How To Design Mobile Game Levels?

A great game level can make your players feel immensely excited and fully engaged in your game. From the level map, milestones, powerups, and obstacles they encounter along the way, every detail is planned during level design. But level design is not only a great framework for you to invent something new. It’s also a handy tool to help your team understand the size and scope of your design.

Design mobile game levels

Concept of your level

What’s the basic concept for your level This is your starting point. Add a note that describes your topic in 1 to 2 sentences to get started. This will help your team quickly understand the purpose and vision for this part of the game.

Add a top-down map

Once you have a rough idea for your level, start to create a ‘top-down’ map of your level. It doesn’t have to be perfect, this is just a starting point. Think about the interesting items or landmarks the could exist in your level.

Define the journey

Map out the ideal path you want the player to take and what you want them to encounter along the way. Consider adding landmarks that help your players navigate their way through the level. They’re especially handy if the terrain or environment looks the same throughout the journey.

Design the challenges

Great levels have just the right mix of challenge and reward. Start adding in obstacles or puzzles for your players to complete along the journey, like finding a switch, opening a door, or defeating an enemy. Completing these challenges feels like a win and keeps players engaged. Consider the pacing of the challenges too.

Build in rewards

Design mini victories along the way to help propel them forward. One technique for building a sense of purpose is called teasing. This is where you provide a glimpse of the reward or goal early in the level.

Add visual references

Now that you have a rough picture of how the level fits together, it’s time to start considering how the scenes might look. Refer to your game design moodboard or gather images that represent specific parts of your level. Google images or Pinterest are a great place to grab free reference images.

Share with your team

When you’re happy with version one of your level design, share it with your team and ask for their feedback. This is a chance for your team to add details and questions about the design and technical aspects of your level. Your team will be able to add their ideas and improve the level in ways you might not have considered.

Conclusion

Now that your level design is complete, you have a strong reference for how you want the level to fit together. Remember, just as creativity and inspiration are constantly evolving, so are ideas.