About Me

The designer, on an average day

My name is Luther Patenge (they/she/he) and I’m a game designer currently based out of San Francisco. I’m open to moving for the right position, but I’ve also worked remotely with great success since 2016.

When I’m not making games I’m teaching martial arts, having friends over for movie nights (the stranger, the better), writing personal pieces, hosting tabletop RPG sessions, and painting miniatures. I also love a good tea party and a late night out dancing.

I like making games that make players feel something. Players don’t just witness the actions that occur on screen, they participate in them. This gives a kind of connection that’s unavailable in other mediums. This mindset guides everything I make. I often start at ‘how do we want the player to feel right here?’ and then work backwards from there to how we can best accomplish that. Detours happen along the way, but that’s just the joy of a creative field.

Favorite Games (In No Particular Order)

  • Spec Ops: The Line (2012)

  • Master of Magic (1994)

  • Steel Battalion: Line of Contact (2004)

  • Warhammer 40,000 (1987)

  • Dispatch (2025)

  • Disco Elysium (2019)

  • Mass Effect 2 (2010)

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

  • Aviary Attorney (2015)

  • Hotline Miami (2012)

  • Gods Will Be Watching (2014)

Some Warhammer 40,000 minis I painted

“Luther is an incredibly talented and creative game designer, however my first thought of him is always as a delight to work with. Throughout our time working together at Exploding Kittens, I could always count on Luther to encourage me to think bigger, consider new possibilities, and challenge our norms. Not only is Luther extremely dependable and consistent in his execution, he also looks for ways to level up his entire team … I would recommend Luther for any role where he can have a direct impact on design as well as give feedback for improvement opportunities across the board.”

Charlene Hamm, Producer (Exploding Kittens, Night School: A Netflix Game Studio)

Accolades

“Luther brought a uniquely human element to whatever he worked on, making anything from far flung science fiction to gritty mafia into something one can instantly relate to. In addition, he has a keen eye for editing, and can always find the most succinct way to convey information.

Above all else, Luther is a consummate professional, keeps his cool under pressure, and brings a gung-ho sense of ownership to anything he works on. He is a pleasure to work with and a valuable asset to any team lucky enough to have him.”

Nicholas Nielsen, Senior Community Manager (Bandai Namco, Kabam)

“Luther’s inventive solutions to the game design challenges that were put forward in that class gave testament to his resourcefulness, originality, and technical skill. What’s more, they were delivered with an infectious enthusiasm and intellectual rigor that engaged the entire group in exploring all the possibilities of gameplay as an expressive medium. I heartily recommend Luther as a productive and dedicated member of your development team!”

Heather Kelley, Associate Professor (Carnegie Mellon University, Ubisoft, Ion Storm)

I also have a cat named Mars. He’s great.