Level design

The success of a game project depends on several factors, one of the most important of which is high-quality level design. The most effective creation of difficulty levels in games ensures an engaging user experience and sets the pace and dynamics of the gameplay, making it truly engaging. This stage of development helps attract and retain players, significantly increasing the game development product's chances of commercial success.

Arionis Studio's game level designers create dynamic, engaging virtual environments. They implement concepts based on the genre's specifics, business goals, and audience needs of each client. Our specialists will discuss the completion timeframe and cost of game level design for your project during a preliminary consultation after reviewing the details of the assignment.

What is level design?

Level design is the creation of game levels, that is, the space in which users will interact with the world and move through the story.

Level design involves more than just the thoughtful placement of points of interest and objects on the map. It also involves mapping (game level map design – designing the geometry of levels, landscapes, passages, and other objects on maps). It also involves working on the structure, rhythm, dynamics of the gameplay, and emotional triggers, particularly the distribution of spawn points for challenges, enemies, and other characters. Level design in games enhances immersion and generates interest in game development products, significantly determining their success in release.

How does level design differ from game design?

Level design is often confused with game design, which is a common but misleading misconception.

Game design is the comprehensive process of developing games as a whole. It includes the development of rules, interaction logic, balance, in-game economy, user interface, and a system of goals and incentives for the audience. Specialists in this field determine how the project will function and what impression it will make on the player.

Level design, on the other hand, focuses on constructing specific levels of difficulty within a game. This includes developing missions and spaces in which users will interact with the environment and mechanics defined by the game design. This area also encompasses mapping in games.

For example, a game designer creates a concept in which a character can double jump, collect coins, and lose lives each time the character dies. A game level designer places platforms in a way that keeps the player engaged: distributing coins and enemies along the path, building tension, creating situations that require double jumping, and so on.

In small projects, both aspects of game development may be handled by one specialist – a game designer.

The main tasks of level design

Level design plays a key role in shaping the gaming experience. It's not just the placement of objects and the layout of the space, but a deep exploration of logic, balance, and the emotions the player experiences as they progress through the game.

Key aspects that make up effective level design:

• Balance. Ensures levels of difficulty in games that maintain player interest and meet the expectations of the target audience—manageable, but not overly easy.
• Pace and dynamics of the gameplay. These are important for alternating intense episodes with pauses, emotional tension with calm.
• Movement. This ensures the world feels intuitive and has a sense of purpose, giving players a clear understanding of where and why to move in a given level.
• Story Support. This is necessary for crafting environments, clues, and progression so that they reflect and complement the project's narrative and style.

A game level designer implements techniques and mechanics created by the game designer into specific levels (game level UI UX design). This means they create individual entertainment areas tailored to the specific needs of a particular product. They also ensure that players interact with characters as intended by the developer.

To achieve this, specialists working on levels must have deep, specialized expertise—a thorough understanding of the genre's characteristics, the needs and psychology of the product's audience, and its expectations and goals.

Stages of creating game levels

The process of creating a game level design is divided into 5 main stages:

1. Pre-production

This is the preparatory stage, during which Arionis specialists lay the foundation for each level of complexity in the client's game—defining its objectives and constraints in accordance with the goals, genre, and specifics of the game development project:

• They analyze the game and its genre. Level design for platformers, shooters, and so on. Platformers, RPGs, VR, and FPS (shooter) level design are completely different in nature and complexity. Therefore, when designing game levels, it's important to consider the specifics of the genre and user expectations.
• They study the audience – a product aimed at casual players, a hardcore audience, children, PvP fans, etc.
• They define the role and functions of a specific level in the project – training, combat, transitional location, plot climax, etc. They also formulate the task (what the user should learn and experience, what to learn and what to achieve at a specific level).

In addition, at the pre-production level design stage, specialists determine technical limitations regarding polygonality, loading, scene sizes, and other limitations of target platforms.

The intermediate result is a finished concept, formulated goals, a list of requirements, and other characteristics of each level. When planning to commission level design for a game, it's important to pay attention to the preparatory stage, as it lays the foundation for all subsequent work.

2. Prototyping (blockout level design)

During the prototyping process, before implementing visual solutions, the basis of the level is created, and the logic and readability of the space are checked.

What aspects do level designers work on:

• Basic Geometry – A schematic representation of platforms, walls, cover, item spawn points, and enemy spawn points.
• Zoning – defining key areas (points of interest, battle arenas, movement logic).
• Navigation – at this stage of game level design, specialists develop routes so that they are understandable to the user.
• Script elements – scripting of events (traps, passages, doors, cutscenes, etc.).

The intermediate result is interactive prototypes where basic gameplay can be tested.

3. Detailing (polishing)

Next, as part of the custom game level design process, Arionis specialists layer details, visuals, and mechanics onto the "skeleton," transforming the basic structure into engaging scenes that advance the plot and hold the player's attention, motivating them to continue playing. Sketches and concept art (level design concept art) are first approved by the client.

Main types of work:

• visual design – replacing schematic symbols of game environment objects with 2D and 3D models, working with texturing and lighting;
• 2D or 3D animation – bringing world elements to life to ensure a correct response to player actions;
• NPC and enemy development – placement of enemies, programming their behavior and routes, working with AI for the game;
• creation of interactive elements and objects – resources, puzzles, doors, boxes, etc.;
• programming the environment for the game – backgrounds, details, atmospheric phenomena (weather conditions, smoke, particles).

All these elements combined don't just provide backdrops; they create a fully-fledged universe in which the user's actions evoke engaging responses, and every detail deeply immerses the player in the atmosphere and story. Thoughtful level design becomes a logical extension of the gameplay, making the project cohesive and engaging.

4. Testing

Work at this stage is aimed at identifying and addressing flaws—weak points in logic, navigation, design, dynamics, and engagement. Internal and external tests help gather feedback from team members and the target audience. The former, thanks to their visibility and expertise, spot nuances that aren't immediately obvious to the average user. Feedback from the target audience is also critical for refining and improving the product to meet the needs of its users.

At this stage of level design, gameplay is recorded and player reactions to exploring areas where they find it confusing or boring are analyzed. Specialists also monitor which paths players choose and why, and whether they actually respond to the scenarios and logic as intended. Based on the testing results, reports on test results, UX issues, and suggestions for addressing them are added to a special section of the game's game level design document.

5. Final optimization

After testing the level designs, their performance is optimized. Programmers fix bugs and prepare the product for integration into the game.

Main areas of improvement:

• performance – loading objects, optimizing lighting and shadows;
• finalization of scripts and triggers – final testing of logic, cutscenes, victory and defeat conditions;
• bug fixes – visual artifacts, navigation errors, glitches, etc.;
• final testing – checking the stability of game levels on target platforms and devices;
• integration and compatibility assessment with other gameplay elements (correct data transfer, saving, consistency, etc.).

This is the final stage of level design in video games, where levels are tested, optimized, and ready for assembly, integration into the game, and/or publication (depending on the terms of cooperation agreed upon in advance).

Included in the level design service

Level design is a complex process encompassing far more aspects of game development than simply placing objects and locations on the map. The quality of gameplay, the flow of progression, and the user experience depend on how this stage of game development is implemented.

What aspects does level design include?

• Development of concepts: ideas, logic and scenarios for completing levels.
• Compilation and maintenance of game design documents, maps, object placement, and logic description.
• Creation of interactive prototypes – preliminary and intermediate versions for internal and external testing.
• Preparing final versions of levels, namely full-fledged game scenes with all objects, sounds, and triggers.
• Iterations of approvals and amendments are by agreement, in accordance with the TS.

A well-designed level creates excitement, holds the audience's attention, and makes the game truly engaging. We offer 2D and 3D game level design, tailoring the style and technology to the unique needs and objectives of each project.

What types of levels do we design?

Arionis Games specialists implement several game level options:

• Linear. Used for story-driven action games, platformers, and shooters with campaigns. They offer minimal freedom of action, with content and events activated sequentially. Characterized by a mix of combat, exploration, cutscenes, and dialogue. This level type offers maximum control over the emotional component and is suitable for tutorials and cinematic scenes.
• Open world level design. Used in RPGs, survival games, and action games. These are large maps without clearly defined routes, offering freedom of movement—players choose the direction and sequence of tasks and quests themselves. Characterized by complex passages, hidden paths, and the use of cordons as a navigational element.
• Modular (multiplayer level design). For shooters and multiplayer PvP arenas. These levels are constructed from repeating modules (rooms, arenas, corridors, and other locations). This process is characterized by rapid assembly and combination, flexibility, map customization for different modes, as well as scalability, rapid iteration, and adaptation. Suitable for procedural generation and PvP balancing.
• Procedural. For survival games, rogue-lite, and roguelike (games with random and procedural generation). In such projects, levels are generated algorithmically—they are different every time, adding unpredictability and excitement. Thoughtful combinations of modules, logic for connecting them, and a balance between randomness and meaningfulness are essential. These are ideal for games with progression and session-based projects. When working on this aspect of game development products, it's not so much the visuals that matter, but rather understanding and stimulating player motivation, creating a sense of a "living world" and involvement.

Tools and technologies for level design

To develop level design, Arionis Games specialists utilize a broad technology stack, including tools for prototyping, visualization, scripting, animation, analytics, and optimization:

• Engines – level design on Unreal Engine and Unity.
• Prototyping – ProBuilder, BSP Tools, TrenchBroom/Radiant/Hammer, Tiled.
• 3D modeling and visualization – Blender level design, level design on Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Houdini, SketchUp.
• Environment and landscapes – World Creator, Gaea, Terragen, Substance 3D Designer/Painter.
• Scripting and interactivity – level design in Java, Python, C#, Lua, Blueprints, Flow Graphs/State Machines.
• Analytics and testing – Heatmaps, UX Tools, PlayTest Cloud, GameAnalytics, Firebase.
• Optimization and assembly – LOD systems, Occlusion Culling/Light Baking, Profiler, Simplygon, InstaLOD.
• Additional tools (collaboration, version control systems) : Miro/Figma/Notion, Perforce/Git/Plastic SCM.

The choice of technology depends on the project's scale, genre, and target platforms. Our specialists will provide detailed information on the tools needed to implement your game and the cost of level design during a preliminary consultation.

Where to order level design

Arionis has been providing level design services for PC, mobile, VR/AR, and console games for many years. We offer this service as a standalone service and as part of comprehensive game development from scratch. We also collaborate on a project-by-project basis, through outstaffing, outsourcing, and offer dedicated IT team services. The optimal solution for your project depends on its specifics.

Why is cooperation with us effective?

Experience. The team at level design studio Arionis has completed dozens of game development projects for desktop, mobile, and other platforms.

Creativity and technology. Our game level designers are game developers, engineers, programmers, scriptwriters, and active gamers. Our team knows the industry from the inside, masters a modern technology stack, and understands and successfully implements current game development trends.

Transparent collaboration. We work iteratively, coordinating every stage of game level design: you see interim versions, receive detailed visualization reports, and manage deadlines and other production aspects.

How we work

1. Consultation, data collection: We analyze the tasks, gather information about the project, its goals, genre, idea, target audience, platform, style preferences, and client expectations, and select references.
2. Prototyping: We create a blockout (game skeleton) of levels to validate the concept.
3. Regular demos and reporting: At each stage of game level design, the client agrees to report on and demo versions.
4. Testing: checking technical and visual elements for bugs and inaccuracies, eliminating and refining the product based on feedback from the client and target audience.
5. Delivery of the final version of levels with scenes optimized for the specifics of the target audience and the platform, ready for integration.
6. Support: After project delivery, we provide updates, consulting, and the creation and integration of additional/seasonal content.

If you're looking for a team of developers to create high-quality level design for you, whether as part of a new development project or as a standalone project, please fill out the contact form – we'll create a gaming environment tailored to your target audience, in line with industry trends, the specifics of the chosen genre, platform, and your business goals.

Submit a request – Arionis specialists will analyze your project and offer effective solutions for your challenges. We'll get involved at any stage of your game development project.