Volcanic Winter Biome

Design Approach

Blizzards, lava routes, safe settlements and changing visual intensity make this a study in emotional pacing. My aim was to plan a place that tells players something through how it is arranged, not only through dialogue or objectives.

My Contributions

Level design, documentation, illustrated and simplified maps, environment blockout and gameplay pacing. I also worked directly on the Unreal Engine environment for this biome.

Research and Design

I planned this biome around the contrast between exposed, hazardous terrain and quieter places where players can regroup. Attention-restoration research and game-task cognitive load research helped me think about how a change in environmental intensity could give players room to process information before the next challenge (Liu et al., 2024; Seyderhelm & Blackmore, 2023).

Project Media and Credits

My independent level-design work. Maps and documentation by Joelle Jahns. Mood-board imagery is used as design reference; the individual original creators still need verification and permission for public publication.