Job Description

Who We Are

At YallaPlay, We are a rapidly growing startup mobile gaming studio on a mission to bring people together through play, we create exciting mobile games that bring joy to millions of players worldwide. Founded in Austin, Texas, we've since expanded to Brazil and the UAE, growing our diverse and talented team of creators. We pride ourselves on a fun and collaborative work environment, with a remote-friendly culture and a dedication to producing high-quality, engaging games. Our current titles, including “Spades Masters” (iOS/Android), have been enjoyed by millions of players globally. 

Our passion lies in reinventing card games infusing them with fresh mechanics, beautiful design, and social features that spark connection and excitement. As we continue to scale, we're looking for creative, driven individuals who are excited to help shape the future of multiplayer mobile gaming in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Join us and be part of building something big from the ground up.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a passionate and hands-on Game Designer to help shape the next generation of engaging mobile card games. This role is central to our product team and reports directly to the Producer.

With a strong foundation in mobile game design, especially in card games and social mechanics, the ideal candidate thrives on crafting systems that balance challenge, fun, and monetization. Deep knowledge of player behavior, retention strategies, and in-game economy design is key. You are constantly researching the market, following new trends, and iterating on your ideas. You understand player behavior, know how to design around retention and engagement, and have a strong grasp of game monetization and economy fundamentals.

This role collaborates closely with cross-functional teams—Art, Engineering, Analytics, and LiveOps—to bring game concepts to life in a way that's both imaginative and data-informed. Curiosity, adaptability, and a finger on the pulse of mobile gaming trends are essential to thrive in this environment.

This position can be remote or based at our state-of-the-art offices in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and document engaging game systems, core loops, features, and user flows tailored for mobile card and social games.
• Create clear and comprehensive Game Design Documents (GDDs), wireframes, feature specs, and mockups that can be easily understood and implemented by engineering and art teams.
• Research and benchmark competitor games regularly to stay up to date with the latest design trends, mechanics, and monetization strategies.
• Collaborate with the product, analytics, and LiveOps teams to understand system performance and make data-driven design decisions.
• Develop and iterate on monetization mechanics, in-game economies, and player progression systems.
• Understand player motivations and behavior to design systems that drive engagement, retention, and LTV.
• Participate in feature scoping, sprint planning, and agile processes to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
• Provide feedback and direction during playtests, feature reviews, and UX reviews to ensure the intended design is being achieved.
• Maintain thorough documentation to support scalability, consistency, and onboarding of new team members.

What We're Looking For

What you need to have:

• 7+ years of experience in game design, preferably in mobile F2P games.
• Strong understanding of mobile social game design, especially in card, board, or casual top-table genres.
• Hands-on experience creating and documenting complex game systems.
• Ability to create wireframes, user flows, and design specs using tools like Figma, Miro, or similar.
• Solid knowledge of player segmentation, behavioral patterns, and game engagement loops.
• Familiarity with free-to-play economy systems and monetization design principles.
• Experience working closely with product and data teams to evaluate system performance and suggest improvements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present ideas clearly and effectively.
• Self-driven, highly organized, and detail-oriented with a collaborative spirit.
• Passion for mobile games and an active player of card or social games.

Nice to have:

• Hands-on experience in LiveOps events, challenges, or seasonal content design.
• Background in game economy balancing or experience working alongside game economists.
• Familiarity with Unity and basic technical constraints of mobile development.

Why YallaPlay

What You Get

• Real Impact – You'll work on meaningful projects that reach a global audience.
• Collaborative Culture – Small team, big ambition. We keep things fun, respectful, and feedback-driven.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive salary
• Remote-first and flexible schedule- Digital nomad friendly
• Generous paid time off
• Paid birthdays off
• UAE visa sponsorship (if applicable)
• Growth opportunities and access to learning resources
• A team that actually loves games—and each other

Next Steps

Ready to join the team? We'd love to hear from you!

• Apply
• A portfolio or design documentation that showcases your process, shipped titles, or prototypes

We review every application carefully and will be in touch if there's a fit. Good luck!

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