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The Basics of Level Design

Discover how to create captivating video games with not just your visuals and gameplay, but level design as well.

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The Basics of Level Design

There is one session available:

After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Jun 8
Ends Jul 28

The Basics of Level Design

Discover how to create captivating video games with not just your visuals and gameplay, but level design as well.

The Basics of Level Design
4 weeks
10–15 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Jun 8
Ends Jul 28

About this course

Skip About this course

This course introduces you to the fundamentals of game level design—a crucial aspect of video game design that centers around the creation of playable spaces.

As a level designer, you will be required to create well-designed levels that direct the movement of the player(s) through the game—often without the player consciously recognizing they’re being directed.

This course will introduce you to the core concepts involved in designing a game level, along with important steps in the design process. The course explores what a level is, who is responsible for designing levels, and the different roles involved in game level design.

Using different sample designs, such as dungeon design and other popular genres of roguelikes and adventure games, we will identify the elements of the various stages of the design process used in the game industry and how they have evolved through time.

At a glance

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • How level design has evolved and contributes to a player’s experience
  • Common milestones in the level design process and an overview of some of the key roles involved in the process.
  • How to implement story-based level design.
  • How dungeon design has evolved in the context of video games, including the popular genres of roguelikes and adventure games.

Module 1: Introduction to level design

  • What is level design?

  • Core concepts in level design

  • The level design process

Module 2: Story-based level design and dungeon design

  • Story-based level design

  • Dungeon design

Module 3: Beyond dungeons: Roguelikes, adventure games and RPGs

  • Roguelikes

  • Adventure games

About the instructors

This course is part of Introduction to Level Design XSeries Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
3 high-quality courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
3 months
10 - 15 hours per week

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