GAME ON! – Level Design Step by Step

This article first appeared in the January 2026 issue of MiniMag as part of our ongoing Game On! series. In this third instalment, we explore level design — the art of creating game worlds that guide players, tell stories, and make gameplay fun, fair and exciting.

Have you ever played a game that felt exciting, mysterious or fun to explore?
Well … that’s not an accident!

Game makers carefully design each level so players know where to go, what to do and how to have the best possible adventure. Level Design is like being a world builder, storyteller and puzzle maker all at once!

What is level design?

Level design is the art of creating the places where a game happens.

It could be:

• A jungle full of hidden treasure

• A space station with sliding doors

• A spooky dungeon

• A colourful obstacle course

Level designers decide where platforms go, where enemies appear, where secrets are hidden and how players move through the world.

Think of a level as a playground — your job is to make it fun, fair and exciting!

The big secret: Level Design tell stories

A good level teaches players how to play without a single word.

For example:

• A shiny coin path shows players which way to go

• A safe platform teaches a new jump before harder jumps appear

• A glowing door tells you something important is inside

Level designers use shapes, colours and layout to guide players silently.
It’s like leaving clues in a treasure hunt!

Three golden rules of level design

1. Start simple

Every great level begins easy.

Give players space to practise their skills before surprising them.

Examples:

• A small jump before a big jump

• One enemy before a group of enemies

• A slow moving platform before a fast one

When players learn step by step, the level feels fair — even when it gets tricky!

2. Build the challenge

Once players understand the basics, it’s time to make things more exciting.

Try adding:

• A gap that’s slightly wider

• A new enemy type

• A switch that opens a door

• A moving hazard

Remember: challenge is fun, but frustration is not.
Test your level to make sure every part is possible!

3. Finish with a WOW moment

A good level ends with something special:

• A treasure room

• A cool view

• A boss or a big reveal

• A celebration animation

How to start designing your own level

You don’t need fancy tools to begin — all you need is paper and a pencil!

Step 1: Sketch the path

Draw your level from left to right (or top to bottom).
Add platforms, ladders, bridges, tunnels — anything you want players to use.

Step 2: Add obstacles

Mark where hazards, puzzles or enemies go.
Make sure the challenge grows gradually.

Step 3: Add rewards

Hide coins, stars, keys or power-ups in fun places.
Kids LOVE secrets!

Step 4: Test it

Imagine yourself playing the level.
Does it flow nicely?
Is there too much danger at the start?
Does it end in a satisfying way?

Try Level Design yourself!

Design a mini obstacle course for a platformer game.

Include:

• A safe start area

• One new mechanic (like a moving platform)

• One challenge (like a tricky jump)

• One hidden reward

• A satisfying ending

Level design is all about creativity and making experiences for others to enjoy.
Whether you love drawing maps, building puzzles, or designing beautiful scenes, level design is a fantastic skill — and anyone can learn it.

If you’d like to try building your own levels digitally, you can download Unity for free at https://unity.com/download and start creating 2D or 3D games using beginner-friendly tools.
For more advanced 3D worlds and professional-grade features, you can also download Unreal Engine at https://www.unrealengine.com/download and explore how real game studios design levels.

Get ready… next month we’ll go even deeper into Game On! as we continue building your very own video game world!

📚 Further Reading

If you enjoyed learning how games are built from ideas and imagination, you might also like our article on:

• 👉 Game On! Make Games – The start of this game making series with a bit of background on game development

• 👉 Game on! Lets Code! – Part two in our Game On! series gets you hands on with a simple coding introduction.