mechanics, level design, UI, and storytelling.
2. Build a Strong Game Design Portfolio
✅ Showcase Playable Prototypes – If possible, include links to playable games.
✅ Include Game Design Documents (GDDs) – Outline mechanics, story, and gameplay.
✅ Show Level Designs & Wireframes – Demonstrate your game structure & flow.
✅ Upload on GitHub, ArtStation, or a personal website.
3. Master Essential Game Design Skills
- Game Mechanics & Systems – Understand balancing, progression, and core loops.
- Level Design – Creating engaging environments for players.
- Narrative & Storytelling – How story elements enhance player engagement.
- UI/UX in Games – Designing intuitive interfaces & player guidance.
- Prototyping & Playtesting – Iterating based on player feedback.
- Basic Coding Knowledge – Experience with Unity (C#), Unreal Engine (Blueprints), or Godot.
4. Common Game Design Interview Questions
✅ Technical Questions:
- What is a core gameplay loop, and how do you design one?
- How do you balance difficulty in a game?
- What are the key elements of a good level design?
- How would you improve the onboarding experience for new players?
- What’s your favorite game mechanic, and why?
- How do you handle game progression & rewards?
✅ Portfolio-Based Questions:
- Walk us through a game you designed.
- What was the biggest challenge in one of your game projects, and how did you solve it?
- How do you create engaging and immersive levels?
- How do you approach game storytelling?
- Have you worked with procedural generation or AI in games?
✅ Creative & Problem-Solving Questions:
- How would you design a tutorial for a complex game mechanic?
- What’s your process for fixing a game that feels boring or unbalanced?
- How do you design a game for both casual and hardcore players?
- How would you adapt a popular game into a mobile version?
✅ Behavioral Questions:
- Why do you want to work with this game studio?
- Have you worked in a team with artists, developers, and writers?
- How do you handle criticism and player feedback?
- What’s the most important skill for a game designer?
5. Be Ready for a Motion Graphics Test (If Required)
Some companies may ask you to:
✅ Design a game concept for a given theme.
✅ Create a short game design document (GDD).
✅ Sketch a level design with mechanics & objectives.
✅ Analyze and improve an existing game feature.
6. Ask Smart Questions
At the end of the interview, ask:
- What’s the typical game design process in your studio?
- How do game designers collaborate with developers & artists?
- What’s the biggest design challenge your studio faces?
- Are there opportunities to work on new gameplay mechanics or experimental projects?
7. Final Tips
✅ Show creativity & problem-solving skills.
✅ Be confident but open to feedback.
✅ Demonstrate passion for game design & player experience.
✅ Follow up with a thank-you email & link to your portfolio.