Here's how you can master game level design and create captivating gameplay experiences.

Rule 0: understand context. Before you dive into the world of your game, ask where the player will enter it from. On mobile, with a smaller screen that can fit fewer objects? On PC where they could be tabbing in and out? How you should approach difficulty, visuals, and mechanics all stems from the player's experience with systems and controls. Keep sight of that, and if every in doubt: get a completely new player to try what you've made, and interrogate yourself over any difficulty they have.

To truly grasp design basics, one must step into the role of a player. Immersing oneself in gameplay is key to unlocking these fundamentals. Here's how to level up your understanding: - Engage with games that share similar mechanics to your focus area, whether it's eSports, shooters, or match 3 games. - Take detailed notes as you play, jotting down what you enjoy, what needs improvement, and ideas for enhancing your own game mechanics. - Identify common patterns across the games you experience, unveiling crucial insights into the foundational elements of design. Playing the game as a player is the first step towards mastering the art of game design.

It is important to say that "understand mechanics" means not only to know what you can do but also metrics. For example, maximum height of jumping mech. However, don't be too strict with them. For example, if jumping height is 1m, put the object lower to ensure any player will be able to jump on it. This will make your level more Comfortable to play. Also, you shouldn't take real life proportions of objects, although, sometimes they may be okay. Instead, you should playtest the scale and see how it feels for your controller.

Create rough sketches or flow plans when considering landmarks and points of interest. To avoid complexity, start with simple designs and enhance them gradually. Remember to keep details minimal, as elaborate layouts can become outdated swiftly. Utilize notes and descriptions for specific areas.

Before to go to 3D, I collect references (as many as I can cuz the more = the better) and draw Parti sketch. It doesn't require good drawing skills, it is fast and easy. Moreover, sketches in general help to overcome blank page syndrome. Nevertheless, some designer advice not to use any sketches and go directly to 3D. So, figure out what is best for you.

Start with sketches and make a rough layout of the level. How long will it be? Will it be linear or open? If open then how many optional areas will you have? What collectibles will be there? How powerful will be the critical path? Sketch out your landmarks, tight spaces, funnels, choke points, etc. Your sketch should evolve with all your ideas gradually.

Iteration is your best friend here. Playtest your level with multiple players. You will realise that some find it easy, some find hard. Keep the difficulty upward curve steepness on the lower side. Make the player feel smart through strategic positioning of enemies, weapons, pick-ups, places for the player to take advantage of the environment to one up the enemy, etc. If you are introducing a new weapon to the player then the difficulty should be such that the new weapon will be making the game easier for the player. This will make the new weapon important.

To ensure your level hits the perfect balance, follow my best practices: - Regularly test your levels with a diverse group of players. This helps you understand how different players interact with your game. - Gather and analyze detailed feedback from your playtesters. Focus on pinpointing where players struggle or lose interest. - Use the feedback to identify patterns and make necessary adjustments. Fine-tune the difficulty curve to ensure each part of your level scales appropriately with the player's skill and progress. - Game design is an iterative process. Continuously refine your levels based on ongoing feedback and testing.

The visual aspect of a level is crucial in gaming, as it provides players with essential information and enhances immersion. When crafting level design documents, outlining elements like game style, setting, world context, and intended mood is key. Moodboards, often created by artists, have gained popularity for setting the tone of a level effectively. Perform a basic lighting pass to guide players and highlight key positions, like enemy entry points.

Visual design is a key element of level design. It's not just for aesthetics but also for guidance. You can cleverly guide the player with subtle hints using clever use of lights, light shafts, and shadows. Understand the overall mood for your level based on what you want the player to experience. Use contrast as a way to make players more curious towards certain spots in your level. Remedy's Control does a brilliant job of this. Play around with art direction and the use of colours, tone, light positions, etc to set the right mood.

Feedback is one of the most important tools for level designer. Your level is perfect till someone plays it, you know. Sometimes you will get surprising results that you would never ever consider. However, even if you need to start the level all over again - remember that it is not personal and only beneficial for the overall gaming experience. It is always better to work twice as long than produce poor quality in short turn.

Embrace player feedback to refine your level design, even if it means reworking parts you love. Iteration based on player insights will help you create a more polished and enjoyable experience.

Testing playtest data and feedback is crucial to evaluate a level's performance. Acting on this feedback is key to improvement. Creating actionable points based on playtest feedback and making necessary adjustments is essential for progress. Optimization ensures technical soundness and performance. Polishing enhances visuals and fine-tunes balancing, pacing, and scripting for improved quality. Frequent testing throughout iteration, optimization, and polishing phases is vital. Repeat these steps as needed to achieve a shippable state.

Don't forget to learn theory as well. Here is the list of resources I like: YT channels GDC Noclip - Video Game Documentaries BauerDesignSolutions Steve Lee (Level and Game Design) Books: 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School An Architectural Approach to Level Design Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design

It's important to remember that not all feedback is accurate, particularly when it comes to the game's release on Steam. It's essential not to dwell on negative comments and toxic behavior. Instead, focus on your objectives and enhancing the game. Don't let others deter you from your path to success.