Iron-Haven Adventure 

Genre: Single Player / Action Adventure
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Assets Used: IWALS-Jakub, Level Design Kit, Synty Studios
Play-tests: #6
Iterations: # 6

Duration: 10 weeks
Role: Level Designer

Iterations Overview

Design Intent

The goal was to blend stealth, vertical traversal, environmental storytelling, and light combat as the player uncovers political intrigue. Each section builds tension while offering players choices in movement and engagement.

Design Goals

Deliver a 15-minute third-person experience
Balance exploration, stealth, traversal, and combat within a clear three-act structure
Support player agency with multi-route, vertical traversal options
Implement encounters and interactions using Blueprint scripting
Reinforce narrative and world-building through environmental storytelling

Level Overview & Technique Highlights

Introduction 

Set in the corrupt port town of Ironhaven, this level follows a skilled infiltrator on a mission to recover a stolen heirloom before it leaves the city.

Players traverse markets, slums, rooftops, and hidden hideouts, uncovering secrets and dangerous routes as they progress. 
The experience combines stealth, vertical traversal, and exploration, creating a layered and immersive urban infiltration experience.

Highlight 1: Using Environmental Cues to Guide Players

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How I Executed It:

Used prop placement, lighting, and framing to subtly guide movement
Reinforced direction through repeated visual language rather than UI

Level Examples:

Broken beams, pipes, and debris point players forward
Vista moments clearly reveal the next destination
Repeated Lighthouse sightlines reinforce long-term direction

Highlight 2: Vertical Traversal & Player Choice

1/2

How I Executed It:

Built traversal across ground, mid-levels, and rooftops
Created paths with different risk and visibility
Allowed players to bypass or engage encounters naturally

Level Examples:

Rooftops provide safer observation routes
Elevated paths create stealth advantages
Split-path sections let players choose mission vs exploration

Highlight 3: Controlling Pacing Through Space

1/4

How I Executed It:

Alternated between open spaces, tight corridors, and reveals
Used compression and expansion to manage tension

Level Examples:

Open areas encourage exploration
Narrow alleys increase focus and pressure
Wide reveals reset pacing

Highlight 4: Storytelling Through District Identity

1/5

How I Executed It:

Used architecture, props, density and lighting to communicate narrative
Gave each district a distinct tone and purpose

Level Examples:

Slums feel cramped and deteriorated
Market areas feel busy and chaotic
Docks and Lighthouse feel isolated and dangerous

Walk-through & Level Beats

Click below on 'Beats' to see breakdown of the individual beats.

INTRO — Arrival at Ironhaven

Purpose: Establish player identity, motivation, and tone 

Design Intent: Immediate narrative clarity and mood setting

Player arrives by steamboat at Ironhaven’s outer port.
Text sets the player as a lone investigator searching for a stolen heirloom.
Visuals show smoke, damage, and unrest before player control.
Partner R is established as a missing contact.

Beat 01 — Port Arrival & Contact Lost

Purpose: Set stakes and introduce stealth 

Design Intent: Teach mechanics through narrative consequence

Player explores a recently raided port filled with panic and destruction.
NPC chatter hints at a targeted raid and missing valuables.
Alternate climb route introduces vertical navigation.
Contact found dead; note from R reveals corruption and betrayal.

Process and Breakdown

Overview

Market_1

Market_2

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Market_1

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Warehouse_Yard_1

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Warehouse_Yard_1

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OldPort_1

OldPort_2

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OldPort_1

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1. Research, Ideation & Planning

Game analysis: Studied Red Dead Redemption 2, Dying Light, and God of War to understand level flow, vertical traversal, landmark readability, and how linear paths are embedded within open spaces.
Real-world research: Referenced historic port cities, especially Dubrovnik, to inform architectural scale, street density, elevation changes, and believable navigation routes.
Other media: Drew tonal and narrative cues from Peaky Blinders for grounded corruption and tension, and Pirates of the Caribbean for port-town atmosphere and adventure.

2. Design Documentation

Design_Doc

Beat-sheet

Design_Doc

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Created a Level Design Document (LDD) to define the level’s goals, tone, and mood, while allowing room for changes during development.

Beat Sheet: A color-coded breakdown of each level section, showing the main type of gameplay (stealth, combat, movement, story) and overall intensity to help manage pacing.
Gameplay & Setting Notes: Simple guidelines for how the level plays and feels.
2D Map Layout: A clear, easy-to-read map that can be understood by non-designers, supporting communication in team-based and fast-moving workflows.

3. Blockout and Iterations Summary

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The 2D layout was converted into a 3D playable space in Unreal Engine. The first blockout covered the on-boarding section of the level, including the introduction and entry into the market area.

Goal:

Converted the 2D layout into a simple 3D blockout, making small adjustments where needed for better flow.
Adjusted widths, open areas, and spaces to match the intended tone of the section.
Tested core mechanics (movement, stealth, traversal) inside the space to ensure they worked properly within the layout.
Walked through the level multiple times to check guidance, readability, transitions.

Click on 'Iterations' to view breakdown of the block-outs, play-tests, and design iterations.

Iteration and Playtest - 1
Goal:

Focus on key locations: Market, Guard Hall, Sewers, and Warehouse.
Structure points of interest to better guide movement through the level.

What I did:

Rebuilt the layout with tighter spaces and clearer transitions.
Defined clear entry and exit points for each major location.
Added more vertical variation to reduce flatness.

Result:

The level had a more defined structure.
Major areas were easier to identify.
Player flow improved compared to the earlier version.

Feedback:

The level still felt too open and flat in some areas.
Players moved through spaces without strong reasons to explore.
Key locations needed stronger visual identity and contrast.

1/4

Iteration and Playtest - 2
Goal:

Improve path clarity and player engagement.
Guide players more clearly from beat to beat with better pacing.
Improve Combat Space 01 (Warehouse).

What I Did:

Adjusted early traversal to reduce confusion.
Strengthened transitions between key locations.
Built and structured the Warehouse combat space.
Added a larger final combat area at the Old Port.

Result:

Players felt clearer transitions between locations.
Traversal moments felt repetitive across the level.
The final combat space felt too large and unfocused.

Feedback:

Traversal between key areas needs higher-stakes moments to create tension.
Warehouse combat space needs better AI placement and stealth routes.
The final combat space feels too large and more suited for multiplayer. The scope should be reduced and focused.

1/6

Iteration and Playtest - 3
Goal:

Refine weak areas and improve level flow.
Strengthen the narrative so players better understand what is happening.

What I Did:

Added AI patrol routes to increase tension during traversal.
Introduced small scripted events to communicate story through gameplay.
Reworked the Warehouse layout to allow stealth routes and multiple approaches.

Result:

Flow between areas felt smoother and more intentional.
Players understood the situation through environmental events.
The Warehouse combat space felt more controlled and flexible.

Feedback:

Improve affordances so players clearly recognize interactable objects.
Improve lighting in darker areas to support visibility and wayfinding.

1/3

Iteration and Playtest - 4
Goal:

Refine narrative and overall flow.
Improve stair sequence and traversal tension.
Improve Market, Sewers, and Warehouse beats.
Balance enemy patrol difficulty.

What I Did:

Added short cinematic moments.
Integrated a simple takedown tutorial.
Added patrols to create high-stakes traversal.
Refined enemy routes to reduce difficulty spikes.
Adjusted lighting and framing to guide player movement.

Result:

Narrative felt clearer during gameplay.
Flow felt smoother and clearer.
Traversal felt more tense and varied.
Players followed the intended path.

Feedback:

Changes were received positively.
Traversal felt more engaging.
Ending still felt flat and needed more impact.

1/3

Iteration and Playtest - 5
Goal:

Finalize pacing and readability.
Refine the final encounter to fit the gameplay length.
Deliver a stronger narrative closure.

What I Did:

Improved lighting and reduced extra traversal to make the level clearer and better paced.
Added a closing cinematic beat to deliver a clearer ending and set up a cliffhanger.

Result:

The final combat felt more focused and intentional, with clearer player choice in approach.
Overall pacing improved, and the ending delivered stronger impact and direction.

Feedback:

Players responded well to the final encounter.
Lighting improvements made navigation easier.
The ending felt stronger, though small pacing adjustments were still needed.

1/3

Final Iteration and Gameplay

At this stage, the level structure was stable. The goal was to improve clarity, visual quality, and moment-to-moment impact without changing core game-play. This pass ensured the experience felt polished, intentional, and ready for presentation.

Added environmental detail and props to complete the spaces.
Refined small layout and pacing issues based on final playtests.
Added camera shake and impact effects to strengthen explosion moments.
Made small lighting and visibility adjustments.

Final Iteration

Through six iterations and playtests, the level evolved from a simple blockout into a focused and complete experience. Each pass addressed specific problems — from layout clarity and traversal tension to combat structure and pacing.

The process refined not only the spaces, but also how players move, read, and understand the level. Early issues such as flatness, unclear guidance, and low engagement were gradually resolved through structural adjustments, AI updates, narrative support, and final polish.

By the final iteration, the level achieved its intended flow, supported multiple playstyles, and delivered a clear narrative arc within the target gameplay time.

This project was a major step in my growth as a Level Designer, helping me shape a practical end-to-end workflow and build a complete case study of my design process.