Ember Crows Ltd

Project: ‘Names Go Dark’

Location: Battersea, London

Working model: On-site

Engagement: Freelance / project-based

About Ember Crows

Ember Crows is an independent game studio based in London, developing ‘Names Go Dark’, a third-person Slavic cyberpunk action RPG for PC and consoles.

Set on Proxima b, a tidally locked planet divided between eternal light and endless darkness, ‘Names Go Dark’ combines action RPG gameplay with a dark, atmospheric science-fiction world shaped by Slavic mythology, Central European folklore and near-future technology.

We are currently developing the playable prototype and are looking for a Game Designer — Combat & Systems to join the development team in our Battersea office.

Job Description

As Game Designer — Combat & Systems, you will work closely with the Game Director and Unreal Engine Gameplay Developer to design, prototype, implement and iterate the core gameplay systems of ‘Names Go Dark’.

We are looking for a designer with a strong understanding of third-person action RPGs, combat and systemic gameplay, and an interest in mature, atmospheric and narrative-driven games.

This is a hands-on design role. You should be comfortable taking a mechanic from an initial concept through rules, prototyping, implementation, playtesting, balancing and iteration.

Responsibilities

• Design and iterate core gameplay mechanics and systems.
• Develop and refine the core gameplay loop.
• Design third-person combat mechanics and player abilities.
• Define player actions, states, resources, costs, risks and rewards.
• Design enemy behaviours and player-enemy interactions.
• Design encounters that combine and test multiple gameplay systems.
• Prototype and iterate mechanics in Unreal Engine.
• Work closely with the Gameplay Developer throughout implementation.
• Define gameplay variables and support balancing and tuning.
• Create clear, practical design documentation and gameplay specifications.
• Conduct playtests, identify design problems and iterate based on results.
• Ensure mechanics provide clear player feedback and meaningful decision-making.
• Consider how gameplay systems interact with narrative, environment and atmosphere.
• Collaborate with programming, art, animation, cinematics, audio and UI.
• Take ownership of assigned gameplay features from concept through playable implementation.