Game Designer

Carry1st is Africa's leading games publisher and monetization platform. Our Platform business unit helps top global companies grow their player base and revenues across Africa and the Middle East; while our Studio unit acquires, develops, and publishes first-party mobile games for global audiences. Our partners include Activision, EA, Riot Games, and Net Ease and we're backed by top investors like a16z, Bitkraft, Google, Konvoy, Sony, Riot Games, and Nas.

We're scaling awesome content by solving hard problems at the intersection of content, publishing, and digital commerce.

As Game Designer you'll drive the 0->1 development of new game experiences and meticulously design core features and systems. This role is for a player-centric designer obsessed with core mechanics and feel, who can passionately reinforce the overarching game vision to deeply resonate with players. You'll be instrumental in shaping foundational gameplay, driving innovation, and delivering engaging, polished features from concept to implementation.

You'll collaborate closely with our Product, Creative, and Engineering teams, using your design skills, product mentality, and passion for mobile games to design new gameplay features at every stage, from documentation and implementation to content creation and data management, ensuring successful feature delivery.

• Develop product vision through (player and competitor) research, brainstorming, and concepting
• Lead the design of the core mechanics, systems and progression, ensuring gameplay is authentic and engaging for modern mobile audiences
• Document design specifications that effectively communicate multi-disciplinary design goals and meet the player's needs
• Build prototypes through various mediums including user flow diagrams and clickable wireframes
• Collaborate with engineering to support feature implementation, helping to identify and resolve design challenges and edge-cases
• Engage with players before, during, and after feature implementations to understand and solve for their desires and challenges

• 5+ years of Game Design experience in mobile and free-to-play games, with a focus on casual, puzzle or strategy genres
• A strong portfolio showcasing work on innovative mechanics and engaging features, particularly in the 0->1 phase of development
• Deep knowledge of Mancala or similar turn-based strategy games and an ability to identify how their mechanics can be modernized for digital play
• Deep understanding of game design principles, player psychology, and UX best practices
• Exceptional ability to articulate and communicate complex design ideas clearly and concisely to cross-functional partners
• Proficiency with game design tools and software (e.g., Unity, Figma or other similar prototyping tools)
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and player feedback to inform decisions
• A relentless passion for games and a keen eye for detail, especially concerning gameplay mechanics and player feel

• Build awesome, industry-changing products, every day
• Grow with a VC-backed startup at the intersection of gaming and fintech
• Work from anywhere in the world with international teammates
• Own shares in the Company - enabling you to benefit from the value you create
• Co-working excursions:
  Travel to meet your colleagues in cities around the world
• Awesome equipment:
  Get everything you need to work effectively
• Remote working allowance:
  Put an additional $600 / year to optimise your WFH experience
• Learning and development:
  Attend courses, conferences and training events
• Social events:
  Participate in regular company events to relax and connect with teammates

We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. Join us!