Level Design Test: White Box

Genre: Third Person Action-Stealth
Participated: July 2025
Applying Role: Level Design
Length: 1 Week
Toolsets: Unreal Engine 5, Microsoft Office
Skills:
– Level Setup
– Mission Scripting
– Design Documentation

Test Brief:
– Create a short 3rd person white box level with an accompanying mission brief.
– Consider the original Assassins Creed and Dishonoured titles for gameplay style.
– Focus design around reaching a high-priority target within a restricted zone.
– Illustrate potential enemy guard positions and routes.
– Provide three routes for the player to access the target.
– Include one ‘ghost’ route (no detection), and one fail-safe combat route. 

My Design

Visual Research and Reference

Considering the outlined inspiration and details of the project’s lore and worldbuilding, I conducted research into dense city environments that provide verticality and variety. To naturally integrate a restricted zone, I framed the mission as occurring within a occupied city ghetto, the mission centred around infiltrating a large church-complex within.

2D Map Sketch

To illustrate my idea, I created a simple 2D sketch using Microsoft Paint to visualise the level’s required scope. Through this process, I developed the idea to include a ground-level market, and multi-storey command centre adjacent to the restricted zone, which would create gameplay requirements to facilitate the ‘ghost route’. 

Considered Stealth 

Stealth was a central pillar of the design. Whilst it was not necessary to include active enemy AI, I used static dummies to demonstrate potential guard positions and scenarios that would challenge the player into making decisions, on whether to risk compromising stealth to achieve alternate gameplay and narrative goals.

Interior and Exterior Design

It wasn’t enough for the level to look visually appealing from a distance. I focused on creating an expansive environment that also possessed intricacy in its detail, making a space that would tailor for multiple playstyles, from exciting rooftop parkour to tense corridor sneaking.