Level Design Checklist Skill

Guides structured help for level design reviews using clear templates, checks, and safe defaults.

Purpose

Help a game creator review and improve a level design before building, testing, or publishing it.

Use this skill for platformer levels, top-down levels, puzzle rooms, combat arenas, tutorial stages, and small indie game maps.

Inputs

Ask for or collect:

• Game genre
• Level goal
• Player abilities available in this level
• Main mechanic or teaching point
• Level map, sketch, blockout, or short description
• Target difficulty
• Known problems or player feedback

Checklist

1. Player Goal

• The objective is clear within the first few seconds.
• The player can understand where to go next.
• The level has a start, middle, and finish.

2. Readability

• Important paths are visually stronger than decoration.
• Hazards, enemies, pickups, exits, and interactable objects are easy to recognize.
• The camera or viewpoint supports the main action.

3. Flow

• The level introduces one idea at a time.
• Safe practice comes before dangerous use.
• Challenge increases gradually.
• There are no long empty sections unless they serve pacing.

4. Fair Challenge

• Failures feel understandable, not random.
• Checkpoints or recovery points match the difficulty.
• Enemy and hazard placement gives the player time to react.
• Optional hard routes are clearly optional.

5. Mechanics

• The level teaches or tests the intended mechanic.
• Required abilities are available before they are needed.
• There are no softlocks or required jumps/actions that exceed intended player skill.

6. Rewards and Secrets

• Rewards guide exploration without confusing the main route.
• Secrets have visual hints or logic.
• Risk and reward feel balanced.

7. Performance and Scope

• The level is not overloaded with unnecessary objects.
• Reused assets are consistent.
• The level can be playtested quickly.

8. Playtest Notes

Record:

• Where players got confused
• Where players died unfairly
• Where players ignored the intended route
• What felt fun
• What should be cut or simplified

Output Template

Level Review: [level name]

Goal:
- [clear objective]

Strong points:
- [what works]

Problems found:
- [issue 1]
- [issue 2]

Fix plan:
1. [small fix]
2. [small fix]
3. [test again]

Playtest focus:
- Watch if players understand [specific moment]

Safety and Scope

• Do not recommend copyrighted level copying.
• Do not overbuild the level before testing.
• Prefer small playable improvements over large redesigns.