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Game Developer interview questionsGame Design Challenge round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Game Design, Creativity, Storytelling, Level Design, User Engagement.

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Introduction

5 min
•

Hi, I’m [YOUR_NAME], and I’m a [YOUR_TITLE] at [COMPANY_NAME]. I’m excited to learn more about your experience today.

•

Could you briefly introduce yourself and share what attracted you to apply for this position?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess communication skills, alignment with the role, and initial confidence.

Signals to score

  • Clear introduction provided
  • Relevant experience mentioned
  • Motivations for applying explained
  • Alignment with team values
  • Specific skills highlighted
  • Response is concise and organized
  • Understanding of role requirements

Follow-up questions

  • What excites you most about this position?
  • How does your background align with our team’s work?
•

Great, thank you for sharing! In the next 50 minutes, we’ll dive into a game design challenge to assess your skills in creativity, storytelling, and user engagement.

Game Design Challenge

50 min
•

Design a new game level for a popular platformer game. Consider the following aspects: theme, difficulty progression, player engagement, and unique mechanics. Explain your design choices.

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess creativity, storytelling, level design, and user engagement skills.

Signals to score

  • Clear theme and concept
  • Logical difficulty progression
  • Innovative mechanics
  • Engaging player experience
  • Consideration of target audience
  • Balance between challenge and fun
  • Explanation of design choices

Follow-up questions

  • What theme have you chosen for this level?
  • How does the difficulty progress throughout the level?
  • What unique mechanics are introduced?
  • How do you ensure the level is engaging for players?
•

If you had more time, what additional features or improvements would you incorporate into your game level design?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Signals to score

  • Recognizes limits in their original design
  • Points out clear areas to improve
  • Suggests specific changes
  • Talks about how changes could enhance player experience
  • Shares ideas clearly and logically
  • Shows a desire to learn and improve

Follow-up questions

  • What additional features would enhance the player experience?
  • How could you improve the level's visual appeal?
  • Are there any mechanics you would refine or expand upon?
•

Great job on the game design challenge!

Closing

5 min
•

Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.

Signals to score

  • Thoughtful questions asked
  • Interest in company culture
  • Curiosity about growth expressed
  • Questions about role raised
  • Inquiries about team challenges
  • Engagement with responses shown
  • Desire to learn next steps
  • Focus on company values expressed

Follow-up questions

  • What interests you most about this team?
  • Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
•

Thank you for your time today. We’ll be in touch soon regarding the next steps.

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Interview Template
Position
Game Developer
Round
Game Design Challenge for 60 min
Key skills
Game Design, Creativity, Storytelling, Level Design, User Engagement

Game Developer interviews — common questions

Who is this Game Developer interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Game Design Challenge round for a Game Developer role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 4 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
What does the Game Design Challenge round assess?
This round is focused on: Game Design, Creativity, Storytelling, Level Design, User Engagement. It works through Introduction, Game Design Challenge and Closing, scoring against 28 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 4 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
How is the 60 min split up?
Introduction (5 min), Game Design Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
What other rounds should I run for a Game Developer?

A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Game Developer: