What Is Level Design?

Level design is like a game of Tetris, but with a computer and more freedom. Level design is creating video game levels, environments, missions, or stages, using a level editor software used in game development to create digital environments. In addition to being included in games to allow players to get creative and make their levels and scenarios, level editors may also be included in released games. Level design is a technical and artistic profession. The level designer's job is to create a fun environment for the player to play with and, ideally, challenge. The level designer also decides on how many players there will be at once, what kind of objective each player needs to achieve to win or advance through the stage, how many enemies (if any) there are at any given time and what kinds of things they'll do when they spot you (or you spot them). A good level designer should always keep the player's experience in mind: what obstacles will they encounter? What type of movement options do they have? How much health do they start with? What kinds of weapons can they pick up along the way? Where can they find these things? Level design is the art of creating game environments that are not only fun but also believable. It's about creating a world that players will want to live in and interact with, and it's also about making sure that the world is as realistic as possible. Level designers start with a conceptual design of the level, which may include sketches, renderings, and even physical models. Once they've finalized this design, they'll document it extensively, including everything from environmental lighting to narrative elements and then model it digitally. This process can take a few weeks to several months, depending on the project's scope and how much detail is required. The goal of level design is to create life-like interactive game environments that feel like they could exist.