Japanese Garden Level

Game Design Coursework – Unreal Engine 5.3
Role: Level Designer / Environment Artist

Overview

A solo level design project focused on crafting a quiet, spiritual environment using Japanese temple architecture and forest motifs. The goal was to create a space that rewarded curiosity, set a meditative tone, and guided players using only natural elements—light, layout, and landscape.

[Insert Image: Wide-angle shot of temple or forest with player pathing]

Concept & Research

I drew reference from Nara’s legendary temples, Shinto and Buddhist design cues, and the way nature overtakes architecture in forgotten spaces. This wasn’t meant to be “accurate” — it was designed to feel reverent, lost, and peaceful.

• Focused on indirect storytelling through ruins and props
• Used natural sightlines and elevation to hint at paths
• Aimed for serenity, not challenge

[Insert Image: Reference board or annotated concept sketch]

Key Design Goals

• Use light and structure to guide players without HUD
• Encourage freeform exploration with soft gating
• Hide collectibles (Lucky Cats) that reward environmental attention

Development Breakdown

Blockout Phase

• Built initial pass with splines and modular temple kits
• Tested pathfinding with minimal assets to ensure flow felt intuitive
• Sightline anchors placed early to hint at objectives or interesting areas

Art Pass

• Custom lighting blend: fog, low-angle sunlight, particle embers
• Decals, moss, and foliage placed to imply age and neglect
• Adjusted color palette to shift subtly over areas (cool → warm)

[Insert Image: Lighting tests or blockout vs final comparison]

Gameplay Layer

• Collectibles placed off-path or near visual landmarks
• Player movement speed tweaked to slow exploration naturally
• No combat—player is here to observe, not disrupt

What Worked

• Natural guidance via light and layout was successful—players rarely got lost
• Environmental storytelling (collapsed archways, offerings) added depth
• Mood stayed consistent from start to finish

What Didn’t

• Frame rate dipped with dynamic shadows and too much foliage
• Some geometry broke immersion up close (low-res rock meshes)
• Collectible placement could be more meaningfully tied to story themes

Summary

This level taught me the value of restraint in level design. Instead of filling space with gameplay, I focused on shaping mood, flow, and emotion. Sometimes the best play experience is just being in a space that feels alive.

[Insert Image: Player moment discovering a hidden collectible or landmark]

Watch and Play

• Video Summary and Playthrough: Watch the level summary and gameplay here
• Game Download: Download the level to play