Andy Bae
Game Narrative Designer
I am specialized in crafting compelling story content and advanced narrative systems for games with limited production budgets.
For over 7 years, I served in many different roles in AAA and indie game studios that inform not only my holistic expertise in development, but also my people-first leadership and communication style.
View or print my Resume
Quick Facts about Me:- Was the sole narrative designer and writer for an self-published indie game with over 200 Steam reviews applauding the story and characters
- Frequently the go-to person for lore, in-game text, and localization in companies when hired as a game designer
- Convinced 10+ people to join an indie game project and work without pay for a 1 year development period in 2024--and again with a new team in 2026
- Guest presenter for industry events, university classes, and livestreams, spoke on how to create great games with small teams
Based in Vancouver, BC (open to relocation)
Contact me via: Email, LinkedIn
Or...scroll down to learn more about me and the games I worked on! π
Portfolio
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My Best Work in Games
- Yet Another Killing Game (2025)
- Director, Narrative Designer, Programmer, Project Manager
- Bus Stop at World's End (2026)
- Narrative Designer, Project Manager
About Andy...
- ...as an Industry Voice inspiring growth and new talent
- ...as a Team Leader who values trust among colleagues
- ...as a Game Designer fond of the MDA framework
- ...as a Writer with impressed readers turned into fans
Yet Another Killing Game
Director, Narrative Designer, Programmer, Project Manager | Q1 2025
A mystery thriller adventure game where the amnesiac protagonist is trapped in a "death game" with two other victims, and your choices determine if they will uncover the game's secrets or die trying.
Despite being self-published, it has attracted many dedicated niche fans swearing by its story and overall game quality, and exceeded our overall sales predictions on Steam by a wide margin.
Buy or play the demo on Steam | Watch the official trailer on YouTube
What I did for the project:
- Created the original prototype solo with commissioned assets
- Convinced 10+ team members to work on it without pay for 1 year
- Wrote all 10,000+ dialogue lines and Python code for the game
- Drove project management and released without a single delay
- Spoke publicly on my experience recruiting and leading the team
- Read "Andy as an Industry Voice" for more details!
Bus Stop at World's End
Narrative Designer, Project Manager | Q1 2026
A vastly multi-linear visual novel where you play as a young rescuer trying to save a lone girl at a bus stop after the world's supposed end.
With 30 discoverable endings and a masterfully crafted gameplay loop, players applauded how the game uses your curiosity to drive replayability, and offers an overall experience of a surprisingly high quality for a 15-day game jam project.
Play the game on itch.io | Watch the official trailer on YouTube
What I did for the project:
- Led brainstorming and concept finalization for our team of 5
- Mapped out narrative branches and their conditions in Arcweave
- Wrote all 1500+ dialogue lines and 30 endings in Yarn Spinner
- Directed art, programming, and audio to concurrently complete work and successfully released the game in under 15 days
Other Notable Works

- First time self-publishing to Steam
- My role: game/level design, project management (PM) work
- Play the game on Steam

- Game jam project with 2 people and 1 week
- My role: Programming (Gamemaker Studio), game/feature/economy design
- Play the game on itch.io

- Result of a 2 month program to create a marketable product, prototype, and pitch
- My role: game design, PM, pitch slidedecks informed by market data
- Gameplay recording on YouTube
- Learn more on LinkedIn
in Appendix A: More Games I Worked On
But who is Andy Bae?
What makes him unique in the games industry?
I like to talk in front of people.
I'm gradually becoming a leading voice in Canadian and global game industries, especially on the topic of scalable game development without publisher support or funding.
- Guest speaker for a local game industry event with 200+ attendees
- Topic: how to build trust with a team that you're not paying
- Watch the presentation on YouTube
- View the presentation slides
- Guest lecturer for a university's Advanced Game Design class
- Topic: the unique challenges of indie game dev not taught in schools
- Learn more on LinkedIn
- View the presentation slides
- Guest appearance in a YouTube livestream for university students
- Open Q&A about how university education prepares you for game dev
- Watch the Shorts clip on YouTube
- Watch the full Q&A on YouTube
I strive to be worthy of leading others.
Even before I earned my current reputation, people were drawn to me because I offered them safety, confidence, and well-planned goals. And in return, I trusted them to solve problems, grow, and deliver their best work.
I am still in the midst of a lifelong journey as a leader, but everything I have so far is thanks to talented people who chose to believe in my vision and join me in bringing it to life.
My Professional Values
Servant Leadership
+ Emotional Intelligence = HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS!
Clear Docs and Communication
Write GDDs, but also be ready to summarize what's important
Prepare Pitches, Earn Trust
Not just executives; even co-workers should have trust in your vision!
Timely Feedback, Agile Planning
Refining workflows that "work for us" to consistently meet milestones
Team Meetings with Purpose
What to prepare? What to decide? Let's use everyone's time wisely~
Diversity in Collaboration
Great ideas can come from anyone, even from the less experienced
Examples of How I Work
Prepare Pitches, Earn Trust

"Here are my scope estimates for art if we do this game concept idea, what do you guys think?"
"Worst case, we can get away with not having a player avatar, but out of all the stretch goals, that one's the first one we should try to get in."

Clear Docs and Communication

"As you can see, node BC03 branches out into 3 more endings, but the middle option requires Level 5 Conviction, so the soonest this can be accessed is after 4 playthroughs..."
"The true ending? Here, let me find it, it's...TE05. ...Found it? Great!"

Team Meetings with Purpose

"Thanks for meeting with me. Did you find some time to look at the options I collected for the hair here?"
"Oh, you already prepared a few sketches? Awesome, let's take a look! (We might even end this meeting early~)"

Kind Words from People I Worked With
"It's not often [someone] is able to lead the game alone with zero delays..."
"...his concepts are clearly communicated across cross-functional teams..."
"...intuitive about how systems can be leveraged to satisfy design requirements..."
Video games have been my life for 25+ years.
- Almost every Nintendo IP (e.g. Mario, Kirby, Pokemon, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade Chronicles, Splatoon)
- RPGs (e.g. Undertale, Final Fantasy)
- Story-rich (e.g. Ace Attorney, Outer Wilds)
- Puzzle battlers (e.g. Tetris 99, Puyo Puyo)
- Fighting games (e.g. Smash Bros, BlazBlue)
βOn my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.β
-Satoru Iwata, former president of Nintendo
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Studied game design in
School of Interactive Arts and Technology
at Simon Fraser University
- MDA framework: analyzing the relationship of mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics
- Setting game pillars to guide creativity and prevent production overscope
- Using game branding and other first impressions to set (and twist) player expectations
- Proving concepts via prototype playtesting ASAP (even for visual novels)
I never run out of stories to tell.
I have been dreaming up stories since middle school, getting constantly inspired by games, anime, books, TV shows, movies, and living life as a human.
Games specifically pulled me in as a storytelling medium from its interactivity, its potential for immersion, how it stimulates imagination, and even player perception as influenced by its culture or history as a "toy".

Even with just words, storytelling can come in many different forms, and I have had opportunities to explore many of them throughout my career.
But if you care more about my games, then scroll down just a bit more...
Appendix A: More Games I Worked On
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