This time, let’s take a look inside the level design behind Everdream.

Set Goals From The Story Line In Everdream, the dream world has a hub — the cathedral. The only shelter away from the nightmares in the dream world, it also connects all realms in the dream world through magic portals. Goals are set in each realm inside Everdream, from smaller ones like the NPCs quest to Regionnal quest and finally the Main quest from the cathedral — Which our priest asks you to help him save the world. By completing the smaller goals to bigger ones and eventually complete the entire game.

Puzzle Ideations To make the puzzle immersive with the story, we start by ideating the puzzles in the game, from the concept of the level and quests. For example, we use fire as the light source and magic that burns away the obstacles blocking the way and unlock items required for the quests. In new regions like the deep underground cove, where it is cold and dark, it forms nightmare ice that requires more powerful fires to solve the puzzle there.

(Early Puzzle Ideation for area — Underground) Map blockout and planning for puzzle locations

Then we make drafts for the layout of the map and planning for where the puzzle sits. For example, in the Underground area, we want the player starting off from a smaller and closed region into a more open spaced area, using puzzles gradually leading the player to explore the entire map.

(Early Level Blockout for area — Underground)

(Intro section of Underground in development stage)

Testing and Refinement It takes a lot of testing to refine the level from the aspects of player experience, puzzle logic and flow. For example, we added a vertical platforming area in the Underground area to strengthen the feeling of it being deep underground that you need to climb all the way up to reach the surface with gradual change in light and environment showing difference between the surface and underground.

(Climbing section of Underground in development stage)

Future Areas We have a new area in testing now – The Forest area. The first realm of the dream world, which is accessible in our download section.

• Xin