Passionate Game Designer

My name is Ryan Yatabe, and I want to create games that make the world a happier place.


My Skills


Creating Game Concepts, Levels, and Mechanics

Game Design

Creative Writing

Writing full-size novels, game narratives, and interactive stories.

Project Management

Experience in Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, and Budgeting

Design Documentation

Creation and presentation of Game Design Documents, continuously iterating on concepts.

Commerce

Degree in Commerce covering Marketing, Economics, Accounting, SCM, and more.


My Projects

Click a Title to Learn More

Break the Card Tower is a roguelike strategy card game where your objective is to defeat opponents and ascend to the top of the tower. A core mechanic of the game is the player's ability to find combinations of cards that "break" the game—creating unlosable situations or instantly winning.

I was responsible for the creation of core card designs, mechanics, and card type identities.

Link to Cards and Concepts

Destroyer is a 2-4 player first-person co-op action game where players must work together to operate a modern warship and fight off sea creatures on a flooded planet Earth. Players navigate the massive scale warship as they steer, shoot, and repair damages.

I was the sole game designer and project manager, overseeing all phases of production.

Link to GDD

Atalla is a board game in both digital and analog formats for 2-6 players where players assemble a team of mercenaries and explore ancient ruins in search of treasure. Explore rooms and collect treasure, but watch out for nasty traps and monsters within the dungeon!

Created several iterations of the game, as well as a physical prototype.

Game Design Document
Room Cards
Event Cards
Treasure Cards

Pacifist assassin is a fantasy novel about a young woman who must decide between protecting her loved ones, and staying off the killer’s path. Granted significant power, she travels across the land trying to break free from the cycle of violence.

Written over the course of a few years as a passion project.

Sample Document

I’ve run several original Dungeons and Dragons campaigns as a DM, for a party of 5 players. These campaigns include custom enemies, locations, stories, and encounters.

I enjoyed learning about encounter balance and open-ended narratives.

Link to Campaigns

While studying at George Brown College, I created a demo level to showcase my abilities in both level design and Unreal Engine 5. The level is a first person shooter, in which players travel through a goblin encampment to reach freedom.

This assignment helped introduce me to Unreal Engine 5, as well as the level design process.

Link to Demo

As a project at George Brown College I joined a team of other students to create a virtual board game. We created Alien Crisis, a survival game in which players must cooperate (or betray each other) to repair an escape pod and leave a doomed spacecraft. To make matters worse, a deadly alien has broken free and wanders the halls…

I gained experience working with a team on this project, as well as the development lifecycle.

Steam Workshop Link

Misc. Projects

Genshin uTCG

An unofficial card game for Genshin Impact I designed and creates in TTS before the official card game released.

Card Images
Rulebook

DBD Fan Chapter

A design document outlining a custom chapter release for the horror game Dead by Daylight. It includes a killer, survivor, and map.

Link

The Return Screenplay

A written script for a play that I wrote and directed as part of the stage company at my high school. A recording of the play can be provided at request, but will not be publicly uploaded for the actors’ privacy.

Link

Currently Working On…

Untitled Extraction Shooter

Into the Abyss - DnD Campaign

Close-Up Card Magic

Take on the role of transfer student Kazato Keita as he explores life at his new high school in this psychological horror visual novel. Make friends with the many colorful characters and explore the school's various clubs as you experience all Umitachi High has in store for you.

Be warned, however—this peaceful school life is more delicate than it seems. All it takes is a single event to cascade everything into chaos...

Play Online!

In Deep Signal, you’re a submarine captain tasked with investigating a sudden and unusual distress call deep below the sea. The path is treacherous, however, and dwindling supplies means every decision will determine your survival.

Will you be able to uncover what lies below?

Created in a team of 3 as part of the Beginner’s Game Jam April 2024.

Link to Latest Build


A full set of Atalla cards and pieces

I graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Commerce, before studying at George Brown College to obtain a post-graduate certificate in game design. This mix of disciplines has helped me form unique perspectives when it comes to game management and development.

I have experience working on video games, board games, card games, novels, visual novels, character design, and more.

I currently live in Toronto, and I’m willing to travel if required.

I’d Love to Hear From You!