How to write a game designer cover letter (with example)

Updated 11 April 2023

As a game designer, you might help develop concepts, art and animations for games. To successfully secure a job in this role, it's necessary that you develop an interesting application that demonstrates your experience, skills and career aspirations. One way to show potential employers that you can be the right candidate is to write an engaging cover letter. In this article, we explain how to write a game designer cover letter, help you review the role's responsibilities and share an example cover letter that you can use as inspiration when applying for a job as a game designer.

What is a game designer?

A game designer is a creative professional who works alongside developers to create video games. While the developer's role is to write the code that serves as a game's engine, a designer develops storylines, characters and environments that players encounter in the game. The following are some other responsibilities that game designers have:

developing new game themes
brainstorming gameplay ideas
writing plots and storylines
developing and drawing game characters
creating maps and scenarios
designing game objects and environments
working with testers and other designers to develop game difficulty levels
conceptualising rules and settings for new games
attending industry conferences and events
monitoring trends in the game industry
training game testers

How to write a game designer cover letter

Learning how to write a game designer cover letter can help you to share your passion and suitability for roles in the future. Here are the steps you can take:

1. Provide your contact information

Start writing your cover letter by providing your contact information at the top of the page. Include your full name, phone number, email and city where you live. As a game designer, you're also likely to have a digital portfolio, which you can link in a separate line. Usually, a cover letter's header mirrors the one you already included in your CV. This helps recruiters identify you as a candidate and quickly contact you if they want to invite you to a job interview or ask for more references.

2. Write today's date and include a greeting

In a new section, write today's date. You can follow a standard date format, for example, 4 September 2022. Under the date, skip one line and in a new one, include a formal greeting. If you know the recruiter's full name but are unsure of their preferred pronouns, it's appropriate to simply use their first and last name, for example, Dear John Smith. If you know the pronouns they use to refer to themselves, you can also choose a greeting like Dear Mr Smith.

3. Introduce yourself

Use the first paragraph of your cover letter to introduce yourself. In the first few sentences, make sure to refer to the specific role in which you're interested, mentioning the job title and company name. You may also briefly explain why you think you're a good fit for the position and what makes you excited about the opportunity. For example, after working in game design for a few years, some professionals develop managerial or leadership aspirations, which inspires them to look for more responsible positions where they can lead a team.

4. Discuss your experience

In a new paragraph, discuss how your work experience makes you qualified. Remember that a good cover letter accurately demonstrates your background without repeating the information that you included in your CV. To make sure you don't repeat yourself, try talking about new aspects of your previous jobs that the recruiter might consider interesting. For instance, if you mentioned in the CV that you attended gaming conventions on behalf of your employer, in your cover letter you can talk more about them and explain what valuable lessons or new skills you learned thanks to these events.

5. Mention your accomplishments

Briefly mention and discuss some of your notable accomplishments. Choose to talk about successes that closely relate to the role you want to secure. For example, you can mention any external industry titles or awards you received, such as for the best character development or storyline in a game. For most employers, it's also good to know that candidates for game designers have some internal achievements that demonstrate their teamwork, collaboration or creativity.

6. Explain why you're a good fit for the role

After discussing your background, you can write a few sentences explaining how your experience and skills make you a good fit for the role. For example, if an employer is looking for someone who can conceptualise new game ideas, you can demonstrate that you're up-to-date with industry news and have exceptional creativity. Even if you meet fewer job requirements, proving that you're a good fit can increase your chances of advancing to the next round in the recruitment process.

7. Include a professional closing

Close your cover letter by thanking the recruiter for their time and consideration. You can also inform them about your availability and where to contact you if they want to ask additional questions or schedule a job interview. Under the last paragraph, write a formal closing, like Sincerely, and include your signature.

8. Proofread and edit

This step helps you make sure there are no errors in the document, which demonstrates attention to detail and shows that you care about the job. As a part of this, you can also check your letter's word count to make sure it's the right length. A standard cover letter is between 200 and 400 words.

Example cover letter for a game designer

Reviewing examples can help you better understand what's the right structure of a cover letter and what recruiters expect to find in them. Here's an example cover letter for a game designer:

Mark Hughes +44 (0) 7890 123456| contact@markhughesgames.com | London
markhughesgames.com/portfolio

3 September 2022

Dear Ms Jones,

I'm writing to express my interest in the open position for senior game designer at Game & Design Entertainment Ltd. As an experienced and ambitious designer with six years of experience leading and managing game development projects, I'm seeking a position in which I can further develop my skills and help junior designers strengthen their professional abilities. I admire your company's approach to incorporating customer feedback into your games and game updates, which is the direction in which I aspire to go with my career.

In the job description, you expressed that you're looking for someone with a strong background in design and the potential to lead a team of game developers and designers. I've demonstrated these capabilities throughout my career by winning the title of Best Designer in Gaming 2021 and leading a team of five designers, which was a part of my previous position. In addition, in the past six years, I worked on four best-selling games. One of them, a mobile trivia quiz, reached over a million of downloads. I'd be thrilled to use those experiences to help you develop innovative game ideas.

In the past year, I also had the opportunity to develop and teach an intermediate online course in game design. As you can see from my experience, I'm a proactive and ambitious person who's passionate about the gaming industry. Thank you for taking the time to review my application, I look forward to learning more about this opportunity. If you have additional questions, you can contact me at contact@markhughesgames.com or +44 (0) 7890 123456.

Sincerely,
Mark Hughes

Disclaimer: The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.