Principal Game Designer – Japan & Global Game Development at Keywords Studios Plc United Kingdom

Tokyo, , Japan -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

06 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

07 Apr, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Game design, Systems design, Action games, Creative leadership, Team mentorship, Gameplay mechanics, Prototyping, Cross-disciplinary collaboration, Project pitching, UX design, Progression design, Combat design, Cultural understanding, Design documentation

Industry

Computer Games

Description

Company Description ■ About Keywords Studios Keywords Studios is a global provider of creative and technical services to the video games industry, with over 13,000 professionals across 70+ studios in 25+ countries. We support clients across the entire game lifecycle through three core Service Lines: Create — Game development, art production, and audio Globalize — Localization, localization QA, functional testing Engage — Marketing, LiveOps, community, and player support In Japan, Keywords Studios delivers its full range of services across Create, Globalize, and Engage, supporting leading publishers and developers through both local and international production teams. Our presence includes the Tokyo-based development studio Wizcorp, alongside established localization, QA, player support, and marketing capabilities serving some of the most influential companies in the Japanese games and entertainment industry. Keywords Studios is increasingly trusted by Japanese partners to support productions that span multiple regions—combining Japanese creative leadership with global delivery capacity across Asia-Pacific and beyond. These engagements require not only strong execution, but deep design expertise and cultural understanding to align creative vision across teams. As one of the world’s most influential and design-driven markets, Japan represents a strategic growth area for Keywords Studios. This role contributes directly to shaping high-quality player experiences and strengthening our creative partnerships with Japanese clients globally. Job Description Applicants must be currently residing in Japan and possess valid authorization to work in Japan. ■ Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Principal Game Designer to lead high-impact design initiatives across Japanese-based game projects, spanning AA to AAA scope. This is a senior individual contributor role with leadership responsibilities across design vision, systems development, and team mentorship. Working under the supervision of the Design Director, you will drive complex game design solutions, support project pitches, and ensure design excellence from early concept through final delivery. You will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary teams across regions, acting as a key creative pillar within projects and helping elevate both design quality and team capability. ■ Key Responsibilities Design Leadership & Execution Lead design work across projects from concept to delivery, ensuring coherence, quality, and player-focused outcomes. Own and drive the development of complex game systems, mechanics, and features. Translate high-level creative direction into clear, actionable design frameworks and documentation. Ensure alignment between gameplay, narrative, progression, and other relevant design areas. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Work closely with production, art, engineering, and other disciplines to bring designs to life. Act as a key point of contact for design-related topics across internal and client teams. Support alignment across distributed teams, ensuring consistency of design intent. Pitch Contribution & Creative Development Contribute to and execute project pitches, helping define innovation-driven, compelling gameplay concepts and design visions. Rapidly prototype and articulate ideas to support business development efforts. Adapt design proposals to align with client expectations, particularly within the Japanese market. Mentorship & Team Development Mentor and support junior and mid-level designers, fostering growth and design excellence. Provide constructive feedback, guidance, and best practices across projects. Help build a strong, collaborative design culture within the team. Design Quality & Innovation Champion high standards of design quality, usability, and player experience. Demonstrate expertise across multiple core game design disciplines (systems, combat, progression, UX, etc.). Stay informed on industry trends globally, across games of varying scale and scope, and apply insights where relevant. Qualifications Required 8+ years of experience in game design, with significant experience on action games Proven ability to design and deliver complex game systems Strong portfolio demonstrating ownership of key gameplay features or systems Experience working across multiple design disciplines Experience mentoring, guiding, or leading other designers in a production environment Ability to work effectively under a Design Director while taking ownership of major design areas Preferred Experience working with Japanese studios or on Japan-focused projects Background in co-development or external development environments Experience contributing to pitches or early-stage concept development Experience working within multicultural environments Japanese language proficiency, or a strong commitment to developing it in a professional context ■Skills & Competencies Design Expertise – Deep understanding across multiple areas of game design Creative Leadership – Drives vision while aligning with overall direction Systems Thinking – Able to design and balance complex, interconnected systems Collaborative Mindset – Works effectively across disciplines and cultures Mentorship – Develops others and elevates team capability Player-Focused – Prioritizes player experience and engagement Adaptability – Comfortable navigating evolving project needs and client expectations Additional Information ■What We Offer Opportunity to represent a highly reputed global leader in game art services. Competitive compensation package with performance-based incentives. Chance to work with some of the biggest and most exciting game developers in Japan. A collaborative, growth-oriented global culture. Role Information: EN Studio: Keywords Location: Asia Pacific, Tokyo, Japan Area of Work: Game Development Service: Create Employment Type: Full Time Working Pattern: Hybrid PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY Keywords Studios is strongly committed to protecting your personal information. By sending your CV/Resume, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and consent to your data being managed and retained in accordance with our data privacy and retention policy https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice/. Department: Production

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Responsibilities

Lead high-impact design initiatives and systems development across AA to AAA projects while mentoring junior and mid-level designers. Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure design excellence and alignment with creative vision from concept through delivery.