Great place to work, management and communication needs a lot of work - Anonymous Employee Playground Games Employee Review

3.0
May 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to work, will look good on CV. Clean and beautiful studio with countless perks. Hybrid with decent flex work hours. Overall, departments are encouraged to work closely with one another, building trust between teams. The vibes are, for most part, nice.

Cons

Very disorganised at lead and management level, resulting in ever changing decisions that are both disruptive and time wasting. If that wasn't bad enough, communication is extremely poor. Production fails to communicate to managers, who then don't rely to lead devs and qa, and in turn, information is never passed down to the rest of the team unless it starts affecting daily work. Certain departments have unexperienced leaders/manages who fail to address the foundations of their respective teams, building on top of something already broken, chaotic and undisciplined. The pressure to hit numbers results in bad practices, including errors, crunch, failed deadlines, bad budgeting... the list goes on and on. There is no KPI for internal roles to apply, which means experiences gained will hardly ever reflect on career goals or meritocratic promotions. It doesn't help that nepostism is so blatant that it feels uncomfotable sometimes. One or two are given 90% of the available opportunities, while the rest has to share the 10% in spite of their seniority.

Explore other reviews about Playground Games

1.0
Jul 5, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks. Access to healthcare benefits. Opportunity for (optional) bonuses. Gain valuable professional experience. Collaborate with supportive team members. Hybrid work options available.

Cons

Playground claims to be the 'best place to work in the industry,' but the reality is far from ideal. The culture here is deeply entrenched in crunch, despite their attempts to portray otherwise. If you value work-life balance, this isn't the place for you. Many across different departments visibly struggle under the relentless pressure imposed by senior leadership, often resulting in tears. While the work itself can be fulfilling, it's nothing exceptional. Advancement within the company is notoriously difficult unless there's an opening due to turnover. Those who excel at talking rather than doing often find themselves rewarded over those who quietly contribute. Networking and currying favor with higher-ups are crucial here; it's more about who you know than what you can do at Playground Games. Senior leadership bears a significant responsibility for the high turnover rates, largely due to poor planning and a tendency to blame and override team leads instead of fostering open discussion. Diversity is another glaring issue, especially in senior positions where women are notably underrepresented. The tools and technology used here are outdated and cumbersome, further adding to the frustration and turnover among employees. With a lack of experienced senior staff due to these challenges, opportunities for mentorship and growth are limited. In conclusion, while Playground Games offers competitive pay, it comes at the expense of a toxic work environment that I wouldn't recommend for anyone concerned about their well-being.

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