Principal Game Designer, Trading Card Games; TCG

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Fanatics TCG is a new trading card game business, the newest member of the Fanatics Collectibles family. We are here to build the best TCG studio and games in the world.

Fanatics TCG is a new trading card game business, the newest member of the Fanatics Collectibles family. We are here to build the best TCG studio and games in the world.

If you have passion, and skill, and if you believe trading card games represent the very best of what games have to offer, please reach out to us.

The Principal Game Designer serves as the technical and systems design authority for Fanatics Collectibles’ trading card game. This role translates creative vision into durable mechanics, rules, and formats while mentoring designers and shaping the long‑term health of the game.

• Design and evolve core game systems, rules, and resource models
• Lead set‑level and mechanic design for major releases
• Own balance philosophy, play testing frameworks, and iteration processes
• Partner with Live Ops and Data to support ongoing gameplay health
• Mentor senior and mid‑level designers and set design standards

• Minimum 8 years of professional game or TCG design experience
• Shipped experience on at least one successful card or competitive game
• Deep expertise in systems design and balance for live games
• Experience designing for both initial launch and long‑term live support

• Strong systems thinking and analytical problem‑solving
• Ability to simplify complex mechanics into elegant designs
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Collaborative mindset across creative and technical teams

Achieving our goals requires strong collaboration and partnership between our teams and internal stakeholders. To best support this, the person who accepts this role is expected to be onsite in‑office five days per week.

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $140,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short‑term or long‑term incentive compensation. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training.

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods;

collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sports book and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes;

and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

Fanatics Collectibles is a new model and vision for the hobby, fundamentally changing the experience for current and future collectors, leagues, and players across many U.S. and international professional and college sports. The organization has long‑term, exclusive rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards for several sports and entertainment properties, including MLB, MLBPA, the Premier League, MLS, UFC, Formula 1 as well as Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, among others.

In January 2022, Fanatics Collectibles announced the acquisition of Topps, establishing the preeminent licensed trading card brand as the cornerstone of Fanatics’ trading cards and collectibles business, and jump‑started its MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards.