Level design is one of the most crucial elements of a video game that determines the overall gaming experience. Over the years, video game level design has evolved drastically, from 2D platformers to vast, expansive 3D environments. It requires the collaborative effort of multiple-level designers, artists, and coders to create levels that drive engagement and captivate players.
In this blog, we will explore the basics of game level design, its history, and the stages of level creation, as well as provide best practices to create immersive levels.
Let’s get started.
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Level design is the game development stage that deals with crafting maps and environments. The purpose of level design is to design the game layout, obstacles, interactions, and events within the game environment to keep players engaged. Level design is crucial as it determines the overall gaming experience, boosting player engagement and driving the narrative forward.
While game designer and video game level designer may sound similar, they both have distinct responsibilities. A game designer focuses on the overall layout of the entire game and gameplay mechanics. Their responsibilities include creating the overall gameplay and rules of the game.
On the other hand, a level designer focuses on separate game levels or the environment where players can interact with various game elements.
Video game level design has come a long way from linear 2D platformers to vast open-world environments with tons of interactive elements. In the past, lack of technology forced designers to create static, linear environments. However, with the advancements of technology and game level design tools, designers gained a lot more freedom.
3D level design became common during the 1990s and 2000s, revolutionizing the gaming industry and opening new avenues for level design. Each generation of games pushed the boundary of level design to new heights, adding more complexity and depth to the gaming environment.
Super Mario Bros was one of the first 2D platformers that laid the foundation of level design. It provided players with challenging levels and progression with strategically placed obstacles, boss encounters, and power-ups.
In the 1990s, DOOM took level design to new heights with maze-like levels that granted high levels of immersion and suspense. The use of lighting and sound effects set new standards of game level design in the video game industry.
However, everything changed in 1996 with Super Mario 64. It was one of the pioneers of 3D platforming, transporting players into an interconnected dynamic world.
Games like BioShock and Dark Souls have progressed level design, creating environments that challenge players and evoke an emotional response. The open world of Dark Souls allowed players to seamlessly explore the entire game world and find collectables, rewarding players who focused on exploration.
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Designing immersive game levels requires technical expertise and the collaborative effort of a team of designers. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating interactive video game level designs.
Before starting the level design, establish the fundamentals like game genre, game mechanics, narrative & theme, and player goal. It is also essential to understand the limitations of your resources. You can’t hope to create AAA-level designs with 2D game development tools.
Understanding this will help you set clear, achievable goals. Here are some things to pay special attention to:
Game Genre: FPS, RPG, Platformer, Strategy, etc.
Game Mechanics: What abilities does the player have? (Jumping, shooting, stealth, etc.)
Narrative and Theme: Fantasy, dystopian, medieval, sci-fi?
Player Objective: Defeat enemies, solve puzzles, survive, explore, etc.
Before diving into the technical and creative aspects, conduct extensive research and study real-world locations, art styles, and other games for inspiration and ideas. Use platforms like Pinterest, ArtStation, or Google Images for visual references.
You can also take inspiration from a real-world location and create game levels that resemble it. Also, look into level design principles like flow, pacing, and challenge escalation. This will help you create a solid concept for your level design.
With a clear concept in your head, you can let your creative juices flow and develop sketches for your design. Draw rough designs of landmarks, layout, and potential obstacles in the game environment.
Also, consider the flow and pace of your game while designing video game levels. Make sure your levels’ structure and pacing are consistent with the gameplay narrative and experience.
Use simple shapes (boxes, cylinders, or bubbles) in a game engine to create a rough draft of the level. This helps you create a path between important game areas and develop a connection between different locations, streamlining the game flow.
Focus on player path, movement flow, enemy placement, exploration, or linear progression. This helps video game level designers to accurately map the overall structure and deliver an immersive gaming experience.
After establishing a structure, create rough sketches and designs of the key areas of your video game. Start with important landmarks, obstacles, and level elements. Focus mostly on the overall layout instead of different elements.
Make sure the player knows where to go and carve out a recognizable path. Use lighting to highlight key areas or events. Add landmarks for orientation and proper pathfinding. If the game is not exploration-intensive, block off unnecessary paths to prevent confusion. Also, implement breadcrumbs like footprints, NPCs, or a recognizable area.
Maintain the game’s pace and flow and ensure a smooth learning curve. For instance, the early parts of a level should focus on gameplay tutorials and teach mechanics gradually. Introduce simpler obstacles at the start and increase the challenge over time.
Ensure a dynamic pace like high-action segments and chases followed by relaxing exploration. This will ensure a stable flow in your level and keep the players engaged.
Next, add visual details to make the world feel alive. Use props and textures like furniture, rock, signs, flora, etc. Atmospheric effects are also crucial for immersion. Elements like fog, lighting, weather, and varying terrains ensure a dynamic experience and keep players hooked to the game.
Also, boost immersion with sound effects that complement your level designs. SFX like footsteps, ambient sounds, water dripping, rain, and sound that matches the mood and tension of the level can be a game-changer.
Finally, optimize your designs by refining them. Tweak game elements like enemy and obstacle placement. To improve performance and reduce loading times, use lower poly models and texture compression. Adjust the lighting and shadows to match the mood of the level.
Lastly, fix any potential bugs and optimize the performance for a streamlined gaming experience.
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Each game genre requires a unique approach to level design, tailored to its mechanics, pacing, and player experience. Here is a breakdown of how level design varies across different genres.
Key Elements:
How to Create Level Design?
Games: Super Mario Bros, Hollow Knight, Crash Bandicoot, Celeste
Key Elements:
How to Design FPS Maps?
Games: Doom, Call of Duty, Valorant, Counter-Strike
Key Elements:
How to Design Open-world Environments?
Games: Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin’s Creed, Cyberpunk 2077
Key Elements:
How to Create RPG Levels?
Games: The Witcher 3, Skyrim, Dark Souls, Persona 5
Key Elements:
How to Develop Racing Maps?
Games: Need for Speed, Forza Horizon, Mario
Here are some tips and best practices that will help you create solid level designs that captivate players. Level design is video games requires a blend of creativity and expertise. Follow these tips to maximize your efficiency.
A Game Design Document is a living document that changes as the development process progresses further. It features essential details of the process, including the overall game vision, game mechanics, development team and its responsibilities, story, characters, budget, and timeline.
This document specifies detailed information about the game levels, their themes, object placements, and obstacles. A well-designed game design document will streamline the development process and ensure consistency in your designs.
Every element of the game design should serve a purpose. Do not add unnecessary elements just for aesthetic and to fill the world. Make sure that your design complements the game story and contributes to the gaming experience.
The best designs are the ones that engross the player and pull them deeper into the game world. Use environmental storytelling where the world design and environment give players an idea about the narrative.
Enhance immersion by adding weather effects, NPCs, ambient sounds, and sound effects that complement the mood and setting of the level. A well-crafted and immersive environment ensures a positive gaming experience.
It is essential to strike the perfect balance between challenge and reward. The obstacles and missions should be challenging enough to stimulate users. However, keep in mind that the challenges should not overwhelm the player, as it could lead to frustration and drop-offs.
Use strategically placed rewards and collectables to encourage exploration and reward players who put an effort into completing challenges.
Make sure to create a consistent and structured level flow to avoid confusing players. Use proper pathfinding elements like visual cues, level geometry, signboards, NPCs, and subtle instructions to help players traverse the level naturally.
A well-designed level flow allows players to focus on the story without worrying about finding their way.
Here are some case studies of prominent video games that took video game level design to the next level.
Developer: From Software
Lordran, the world of Dark Souls, is a masterpiece of interconnected level design. Unlike traditional open-world games, it features a semi-open structure where every area is intricately linked, rewarding exploration and discovery.
Developer: Valve
“Highway 17” is a level in Half-Life 2 that combines vehicle-based gameplay, open-ended combat, and environmental storytelling. It follows protagonist Gordon Freeman as he drives along a desolate coastal highway, encountering enemy ambushes, abandoned houses, and remnants of human resistance.
Developer: Valve
Portal uses a gradual difficulty curve that never overwhelms the player. The Aperture Science test chambers serve as a controlled environment where players solve physics-based puzzles using the Portal Gun.
Mastering video game level design requires a mix of technical expertise, creativity, and an understanding of player psychology. Whether you are designing a fast-paced FPS map, an immersive open-world adventure, or a challenging platformer, the key lies in balancing engagement, flow, and progression.
By studying great video game level designs, using the right tools, and implementing the best practices, you, as a video game developer, can craft compelling game environments that enhance storytelling and keep players engaged. Refine your skills, experiment with new ideas, and learn from the masterpieces that have shaped the industry.
Ans. Level design is a crucial element of game development as it is primarily responsible for the gaming experience. With a properly designed game level, players can seamlessly traverse the game world and interact with gameplay elements, getting an immersive gaming experience.
Ans. A well-designed game level can evoke various emotions like fear, wonder, or excitement. In horror games, the levels are designed in a way to instill a sense of dread in the player. With sound effects that complement the game design, players are sucked deeper into the game world, providing an overall engaging experience.
Ans. Level designers use game development tools like Unity, Unreal, and CryEngine to create realistic and visually appealing level designs.
