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Hi, I’m Ishan Gupta, a game designer and writer based in San Ramon, CA. I’m on track to graduate in June 2025 from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BS in Art & Design: Games + Playable Media, and I’ve earned Honors recognition along the way. I’m passionate about crafting narrative-driven experiences that explore identity, memory, and cross-cultural belonging. I design characters, worlds, and game systems, and I prototype with Ren’Py, Twine, and Unity. My projects span independent narrative games to analog party concepts, and I enjoy iterating through playtests to refine tone, pacing, and player agency.…Hi, I’m Ishan Gupta, a game designer and writer based in San Ramon, CA. I’m on track to graduate in June 2025 from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BS in Art & Design: Games + Playable Media, and I’ve earned Honors recognition along the way. I’m passionate about crafting narrative-driven experiences that explore identity, memory, and cross-cultural belonging. I design characters, worlds, and game systems, and I prototype with Ren’Py, Twine, and Unity. My projects span independent narrative games to analog party concepts, and I enjoy iterating through playtests to refine tone, pacing, and player agency.

Ishan Gupta

Game Designer, Character Designer, Writer, +3

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Hi, I’m Ishan Gupta, a game designer and writer based in San Ramon, CA. I’m on track to graduate in June 2025 from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BS in Art & Design: Games + Playable Media, and I’ve earned Honors recognition along the way. I’m passionate about crafting narrative-driven experiences that explore identity, memory, and cross-cultural belonging. I design characters, worlds, and game systems, and I prototype with Ren’Py, Twine, and Unity. My projects span independent narrative games to analog party concepts, and I enjoy iterating through playtests to refine tone, pacing, and player agency.…Hi, I’m Ishan Gupta, a game designer and writer based in San Ramon, CA. I’m on track to graduate in June 2025 from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BS in Art & Design: Games + Playable Media, and I’ve earned Honors recognition along the way. I’m passionate about crafting narrative-driven experiences that explore identity, memory, and cross-cultural belonging. I design characters, worlds, and game systems, and I prototype with Ren’Py, Twine, and Unity. My projects span independent narrative games to analog party concepts, and I enjoy iterating through playtests to refine tone, pacing, and player agency.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Ishan Gupta, a game designer and writer based in San Ramon, CA. I’m on track to graduate in June 2025 from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BS in Art & Design: Games + Playable Media, and I’ve earned Honors recognition along the way.

I’m passionate about crafting narrative-driven experiences that explore identity, memory, and cross-cultural belonging. I design characters, worlds, and game systems, and I prototype with Ren’Py, Twine, and Unity. My projects span independent narrative games to analog party concepts, and I enjoy iterating through playtests to refine tone, pacing, and player agency.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Narrative Designer / Game Designer at Independent Projects (Ren'Py & Twine)

October 2, 2024 - Present

Developed character-driven dialogue and quest text for a narrative-focused digital game; built branching dialogue using Twine and prototyped gameplay with Ren’Py; wrote narrative content and social media copy; contributed voice acting.

Analog Party Game Designer at Independent

September 2, 2024 - Present

Conceptualized and prototyped a narrative-driven party card game; designed 13 unique characters with distinct personalities and dialogue styles; created a cohesive world, tone, and game mechanics; produced print-ready game materials and a rulebook.

Chic Boutique – Ren’Py Project at Independent

October 2, 2024 - Present

Designed a constructed language and cultural context for the protagonist’s culture; developed world-building, character backstory, and narrative arcs; composed music and assets to reflect character personalities and fashion styles; delivered prototype for UCSC AGPM program.

Freelance Marketing at Solwin LLC, San Ramon

May 1, 2020 - Present

Set up an Airbnb listing, photographed cabin and facilities, wrote descriptions, and marketed via campus networks to generate interest.

Digital Game Developer at Sundew Valley

May 1, 2024 - June 1, 2024

Solo-developed a digital game using RPG Maker MZ; crafted story elements, lore, and dialogue; produced original music; built character arcs and world-building; contributed to a cohesive tone and prototyped the concept for potential adaptation.

Game Designer at Recipe Rumble

November 2, 2023 - December 2, 2023

Analog-party strategy game: designed game-play mechanics, props, and music; hosted 10+ playtests and served as host/judge; contributed to world-building and narrative prompts; developed game materials and user-facing text.

Narrative Designer / Game Designer at Ren'Py & Twine (Independent project)

October 1, 2024 - Present

Designed and developed a text-based, choose-your-own-adventure exploring identity, memory, and loss; created branching narrative structures and tone; developed a cipher system to uncover hidden texts; wrote all narrative content; prototyped in Twine and Ren’Py; explored potential media adaptations.

Game Designer at Chic Boutique (Ren'Py Project)

October 1, 2024 - Present

Designed and developed a Ren’Py-based text game; composed original music; built character backstory, world-building, and mood; crafted branching dialogue and player interactions; produced prototype assets.

Game Designer / Host at Analog Party Game (Sun Dew Valley / Sundew Valley Project)

September 1, 2024 - Present

Created a narrative-driven party card game inspired by reality dating shows; designed gameplay mechanics, props, and music; hosted 10+ playtests to balance and refine; acted as host and judge; produced game materials and prompts.

Marketing / Content Creator at Solwwin LLC

May 1, 2020 - Present

Collaborated with the owner to set up an Airbnb listing for a vacation rental; photographed the cabin and wrote descriptions; advertised on college campuses to generate interest.