Last updated on 2024年5月11日

How do you avoid overloading the player with information and choices in a level design?

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Level design is the art and craft of creating immersive, engaging, and fun environments for players to explore, interact, and achieve goals in a game. However, it is not an easy task to balance exploration and guidance, challenge and reward, and information and choices in a level design. How do you avoid overloading the player with information and choices in a level design? In this article, we will share some tips and principles to help you design levels that are clear, coherent, and compelling, without overwhelming or confusing the player.

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Introduce mechanics gradually:

Start by showing each game mechanic one by one, then mix them together bit by bit. This helps players understand the game without feeling swamped.
Create compelling POIs:

Design points of interest that lure players with their intrigue, guiding exploration naturally without forcing too many decisions at once.

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1 Focus on the core loop

The core loop is the basic cycle of actions and feedback that the player repeats throughout the game. It is what makes the game fun and addictive, and it should be consistent and satisfying. To avoid overloading the player with information and choices, you should focus on the core loop and make sure that every element in your level design supports and enhances it. For example, if your core loop is about stealth and infiltration, you should design levels that offer multiple paths, hiding spots, and distractions, rather than levels that are linear, open, and cluttered.

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Jackson Clayton

Technical Creator at Barnyard Games
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It's important to ease players into the mechanics by introducing them all one at a time, you then want to combine them slowly. This also includes re introducing mechanics if it's been a while since it's last been used. A player gets overwhelmed when they don't understand how everything interacts with each other.

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2 Use visual cues and landmarks

Visual cues and landmarks are essential tools to guide the player and communicate the level design. Visual cues are subtle hints that indicate where to go, what to do, or what to expect in a level. They can be natural or artificial, such as light, color, contrast, shape, sound, or movement. Landmarks are distinctive features that help the player orient themselves and remember the layout of a level. They can be buildings, statues, signs, or other memorable objects. To avoid overloading the player with information and choices, you should use visual cues and landmarks strategically and sparingly, and avoid conflicting or misleading signals.

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Roman Chaplinski

Level designer @ 314 Arts OHG | Crafting immersive game levels
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I love the approach used by the Fallout 4. All POIs long before the player reaches them shown on the compass. The player can't say how far are they, so he can't mark them on the map to visit later and experience fear of missing out. It encourages exploration. There is even a joke about Fallout players never reaching their initial goal. You can go close to the POI, unlock fast travel and return after, however, it happens so close to the location that the player usually decides to loot the place rather than leave it for the future. Interesting landmarks and unique in a way gameplay locations only strengthen this technique. I think, that this approach engages players and doesn't overwhelm them with choices despite there being so many POIs.

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3 Limit the scope and complexity

Scope and complexity are two factors that affect the size, variety, and difficulty of a level. Scope refers to the amount of content and features that a level offers, such as areas, enemies, items, or puzzles. Complexity refers to the depth and intricacy of the content and features, such as mechanics, rules, or systems. To avoid overloading the player with information and choices, you should limit the scope and complexity of your level design according to your goals, resources, and audience. You should also introduce new content and features gradually and clearly, and avoid unnecessary or redundant elements.

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4 Provide feedback and rewards

Feedback and rewards are vital to motivate the player and reinforce their actions and decisions in a level. Feedback is the information that the game gives to the player about their performance, progress, or status, such as sound, text, or animation. Rewards are the benefits that the player receives for completing a task, reaching a milestone, or making a choice, such as points, items, or story. To avoid overloading the player with information and choices, you should provide feedback and rewards that are relevant, timely, and meaningful, and avoid feedback and rewards that are excessive, inconsistent, or confusing.

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5 Test and iterate

Test and iterate is the process of evaluating and improving your level design based on feedback and data. Testing is the act of playing or observing your level design from different perspectives, such as your own, your target audience, or your peers. Iterating is the act of making changes or adjustments to your level design based on the results of testing. To avoid overloading the player with information and choices, you should test and iterate your level design frequently and thoroughly, and use both qualitative and quantitative methods, such as playtesting, surveys, or analytics.

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6 Learn from others

Learning from others is the act of studying and analyzing the level design of other games, genres, or media. It is a great way to expand your knowledge, skills, and inspiration, and to discover new ideas, techniques, or solutions. To avoid overloading the player with information and choices, you should learn from others who have successfully designed levels that are clear, coherent, and compelling, without overwhelming or confusing the player. You should also learn from others who have made mistakes or faced challenges in level design, and avoid repeating them.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you avoid overloading the player with information and choices in a level design?

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1 Focus on the core loop

2 Use visual cues and landmarks

3 Limit the scope and complexity

4 Provide feedback and rewards

5 Test and iterate

6 Learn from others

7 Here’s what else to consider

Level Design

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