Claude-Code-Game-Studios/.claude/docs/templates/level-design-document.md

Level: [Level Name]

Quick Reference

• Area/Region: [Where in the game world]
• Type: [Combat / Exploration / Puzzle / Hub / Boss / Mixed]
• Estimated Play Time: [X-Y minutes]
• Difficulty: [1-10 relative scale]
• Prerequisite: [What the player must have done to reach this level]
• Status: [Concept | Layout | Graybox | Art Pass | Polish | Final]

Narrative Context

• Story Moment: [Where in the narrative arc does this level occur]
• Narrative Purpose: [What story beat this level delivers]
• Emotional Target: [What the player should feel during this level]
• Lore Discoveries: [What world-building the player can find here]

Layout

Overview Map

[ASCII diagram of the level layout. Use these symbols:]
[S] = Start point
[E] = Exit/end point
[C] = Combat encounter
[P] = Puzzle
[R] = Reward/loot
[!] = Story beat
[?] = Secret/optional
[>] = One-way passage
[=] = Two-way passage
[@] = NPC
[B] = Boss encounter

Critical Path

[The mandatory route through the level, step by step.]

1. Player enters at [S]
2. [Description of what happens along the path]
3. Player exits at [E]

Optional Paths

Path	Access Requirement	Reward	Discovery Hint

Points of Interest

Location	Type	Description	Purpose

Encounters

Combat Encounters

ID	Position	Enemy Composition	Difficulty	Arena Notes
E-01	[Map ref]	[2x Grunt, 1x Ranged]	3/10	Open area, cover on flanks
E-02	[Map ref]	[1x Elite, 3x Grunt]	5/10	Narrow corridor, no retreat

Non-Combat Encounters

ID	Position	Type	Description	Solution Hint

Pacing Chart

Intensity
10 |                              *
 8 |                         *   * *
 6 |            *  *        * * *   *
 4 |     *  *  * ** *   *  *
 2 | * ** ** *        * * *          *
 0 |S-----------------------------------------E
     [Start]    [Mid]              [Climax] [Exit]

[Describe the intended rhythm: where are the peaks, valleys, rest points?]

Audio Direction

Zone/Moment	Music Track	Ambience	Key SFX
[Entry]	[Track]	[Ambient sounds]	[Door opening]
[Combat]	[Combat music]	[Muted ambience]	[Combat SFX]
[Post-combat]	[Calm transition]	[Return to ambience]

Visual Direction

• Lighting: [Key, fill, ambient description]
• Color Palette: [Dominant colors and why]
• Mood Board References: [Description of visual references]
• Landmarks: [Visible navigation aids and their locations]
• Sight Lines: [What the player should see from key positions]

Collectibles and Secrets

Item	Location	Visibility	Hint	Required For

Technical Notes

• Estimated Object Count: [N]
• Streaming Zones: [Where to break the level for streaming]
• Performance Concerns: [Any known heavy areas]
• Required Systems: [What game systems are active in this level]