Games & Virtual Worlds Series

Layouts

Understanding Games: How Video Games & Board Games Work

Michael Filimowicz, PhD

Published in

Understanding Games

9 min readJan 3, 2023

In video game level design, the layout refers to the overall structure and arrangement of a level. This includes the placement of objects, obstacles, and enemies, as well as the layout of the environment itself. The layout of a level is an important factor in determining the flow and pacing of the gameplay.

A good layout should be clear and easy to understand, with a logical progression of challenges and a clear path for the player to follow. It should also provide a good balance of variety and challenge, with a mix of open and closed spaces and a range of obstacles and enemies to keep the player engaged. The layout should also consider the player’s movement and abilities, and provide adequate space and opportunities for the player to use these abilities.

Level designers are responsible for creating the layout of a level and determining the placement of objects and obstacles. They work with the art and programming teams to implement the layout and ensure that it is cohesive with the overall game design.

Open vs Closed Layouts

An open layout refers to a level or environment that has a large, open area for the player to explore. This can be contrasted with a closed layout, which is more linear and has a more defined path for the player to follow.

Open layouts can provide a sense of freedom and exploration for the player, as they are able to roam and explore the environment at their own pace. These types of layouts are often used in open-world games or games with a focus on exploration, such as role-playing games or adventure games.

Open layouts can also provide more opportunities for player choice and branching paths, as the player has more freedom to explore different areas and take on challenges in different orders. However, open layouts can also be more difficult to design, as the level designer must consider the placement and balance of obstacles and challenges over a larger area.

Linear Layouts

A linear layout refers to a level or environment that has a clear, defined path for the player to follow. These types of layouts are typically more straightforward and have a more defined progression of challenges, with fewer branching paths or areas for the player to explore.

Linear layouts can be effective for some types of games, as they can provide a clear sense of progression and a clear goal for the player to work towards. These layouts are often used in games with a strong narrative focus, as they can provide a more guided experience for the player and help to emphasize the story.

However, linear layouts can also be less replayable and less open to player choice, as the player is limited to following a predetermined path. They can also feel less immersive and less open-ended than more open layouts.

Linear layouts can be effective for some types of games, but they may not be as well-suited to games that focus on exploration or player choice.

Hub-and-Spoke Layouts

A hub-and-spoke layout refers to a level or environment that is arranged as a central hub with multiple branching paths or areas radiating out from it. These types of layouts often have the player starting at the hub and exploring the different branches or “spokes” to progress through the level.

Hub-and-spoke layouts can provide a sense of progression and a clear sense of direction for the player, as the player is able to see all of the available paths from the hub and choose which one to take. They can also be more replayable, as the player can explore different paths on subsequent playthroughs.

However, hub-and-spoke layouts can also feel more linear and less open-ended than other types of layouts, as the player is limited to exploring the branches that radiate from the hub. They may also be less immersive, as the player is always aware of the central hub and is not fully immersed in the branching areas.

Parallel Layouts

A parallel layout refers to a level or environment that has multiple paths or areas for the player to explore, with the paths running parallel to each other. These types of layouts can offer more variety and replay value, as the player has more options and can choose which path to take.

Parallel layouts are often used in games with a focus on exploration, as they allow the player to discover different areas and secrets by choosing different paths. They can also provide more replay value, as the player can explore different paths on subsequent playthroughs.

However, parallel layouts can also be more difficult to design, as the level designer must balance the different paths and ensure that they are all interesting and worthwhile for the player to explore. They can also be more confusing for the player if the different paths are not clearly marked or if the player is not aware of the options available to them.

Parallel layouts can provide a more open and replayable gameplay experience, but they also require careful planning to ensure that they are easy to understand for the player.

Network Layouts

A network layout refers to a level or environment that is arranged as a series of interconnected paths or areas. These types of layouts often have multiple branching paths and allow the player to move between different areas in a non-linear fashion.

Network layouts can provide a sense of openness and exploration, as the player has more options and can choose which path to take. They can also be more replayable, as the player can explore different paths on subsequent playthroughs.

Ring Layouts

A ring layout refers to a level or environment that is arranged in a circular or looping shape. These types of layouts often have the player starting at a specific point and working their way around the ring to reach the end.

Ring layouts can be effective for creating a sense of progression and momentum, as the player is constantly moving forward and working towards the end goal. They can also provide a sense of closure, as the player is able to complete a full loop and return to the starting point.

However, ring layouts can also be more predictable and less open-ended than other types of layouts. They may also be less replayable, as the player is limited to a specific path and there are fewer branching paths or areas to explore.

Ring layouts can be effective for some types of games, but they may not be as well-suited to games with a strong focus on exploration or player choice.

Combinations of Layouts

Many video games make use of a combination of level layout designs, combining different layout types to create a unique and varied gameplay experience. Here are a few examples of games that use a combination of layout designs:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: This open-world action-adventure game uses a combination of open, networked, and hub-and-spoke layout designs. The game features a large, open world for the player to explore, with multiple interconnected areas and branching paths. The game also has several hub areas, such as towns and shrines, that serve as central points from which the player can explore the surrounding areas.

Far Cry 3: This first-person shooter features a combination of open and networked layout designs. The game is set on a large, open island that the player can explore, with multiple branching paths and areas to discover. The game also has several smaller, more linear levels that use a networked layout, with multiple branching paths that the player can explore.

Super Mario Odyssey: This 3D platformer uses a combination of open, parallel, and ring layout designs. The game features a variety of levels that range from large, open worlds to more linear, parallel paths. The game also has several levels that use a ring layout, with the player starting at a specific point and working their way around the ring to reach the end.

Portal 2: This puzzle-platformer uses a combination of linear and networked layout designs. The game features several linear levels that have a clear, defined path for the player to follow, as well as several levels with multiple branching paths and areas to explore.

Bibliography & Further Reading

A Game Design Vocabulary: Exploring the Foundational Principles Behind Good Game Design by Anna Anthropy and Naomi Clark
A Theory of Fun for Game Design by Raph Koster
Advanced Game Design: A Systems Approach by Michael Sellers
An Introduction to Game Studies by Frans Mayra
Basics of Game Design by Michael Moore
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made by Jason Schreier
Board Game Design Advice: From the Best in the World vol 1 by Gabe Barrett
Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: an Encyclopedia Of Mechanisms by Geoffrey Engelstein and Isaac Shalev
Character Development and Storytelling for Games by Lee Sheldon
Chris Crawford on Game Design by Chris Crawford
Clockwork Game Design by Keith Burgun
Elements of Game Design by Robert Zubek
Fundamentals of Game Design by Ernest Adams
Fundamentals of Puzzle and Casual Game Design by Ernest Adams
Game Design Foundations by Brenda Romero
Game Design Workshop by Tracy Fullerton
Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design by Ernest Adams and Joris Dormans
Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames edited by Chris Bateman
Games, Design and Play: A detailed approach to iterative game design by Colleen Macklin and John Sharp
Introduction to Game Systems Design by Dax Gazaway
Kobold Guide to Board Game Design by Mike Selinker, David Howell, et al
Kobold’s Guide to Worldbuilding edited by Janna Silverstein
Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design, 2nd Edition by Scott Rogers
Narrating Space / Spatializing Narrative: Where Narrative Theory and Geography Meet by Marie-Laure Ryan, Kenneth Foote, et al.
Narrative Theory: A Critical Introduction by Kent Puckett
Narrative Theory: Core Concepts and Critical Debates by David Herman, James Phelan, et al.
Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative, Fourth Edition by Mieke Bal
Practical Game Design by Adam Kramarzewski and Ennio De Nucci
Procedural Storytelling in Game Design by Tanya X. Short and Tarn Adams
Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing by Wendy Despain
Rules of Play by Salen and Zimmerman
Storyworlds Across Media: Toward a Media-Conscious Narratology (Frontiers of Narrative) by Marie-Laure Ryan, Jan-Noël Thon, et al
Tabletop Game Design for Video Game Designers by Ethan Ham
The Art of Game Design, 3rd Edition by Jesse Schell
The Board Game Designer’s Guide: The Easy 4 Step Process to Create Amazing Games That People Can’t Stop Playing by Joe Slack
The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative by H. Porter Abbott
The Grasshopper, by Bernard Suits
The Routledge Companion to Video Game Studies by Bernard Perron and Mark J.P. Wolf
The Routledge Encyclopedia of Narrative Theory by David Herman
The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design by Flint Dille & John Zuur Platten
Unboxed: Board Game Experience and Design by Gordon Calleja
Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques by Evan Skolnick
Writing for Video Game Genres: From FPS to RPG edited by Wendy Despain
Writing for Video Games by Steve Ince
100 Principles of Game Design by DESPAIN