1 What Is a Tile?
Key Vocabulary
- Tile
- A small square image that repeats to build a world — like a LEGO brick
- Tilemap
- A grid where you place tiles to create a level — like a LEGO baseplate
- Grid
- Rows and columns of squares, like graph paper
- Level Design
- The art of planning where platforms, enemies, and items go in a game
Game levels are built on a grid, like graph paper. Each square = one tile.
Tiles can be: ground, platform, empty (air), wall, water, lava.
By filling in the grid with different tiles, you create a complete level!
Example: Minecraft is ALL tiles (blocks). Mario levels are built on a grid too.
Think of a game level. Can you see the grid? Most games hide it well!
I understand that game levels are built on a grid using tiles.
2 Plan Your Level on Paper
Draw a grid on paper (or use a provided grid) and plan your level:
Draw a 16-column × 9-row grid (widescreen game ratio).
Create a key/legend: G = Ground, P = Platform, E = Empty (air), S = Start, F = Finish, C = Coin, X = Enemy, H = Hazard.
Bottom 2 rows = mostly Ground.
Scatter some platforms above the ground.
Start on the left, Finish on the right.
Place coins along the path for the player to collect.
Add enemies in tricky spots.
Maybe add a gap (hazard) the player must jump over.
My Grid Key / Legend
Write your symbols and what they mean (e.g. G = Ground, P = Platform ...)
Write your key here...
Show your grid to your partner. Can they trace a path from Start to Finish?
I have a grid level with a start, finish, platforms, and at least 3 game pieces.
3 Build Your Level in Canva
Open Canva and create a 1920 × 1080 design to build your level digitally:
Create a custom design — 1920 x 1080 px
This is standard widescreen game resolution.
Click Elements > search "grid" or "table" — OR manually create grid lines.
Alternative (easier): Use the background from L05 and build on top of it.
Use coloured rectangles for ground tiles (brown/green) and platform tiles (grey/stone).
Drag and resize rectangles to fill the grid squares.
Copy your game pieces from L10 into this design.
Download them as PNG from your L10 Canva project, then upload here.
Place coins along the player path.
Coins guide the player and reward exploration.
Place enemies in strategic spots.
Put them where the player needs to be careful!
Mark the Start position (add text "START" with an arrow) and Finish position ("FINISH" with a flag).
The player needs to know where to go.
Draw arrows showing the player's intended path through the level.
Use Elements > Lines > Arrows to show the route.
Add labels/annotations: "Jump here!", "Watch out for enemy!", "Collect all coins!"
These help explain your level design to others.
Rename your design: "L12 - Complete Level - [Your Name]"
This keeps your work organised.
Raise your hand or ask your buddy. Check that your level has ground, platforms, game pieces, a start, and a finish.
My level has ground, platforms, game pieces, a start, a finish, and path arrows.