Combat Systems Designer

About the Studio

We are building the next generation of gameplay-driven interactive entertainment. Our studio focuses on acquiring and evolving legacy gaming IP that helped define entire eras of players. We seek out franchises with proven impact and passionate communities, and bring them forward using modern technology, deeper gameplay systems, and a player-first design philosophy.

Our current project centers around a well-known legacy sports IP that previously sold millions of copies. Our goal is not simply to recreate what existed before, but to evolve it — pushing gameplay systems, design, and competitive depth to a new level. We believe the best games emerge when technical excellence, physics engines, and player-first design intersect.

The Role

We are looking for a Combat Systems Designer who specializes in the intersection of physicality and player expression. This game has combat baked into its DNA — players don't just compete, they clash. The punches, the dirty plays, the over-the-top physical confrontations that made the original memorable are not a side feature. They are a core pillar. You will own that pillar.

You will design the systems that govern how players physically interact with each other — the hit detection, the reaction states, the escalation mechanics, the risk-reward of choosing violence over strategy. You will work closely with engineers and animators to make sure every collision feels deliberate, weighty, and satisfying.

Responsibilities

• Design and own the combat and physical interaction systems for a sports-combat hybrid game
• Define hit states, reaction animations, knockback logic, and escalation systems
• Work closely with the Character & Animation Artist to ensure combat reads clearly and feels impactful
• Collaborate with gameplay engineers to implement and iterate on combat mechanics
• Balance combat as a strategic option — powerful enough to matter, costly enough to think twice
• Prototype and test combat interactions constantly — feel is everything
• Document systems clearly so engineers can implement and artists can animate to spec

Qualifications

• Experience designing combat or physical interaction systems for a shipped title
• Strong understanding of hitboxes, hurtboxes, frame data, and reaction states
• Ability to think about combat as both a design system and a player psychology problem
• Experience working at the intersection of design, engineering, and animation
• Strong communication skills — you can describe a punch in a way an animator can feel and an engineer can build

Bonus Experience

• Experience on sports, fighting, or brawler game titles
• Familiarity with physics-driven combat systems
• Experience designing for competitive balance in a combat context
• A deep appreciation for games where the hits feel like they mean something

Why Join Us

The combat in this game is what separates it from every other sports title on the market. You will not be adding a feature — you will be defining a signature. In a studio where the people making the decisions are the people making the game, your design work goes directly into the product without layers of approval standing in the way.

If you want to design combat that players argue about for years, we want to talk.