What is Level Design?

Level design is the craft of creating the spaces and situations players move through in a game. It covers layout, pacing, difficulty, secrets, enemy placement, objectives, and the flow from one moment to the next.

What level designers think about

A level designer considers where players will look, what they can understand, where they might get lost, and how each challenge teaches the next one.

Good level design feels intentional

When level design works well, players feel guided without feeling trapped. A path, landmark, light, reward, or enemy can quietly tell the player where to go.

Level design matters in platformers, shooters, Metroidvania games, open worlds, puzzle games, and almost every playable space.