The Art of Safety in Game Level Design: Creating Spaces that Encourage Exploration

1. Understanding Safety in Game Design

At its core, safety in game levels refers to the moments where players can pause, reflect, and recover. Thorson emphasizes the importance of creating spaces in games where players don’t constantly feel threatened. This concept aligns closely with real-life climbing — while climbers must navigate challenges, they also find moments of stability to regroup.

In Celeste, the notion of safety manifests through various gameplay mechanics. Solid ground, for instance, is a safe zone that refills player resources, acting as a mental respite in the game’s challenging environment. By implementing these safe areas, developers can create a rhythm that balances tension with relief, making gameplay more dynamic and enjoyable.

1.1. The Importance of Safety in Level Design

Creating levels without safe spaces can lead to frustration. When players are constantly in danger, it hampers their ability to explore, experience, and learn from the mechanics. Here are several key aspects regarding the importance of safety:

• Pacing: The inclusion of safe spots allows for moments of calm in otherwise intense gameplay. This pacing gives players the chance to strategize their next move.

• Player Stress Management: Safety features help moderate stress, giving players a chance to enjoy the game rather than feeling overwhelmed.

• Exploration Encouragement: Safe zones empower players to test the limits of their abilities without the fear of instant failure.

TIP: Strive to have a mix of active challenges and safe spots in your level designs. This balance can keep players engaged and motivated.

2. Crafting Levels with Varied Degrees of Safety

While having safe areas is important, not all safe zones are created equal. Thorson discusses how the degree of safety affects player experience. For example, a player might feel more secure on solid ground compared to clinging to a fragile block that could crumble beneath them.

2.1. Layered Safety Approaches

Safety can be layered, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. Consider these types of safety when designing your levels:

• Complete Safety: Areas with solid ground or checkpoints where players regenerate resources.

• Conditional Safety: Spaces that provide safety temporarily, like crumbling blocks or those requiring quick movement.

• Relative Safety: Positions that may feel safe but are vulnerable to hidden threats, such as moving platforms that tease danger.

By understanding these approaches, you can create a balance between tension and relief in your levels. This encourages players to navigate risks while feeling secure enough to engage with the gameplay.

3. Playtesting for Safety Dynamics

An essential step in designing engaging game levels is thorough playtesting. Thorson emphasizes that observing players in action reveals insights that the designer may miss. When players interact with levels, you get a true sense of how safety elements are perceived.

During playtesting, keep an eye out for the following:

• Player Behavior: Are players utilizing safe spots effectively? Or are they skipping them to rush through levels?

• Challenge Acceptance: Are players able to face challenges without feeling overly punished?

• Innovation in Approaches: Are players finding new, creative ways to tackle obstacles?

Note: Continuous observation during playtesting can reveal valuable insights into how players perceive safety in your levels.

4. The Role of Narrative and Safety

In Celeste, the intertwining of narrative and level design enhances the concept of safety. Different areas of the game convey distinct emotional experiences, corresponding to the level of safety provided. An example is the earlier levels, which have a mix of heavy challenges and safe zones, reflective of the protagonist's initial struggles.

4.1. Integrating Story and Mechanics

As you design your levels, think about how the narrative can dictate variations in safety. For instance, if a moment in the story calls for heightened tension, you might restrict safe areas to increase urgency. Conversely, a moment of reflection in the story can correlate with broader safe zones.

5. Enhancing Player Creativity Through Safety

Thorson points out that one of Celeste's goals is to allow player creativity during their gameplay. By incorporating safety zones, you enable players to explore their abilities more freely. They can take risks knowing they have space to recover.

5.1. Encouraging Multiple Solutions

Design your levels to allow for varied approaches, similar to how rock climbing routes offer multiple paths based on a climber’s strengths and weaknesses. If players can navigate a challenge in multiple ways, it provides a richer experience and rewards player innovation.

TIP: Consider implementing hidden paths or shortcuts in your levels that are difficult but possible to discover. This invites players to explore while maintaining the challenge.

6. Managing Stakes with Safety Levels

In designing longer levels, it’s crucial to maintain a sense of progression. Safety can play a pivotal role in how players feel about their progress. Thorson noted that the stakes increase as levels get longer, which amplifies the tension, particularly if players will want to avoid repeating sections they've already completed.

6.1. Strategic Placement of Safe Areas

In longer levels, ensure that safe areas are strategically placed to mitigate player frustration. For example, if a player is likely to face a challenging series of jumps, offer a safe respite immediately before this section. This allows players to recover and mentally prepare for what's ahead.

Conclusion

As you embark on your journey to create compelling game levels, remember that safety isn’t merely about avoiding death; it’s an integral part of the design that enriches the player experience. By thoughtfully incorporating elements of safety, managing pacing, and encouraging exploration, you can craft levels that resonate deeply with players, just like Celeste.

Designing engaging levels is an intricate dance between challenge and safety. Embrace the art of safety and watch as your players flourish in the worlds you’ve created. If you have any questions or want to share your experiences, feel free to reach out. Happy designing!

Final Tip: If you want to learn more about this subject, I recommend This Amazing Talk HERE, that I used as the main reference for this blog post.