At Values Value, we carried out an extensive search for a Senior Game Designer for our client. They were looking for an expert in the merge-2 genre with experience in top-grossing projects. The company had already been searching for this specialist on their own but without success. Thanks to our thorough work, we not only hired a Senior Game Designer but also found an experienced Head of Game Design.
In this case study, we’ll share the main challenges we faced and the key factors that led to our success.
Project: Casual Free-To-Play / Merge-2 Project / iOS, Android
Desired Candidate Profile:
We were looking for an experienced game designer with specific expertise in the merge-2 genre. Key requirements included:
- Experience leading features as a feature owner across all development stages (planning, implementation, analysis, and improvement).
- Proven track record in launching and operating casual F2P projects.
- Strong understanding of the F2P gaming market and current industry trends.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to accept and act on feedback.
Challenges
The main challenge was that there are very few experts in the merge-2 genre. The goal was to find a specialist with core experience in merge-2, specifically in top-grossing projects. The client had already tried searching independently but without success. It became clear that candidates from CIS and post-CIS countries who were open to considering the role did not perform well enough on the test assignment, while European candidates were less responsive to the opportunity.
Our top priority was to identify a candidate from CIS and post-CIS region, considering the client’s extensive no-hire list.
What Helped to Fill the Position
We managed to engage several specialists from competing companies in initial calls, but they were only willing to consider new opportunities in six months’ time. We regularly highlighted these risks to the client and kept European candidates in reserve. The hiring managers were open to dialogue, which allowed us to adjust our search strategy and actively engage with European candidates. However, the number of relevant specialists remained limited.
Eventually, we found a strong candidate from a European company who later accepted the offer. Interestingly, the hiring manager had previously tried to reach out to this candidate without success. Our approach helped spark their interest, leading to further discussions with the company and successful completion of the test assignment. The candidate was ultimately offered a high-level position — Head of Game Design.
This success was the result of close collaboration between the hiring manager and our team. The candidate accepted the offer because it provided a greater opportunity to influence the project.
But that wasn’t all!
Initially, we were searching for one candidate, but a second hire happened unexpectedly. The second candidate’s core expertise was in merge-2 economy design. She had built the economic system for one of the client’s main competitors. Although her experience differed from the initial hiring request, it turned out to be highly valuable. The client initially engaged her as a consultant for the project. Approximately a month into the collaboration, she decided to join the company full-time.
On the Values Value side, the process was managed by Dariia Tokar, our Recruitment Consultant. The sourcer on the project was Oleksandr Tsyrkunov. Great job!
