Eligibility

• Currently enrolled undergraduate (junior or senior) graduate student or recent graduate (up to 6 months).

• Available 40 hours per week in-office in Los Angeles.

• 10 week duration

• Paid internship: $25/hr

Were looking for 23 passionate Game Design Interns to join our team for a 10-week paid internship. Youll work hands-on with our design team on two live titles Good Pizza Great Pizza and Good Coffee Great Coffee contributing directly to the game designs mechanics and balance that shape the player experience. Youll be doing real design work pitching ideas and seeing your contributions make it into games played by millions. At the end of the 10 weeks top-performing interns will be considered for a full-time Associate Game Designer role.

About TapBlaze

Our mission is to create memorable entertainment experiences for players around the world. Our vision is to become one of the worlds leading entertainment companies. As a self-funded independent studio we only answer to our players - not investors not publishers. Good Pizza Great Pizza has been downloaded more than 300 million times and we did it with a small focused team.

Our core values drive everything we do:

• We are ambitious. We aim to build games that are remembered for decades.

• We are disciplined. We make deliberate well-reasoned decisions.

• We are ownership-minded. If its your area you own it the wins and the problems.

• We are results oriented. We measure success by what ships and what players experience.

• We are extra-ordinary. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than the industry expects of a studio our size.

We are seeking individuals that share these values and are looking to level up themselves the games they work on and the company they work for. Only with great attention to details can this be achieved. Please include the phrase beauty is in the details in your cover letter.

What Youll Do

• Prototype and pitch an original idea for a new feature event or content update.

• Collaborate with the design team to develop and iterate on a game mechanic system and/or content for Good Pizza Great Pizza and Good Coffee Great Coffee.

• Design document and balance in-game systems including recipes progression customer behaviors and economy tuning.

• Create and maintain clear detailed design documentation (feature specs balance spreadsheets flowcharts).

• Playtest builds and provide structured actionable feedback on gameplay feel and balance.

• Analyze player data and feedback to identify balance issues and opportunities for improvement.

• Participate in design reviews brainstorms and team critiques.

What Were Looking For

• A genuine love of games and a curiosity about what makes them work. You think about why a mechanic is fun not just that its fun.

• Foundational understanding of game design principles: feedback loops pacing progression player motivation and economy design.

• Strong analytical skills comfort with spreadsheets numbers and tuning variables to find the right balance.

• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to explain and defend design decisions.

• A collaborative mindset and openness to feedback

• Self-motivated with the ability to manage time and prioritize across multiple tasks.

• Great attention to details - you read the full job description.

Bonus Points

• Experience with game design tools (Unity game engines Claude prototyping tools or scripting).

• A portfolio passion project or game jam entry that showcases your design thinking.

• Familiarity with mobile/casual game design and free-to-play economies.

• Experience with or knowledge of cozy simulation restaurant or management game genres.

• Background in data analysis or player behavior research.

What Youll Gain

• Hands-on experience designing for live games with real player bases.

• Mentorship

• A deep understanding of mobile game design balancing and live operations.

• A clear pathway to a full-time Associate Game Designer position based on performance.

• A portfolio-worthy body of work from your contributions.

Physical Requirements

• Los Angeles CA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work;

• Prolonged period of time sitting at a desk and computer.

Commitment to Diversity

As an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the needs of a multigenerational and multicultural workforce TAPBLAZE recognizes that a diverse staff reflective of our community is an integral and welcome part of a successful and ethical business. We hire local talent at all levels regardless of race color religion age national origin gender gender identity sexual orientation or disability and actively foster inclusion in all forms both within our company and across interactions with vendors and partners.

If this position caught your eye send us your resume! For best consideration include a cover letter in your application explaining why you would be a great fit.

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Required Experience:

Intern