Erik Favian Gonzalez is a Game Designer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, passionate about creating engaging game experiences off the fundamental loop of risk and reward, through a iterative process of playtesting and refinement. They specialize in refining gameplay systems to uncover the core “push and pull” of mechanics for a target audience, working with tools such as Unreal Engine. They have contributed to a variety of projects, including Primal Edge with a focus on a dynamic combat style of a careful approach into swift combos to push risk and reward to it's bleeding edge. Outside the scope of games, Erik draws major inspiration from horror, fascinated by its ability to provoke tension, vulnerability, and catharsis. This interest shapes their design sensibilities, blending the right tension for best emotional impact.

Currently, Erik is fresh from CSU East Bay, finishing their degree requirements in December 2025, awaiting to be awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interaction and Game Design as part of the Graduating Class of 2026, currently focusing on expanding their portfolio of collaborative and solo projects. Looking ahead, they aim to craft innovative experiences that merge technical precision with evocative storytelling, while contributing to teams that sculpt refined projects of interactive design.