A level can look impressive and still play badly. Players may miss a doorway, lose their way, or struggle with a jump that looks easy. These problems often begin long before the final art arrives.
Level design tools help creators shape spaces, place objects, build paths, and test how a game feels. But the right tool depends on the game itself. A 2D platform game needs different tools from a 3D shooter or an open-world adventure.
The biggest choice is not which editor has the most features. It is where your levels live, how your game uses them, and how quickly you can test changes.
What counts as a level design tool?
Level design tools help developers create the spaces players explore. These spaces may include rooms, roads, platforms, buildings, caves, puzzles, and outdoor areas.
Some tools work inside a game engine. Others create maps in separate applications and export them for use in a game.
The category includes several different types:
- Engine-based editors: Build and edit levels inside engines such as Unreal Engine, Unity, and Godot.
- 3D blockout tools: Create simple shapes and layouts before adding detailed models.
- Brush-based editors: Build maps from solid shapes, often for classic or custom game engines.
- 2D map editors: Arrange tiles, objects, layers, and game events.
- Terrain tools: Shape hills, valleys, cliffs, and large outdoor spaces.
These tools overlap, but they do not solve the same problems.
For example, a 2D map editor may export level data for a game engine. A 3D blockout tool may help test room size and movement. A terrain tool may create a landscape but leave gameplay design to another application.
This difference matters. Buying a terrain generator will not solve a problem with room layout. Likewise, a tile editor will not replace a full 3D scene editor.
The main level design tools and where they fit
The following options cover common workflows rather than competing for one overall ranking. Some are complete engine editors. Others focus on a smaller part of level creation.
| Tool | Main role | Strongest use case | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreal Engine Level Editor | Full 3D level creation | Detailed 3D environments and large game worlds | Requires learning a broad engine workflow |
| Unity ProBuilder | In-engine 3D geometry editing | Fast blockouts and playable prototypes | Not a complete environment modeling package |
| Godot GridMap | Grid-based 3D level building | Modular spaces built from reusable meshes | Requires a prepared MeshLibrary |
| TrenchBroom | Brush-based map editing | Quake-style and compatible game maps | Supports specific brush-based workflows |
| Tiled | 2D map editing | Tile-based, isometric, and object-based maps | Needs a game or framework to use exported data |
| LDtk | Structured 2D level design | Grid-based levels with entities and custom data | Requires an importer or suitable game integration |
Unreal Engine: Build complete 3D gameplay spaces
Best suited to: 3D games, detailed environments, and teams using Unreal Engine.
Unreal Engine-Interface und -Navigation | Unreal Engine 5.7 Dokumentation | Epic Developer Community
The Unreal Engine Level Editor provides a full workspace for building gameplay levels. Designers place objects called Actors into a scene. They can add geometry, lights, visual effects, and gameplay elements.
This makes Unreal useful for more than arranging scenery. A level can include doors, moving platforms, enemy locations, interactive objects, and scripted events.
Unreal also includes tools for building large outdoor environments. Its Landscape system helps shape terrain. Its world-building tools support larger environments and level streaming.
The engine also includes Blueprint visual scripting. Designers can use it to create gameplay behavior without writing every feature in C++.
Epic’s Unreal Engine editor documentation explains the different editors and systems available.
Why its workflow stands out
Unreal keeps many level tasks inside one project. Designers can build a room, add lighting, connect gameplay events, and test the result.
This reduces the need to move between separate tools for every change. It also helps teams work with shared engine assets and gameplay systems.
For example, a designer building a puzzle room can place pressure plates, doors, lights, and trigger volumes. Blueprint logic can connect these objects.
What to consider before choosing it
Unreal is a broad development environment. Its learning curve can feel steep when you only need simple room layouts.
Large projects also need careful asset and level organization. Teams should agree on naming, folder rules, source control, and level ownership.
Choose Unreal’s built-in editor when your game already uses Unreal. It is usually more practical than building a separate level workflow without a clear reason.
Explore the Unreal Engine level design documentation.
Unity ProBuilder: Test 3D layouts before making final art
Best suited to: Unity projects, greyboxing, and fast 3D prototypes.
ProBuilder: Advanced Level Design in Unity
ProBuilder lets developers create and edit geometry inside Unity. It is especially useful during early level design.
Designers can build walls, floors, stairs, ramps, and other basic shapes. They can also edit vertices, faces, and edges to change the layout.
This process is often called greyboxing or blockout. It uses simple shapes instead of finished art.
The goal is to test the level before spending time on detailed models. A designer can check room size, sightlines, movement, and jump distances with basic geometry.
Unity’s ProBuilder documentation describes its geometry editing and in-scene design features.
Why ProBuilder is useful
ProBuilder works inside the Unity editor. Designers can shape a space and test it in the same project.
Imagine a platform game with a difficult jump. The designer can create two platforms, set their height, and test the jump. If it feels unfair, the designer can adjust the distance.
This is more useful than making polished art before confirming the gameplay.
ProBuilder also supports UV editing and model export. That helps when a team wants to refine prototype geometry in another 3D application.
Where it falls short
ProBuilder is not a full replacement for a dedicated 3D modeling package. Complex characters, detailed props, and polished environment assets need other tools.
It also belongs to the Unity workflow. A project built in another engine will not gain much from adding ProBuilder.
Choose it when your main challenge is testing 3D spaces quickly inside Unity.
Godot GridMap: Assemble 3D levels from reusable pieces
Best suited to: Modular 3D environments and grid-based layouts in Godot.
Usando GridMaps — Documentação da Godot Engine (4.x) em Português Brasileiro
Godot’s GridMap system lets designers place 3D meshes on a grid. It works like a 3D tilemap.
Instead of placing every object by hand, a designer prepares a collection of reusable pieces. Godot calls this collection a MeshLibrary.
The library might contain walls, floors, corners, stairs, and other modular parts. Designers then paint these pieces into a level.
Godot can also use collision and navigation shapes with MeshLibrary items. This helps connect the visual layout to movement and gameplay.
The Godot GridMap guide explains how to prepare and use these libraries.
What makes GridMap different?
GridMap is built around repeated pieces and fixed cell sizes. This makes it useful for modular environments.
For example, a dungeon could use a small set of wall and floor pieces. The designer can combine them into many rooms without modeling each room separately.
It can also help teams maintain a consistent layout. Reusable pieces reduce the chance of small alignment errors.
The important limitation
GridMap is not a general-purpose object placement system. It is designed for meshes with specific collision and navigation data.
A team must prepare its MeshLibrary correctly. The grid size must also match the intended dimensions of its pieces.
GridMap is a strong choice when a level uses modular building blocks. It is less suitable for highly irregular environments that need free-form editing.
TrenchBroom: A focused editor for brush-based maps
Best suited to: Quake-style mapping and compatible brush-based engines.
TrenchBroom is a dedicated level editor for brush-based game engines. It supports games such as Quake, Quake II, and Hexen II.
A brush is a solid shape used to build part of a map. Designers combine these shapes to create rooms, corridors, platforms, and other spaces.
TrenchBroom provides both 3D and 2D editing views. This lets designers inspect the whole map while adjusting shapes with precision.
Its tools include vertex editing, clipping, texture alignment, layers, and entity editing. It can also run external map compilers and launch game engines.
The TrenchBroom manual explains its editing tools and supported workflows.
Why specialists choose it
TrenchBroom focuses on map construction rather than general game development. Its dedicated brush tools make it useful for creators working with compatible engines.
Layers can separate rooms or map sections. Designers can hide or lock parts while working elsewhere.
The editor also includes an issue browser. This helps identify and address certain map problems during development.
Its boundaries matter
TrenchBroom does not replace an engine’s complete development environment. It also does not include every external compiler a project may need.
Teams must install and configure the required game resources and build tools. Compatibility depends on the target game and its map format.
It is a poor fit for a Unity or Unreal project that uses their normal scene workflows. Its value comes from supporting a specific style of map creation.
The project is free and open source under the GPL licence. Its official website lists supported platforms and downloads.
Tiled: Design flexible 2D maps
Best suited to: 2D games, tilemaps, and isometric environments.
Tiled Map Editor by Thorbjørn Lindeijer
Tiled is a dedicated 2D map editor. It helps designers arrange tiles, objects, and layers without building the entire map inside a game engine.
It supports rectangular, isometric, staggered isometric, and hexagonal map layouts. Designers can also use individual images and object layers.
Its terrain tools help connect different ground types. For example, a designer can paint grass beside water and use terrain rules to create suitable edges.
Tiled also supports custom properties. These let designers attach useful information to map objects and tiles.
The Tiled documentation covers its map formats, layers, terrain tools, and export options.
Why its export system matters
Tiled can export map data in formats such as JSON and CSV. It also supports several engine-specific formats.
This makes it useful when a game needs a separate map editor. The development team can read the exported data inside its own game.
For example, a 2D adventure game might use Tiled to arrange rooms, doors, objects, and collision information. Its game code then reads the exported map.
Tiled also supports custom export formats and scripting. This can help teams adapt its output to their own systems.
The trade-off
Tiled creates map data. It does not automatically provide the complete gameplay system that uses that data.
Developers must confirm that their engine or framework can read the exported format. They may need to build or maintain an importer.
That makes Tiled useful for flexible 2D workflows, but less convenient when a team wants every task inside one engine editor.
LDtk: Organize 2D levels with structured game data
Best suited to: 2D platform games, grid-based worlds, and data-driven levels.
LDtk level editor by Deepnight Games
LDtk is a dedicated 2D level editor. It combines tile placement with structured information about the game world.
Its layers can hold tiles, entities, and integer grid values. Designers can use these layers for different tasks.
An entity layer might contain player starts, enemies, doors, or treasure. An integer grid layer can describe collision areas or other game rules.
LDtk also supports auto-layers. These use rules to place tiles based on the surrounding grid data.
The LDtk layer documentation explains how its layer types work.
Where LDtk adds value
LDtk is useful when a level contains more than artwork. It can store information that the game needs to understand.
For example, a designer could mark solid ground, water, hazards, and enemy positions. The game can read these values when loading a level.
LDtk saves project data as JSON. It also offers simplified exports with images and optional data files.
This can make engine integration easier. However, teams still need a suitable importer or code that reads the exported files.
What to check first
LDtk is focused on 2D level creation. It is not a full 3D scene editor.
Before adopting it, test how its exported data fits your game. Check entity fields, tile layers, collision rules, and level transitions.
LDtk is free and open source. Its official download page explains its licensing and available builds.
The most important decision: Build inside the engine or outside it?
This choice affects more than the editor interface. It changes how your team handles files, testing, collaboration, and game data.
Engine-based editing
An engine-based editor stores level content in the engine’s own project system.
This approach works well when designers need to test gameplay often. They can place objects, adjust lighting, and run the level without exporting it to another tool.
It also keeps many game-specific settings close to the level itself.
The main drawback is dependence on the engine. Moving the project to another engine may require rebuilding much of the level.
External level editing
An external editor creates level data outside the game engine.
This can be useful when designers need a focused interface or want to share level data across different game frameworks.
Tiled and LDtk are examples of this approach.
The main risk is integration work. The engine must understand the exported data and turn it into playable content.
A team may need to write an importer, manage file changes, and keep the editor and game data in sync.
Which approach should you choose?
| Project situation | Practical starting point |
|---|---|
| 3D game built with Unreal | Unreal Engine Level Editor |
| 3D prototype built with Unity | Unity ProBuilder |
| Modular 3D game built with Godot | Godot GridMap |
| Quake-style brush-based map | TrenchBroom |
| 2D tile-based game | Tiled |
| 2D game with structured entities and grid data | LDtk |
| Custom game engine | Choose an editor with a compatible export format |
The best starting point is usually the tool closest to the game’s data format. That reduces the work needed to turn a design into a playable level.
How to judge a level design tool before committing
A feature list cannot tell you whether an editor suits your game. A short project test often reveals more.
Use a small level that includes the objects and problems your real game will need.
1. Test the complete editing loop
Create a simple room or map. Add basic objects and save the project.
Then make a change and test it in the game. Watch how many steps the process takes.
A useful tool should let designers repeat this cycle without unnecessary work.
2. Check how the game reads level data
For an external editor, this is one of the most important tests.
Confirm that the game can read:
- Tile and object positions
- Collision information
- Entity properties
- Layer visibility and order
- Map dimensions and coordinates
- Level connections and transitions
Do not assume that an export format contains every feature your game needs.
3. Test collision and player movement
A room can look correct while its collision shapes behave badly.
Test walls, floors, slopes, platforms, and moving areas. Check whether the player can move through the intended paths.
For platform games, test jump distances and landing areas. For shooters, check cover, visibility, and movement routes.
4. Check collaboration and file handling
A shared level may contain many objects and connected assets.
Find out how the editor saves its files. Check whether multiple designers can work safely on separate sections.
Also test how the tool works with your source control system. Large binary files and frequent shared edits can make collaboration harder.
5. Measure the cost of the full workflow
The editor’s purchase price is only one part of the cost.
A separate tool may require an importer, custom scripts, plugins, or staff training. A free editor may still create maintenance work.
Consider the time needed to set up the workflow and keep it working.
Level design is more than placing objects
A level design tool helps create a space. It does not decide whether that space is enjoyable.
Good level design also depends on how players move, understand goals, and react to challenges.
Several design checks matter during development.
Test the player’s route
Walk through the level from the player’s view. Check whether the next goal is clear.
Use landmarks, lighting, shape, and color to guide attention. Avoid relying only on signs or text.
Check the space at normal play speed
A room may look clear while standing still. It may become confusing when a player runs through it.
Test movement at the speed your game uses. Check corners, doors, jumps, and turns.
Use simple geometry first
Detailed models can hide problems during early design.
Start with basic shapes. Confirm room sizes, distances, and routes before adding final art.
This also makes changes easier. Moving a simple wall takes less work than rebuilding a detailed environment.
Watch for unfair difficulty
A challenge should test the player’s skills, not punish them without warning.
Check whether hazards are visible. Make sure players have enough space to react.
For multiplayer maps, test both sides of the experience. Look for unfair sightlines, blocked routes, and areas that give one team an unwanted advantage.
Common mistakes when choosing level design software
A tool can have many features and still be wrong for a project. These mistakes often create extra work.
Choosing a 2D editor for a 3D problem
Tiled and LDtk are designed for 2D level data. They do not replace a full 3D environment editor.
Buying a terrain tool for room design
Terrain tools focus on landforms and outdoor surfaces. They are not always suitable for interiors, corridors, or gameplay layouts.
Ignoring the export format
An external editor may create attractive maps. But those maps still need to work inside the game.
Check the importer before building a large level library.
Polishing the environment too early
Detailed art can make a weak layout harder to change. Test the space with simple shapes first.
Forgetting the player’s view
Designers often inspect levels from editor cameras. Players experience them from the game camera.
Test the actual player view before approving the layout.
Questions worth asking before a team adopts a tool
A small team may need a simple editor. A larger studio may need stronger control over shared data and production workflows.
Before choosing, ask:
- Does the tool support our game engine or file format?
- Can designers test changes without a complex export process?
- Can it store collision, entity, and gameplay data?
- Can we create reusable rooms, tiles, or modular pieces?
- Does it support our operating systems?
- Can multiple team members work without overwriting each other’s changes?
- Does the tool need custom scripts or an importer?
- Who will maintain that integration?
- Can we move our levels to another tool if the project changes?
- What will the full workflow cost in time and money?
These questions help reveal problems before a team builds hundreds of levels.
Choose the tool around the game, not the feature list
The right level design tool depends on how a game is built.
Unreal’s editor suits teams creating full 3D worlds inside Unreal. ProBuilder helps Unity developers test geometry quickly. Godot GridMap works well with reusable 3D pieces.
For specialist workflows, TrenchBroom offers focused brush-based editing. Tiled and LDtk give 2D teams more control over maps and structured level data.
Start with one small, playable level. Test the editor, export process, collision, and team workflow. If those steps feel reliable, expand the project with confidence.
A good level editor should help designers spend more time improving the player experience. It should not make every level change feel like a technical project.
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