Amsterdam
20 Jul 2026
Principal Game Designer (Genre Specialist) logo

Principal Game Designer (Genre Specialist)

Tencent

Principal Game Designer (Genre Specialist)

Tencent Games seeks a Principal Game Designer (Genre Specialist) to join the Game Research Center. The role involves defining next-generation gameplay standards, solving critical design challenges, and identifying opportunities for evergreen franchises. Requires 10+ years of game design experience with lead roles on global projects.

RemoteFull-timePrincipalGame DesignSystems Design

Salary

Not specified

Work Location

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, NL

Work Model

Remote

Experience Required

10 years

Employment Type

Full-time

Experience Level

10+ years of experience in game design, with at least the past 5 years spent as a lead designer or core systems owner on globally recognized large-scale game projects.

Core Qualifications

Technical (Must-have)
Game DesignSystems Design3C DesignCombat DesignLevel DesignMission DesignProgression SystemsGaaS SystemsEconomy BalanceGameplay InnovationDesign BenchmarkingPrototype ReviewDesign ModelingStructured ThinkingCommunication
Soft Skills
CommunicationCollaborationStructured ThinkingLeadershipCreativity

Key Responsibilities

  • Define and refine best-in-class minute-to-minute gameplay experience, including controls, movement, and player feedback across visual, audio, and haptic layers.
  • Build scalable and deeply engaging gameplay systems, including combat systems, character control, level interaction, mission flow, progression systems, and long-term engagement loops.
  • Lead the design evaluation and strategic improvement of core gameplay pillars, including 3C, combat/system design, level design, mission structure, world interaction, and player progression.
  • Analyze leading global games in global shooter, casual competitive and RPG game genres, and turn those insights into reusable design frameworks.
  • Set high-quality design benchmarks for core projects, including 3C, system interaction, and world exploration pacing.
  • Work directly with project teams to solve critical design problems, especially in GaaS systems, gameplay innovation, and economy balance.
  • Review prototypes and milestone builds to ensure projects are both fun and distinctive in the global market.
  • Provide hands-on design consultation to teams in development, with particular focus on high-priority shooter-related challenges.
  • Help identify genre opportunities, product risks, and improvement areas early through expert review, structured feedback, and design modeling.
  • Represent the company through thought leadership at industry events such as GDC, Devcom, and similar conferences.
Game DesignPrincipalShooterCasual CompetitiveRPGTencentRemoteAmsterdamGaaS3C