Realize Your Level Design Ideas with UE5 and Blender

Use Unreal Engine 5 to get a job in Level Design or Game Design

What you’ll learn
Understand how to brainstorm ideas and create a paper map design
Learn 3D modeling for use in the Unreal Engine and its role in level design
Know how to use built-in features of Unreal to kickstart level design ideas quickly
Be able to communicate design intent directly within the Unreal editor

Requirements
No experience with Unreal required. Some basic knowledge of 3D modeling is recommended but not required.

Description
Level design is an essential component of multiplayer action games. Ever fantasize about creating your own maps? This class will cover how to approach level design from high-level design thinking to the nuts and bolts of blocking out a level that you can traverse in Unreal Engine 5.

This class involves brainstorming, drawing, 3D modeling, and some setup and lighting in Unreal.

You can follow along using Blender for the modeling portion of the class or equivalent software. While prior experience using either Blender or Unreal is not required, it’s recommended that you’re familiar with the basics of your 3D software of choice. For the drawing portion, feel free to use good old fashioned pen and paper, then upload a picture of it to your computer using a phone.

Design a level based on the brief provided or create your own!

Soak in the design brief and let it marinate in your head

OR write up a new brief with specific parameters and restrictions defined

Draw up a 2D map either on paper or an image editing app like Photoshop using a pen tablet

Bring the drawing into a 3D app like Blender and begin modeling your level

Be mindful of the scale by checking the level geometry inside of Unreal. Use one of the default 1st or 3rd person character controllers to run around in your map.

Refine the level geometry and set up lights in Unreal, with annotations added where needed.

Once you’ve finished this class, you should have an awesome graybox level that runs on Unreal Engine 5. This can be used as a basis for an area in your dream game or added to your portfolio to point to and say, “I designed this!”

Who this course is for
Beginner game designers interested in level design for personal projects or a career in the games industry

Realize Your Level Design Ideas with UE5 and Blender