Crypt Of Fear is an FPS co-op horror game where two explorers navigate ancient Egyptian ruins to gather treasure for their research.Together with a friend, you delve deep into ancient Egyptian ruins in order to recover the remains of an old pharaoh that are hidden inside different jars spread across the old ruins.WEAPONS
In this game, you can find several rifles and a shotgun, along with ammo scattered across the map. These weapons can help you escape from this terrifying place!ENEMIES
This dungeon is filled with many enemies, so be careful! Play in co-op, search for medkits and weapons to stand a chance against your foes!ENVIRONMENT
The level contains several traps and secret passages. Stay alert and cautious. Sometimes the environment is your ally, but other times it’s your enemy. It all depends on how you use it.

1. I created the initial level design, focusing on making movement easy and intuitive, without any dead ends.
2. I developed one of the two levels by making the blockout, placing AI, and balancing the gameplay, while ensuring a seamless connection with the level created by the other level designer.
3. I came up with and implemented traps and interactive objects, which were utilized throughout the entire level.
4. I handled the environment art, finding suitable assets and textures that fit our theme. I also aimed to make the space as varied as possible, so the player could distinguish between different zones and know where they were.

Researching Egyptian dungeons and ruins to understand their appearance, analyzing both real examples and artistic representations of ancient Egypt. I focused on the architecture of the rooms, their dimensions, and the lighting.

For this project, we used 4-meter by 4-meter walls.

My team and I created a small game flow and a rough sketch of how the map should look. We decided that players should have a safe place where they start and finish the game (similar to the ship in Lethal Company).This was done for three main reasons:1. Narrative factor – Players are explorers who need to find loot and return.
2. It allows players to learn the map with each expedition, making it easier to find their way back.
3. Players can use the glow stick mechanic to mark their path and return or to designate areas they’ve already visited.

This time, before starting on the top-down map, I decided to experiment with creating some spaces directly in the engine. I ended up designing a cave, a starting room, a corridor, and a room with pillars. I used these as a foundation, and only after that did I make the first sketch of the top-down map.

After I started creating spaces in Unreal Engine, I conducted a few playtests. Based on the feedback, I gained a clearer vision of the map. The most important realization was that there should be a room encircling the entire map, helping the player return to the start. In other words, the corridor around the map serves as a guide for the player, signaling that they are on the right path.

GUIDING THE PLAYER
I decided to use fire to indicate places where you can find loot or weapons/ammo/first aid kit.
I also lit up the main room to show that it is the center of the game.

WORKING WITH SPACE AND COMPOSITION
My task was to make the rooms as different as possible so that the player could understand where he was approximately even without a map. To do this, I made a large open room, an interactive room, a dungeon with secret passages, a labyrinth and much more.

ADDITIONAL AND SECRET PATHS
All spaces are connected. Sometimes it's obvious, and other times you need to be attentive to find these paths.

I decided to make simple interactive scripts that will help diversify the level. I made them in blueprints and then the programmers on my team made them better.

This was my first experience creating a map for an online game, especially in the horror genre. It was a cool challenge during which I ran into some problems.The first problem was in navigation, the task was to make sure that the players understood where they needed to return, but at the same time we did not want to add a map. After several iterations, it was decided to add a corridor that would connect the boundaries of the dungeon and the start. This greatly improved player navigation in the dungeon.It was also discovered during playtests that players sometimes did not notice how some interactions worked. To do this, we added sound to each interaction, and I completely redesigned some interactions to improve their visibility.Also, after playtests, it was decided to diversify the rooms, since the feedback was that many rooms were similar to each other. I then decided to add a large main room to make the dungeon feel incredibly huge. With this room I tried to convey the power of this place.I also decided to add a maze to make the player feel claustrophobic. Moreover, in this location it is more scary to meet the enemy, since the passages are narrow and you need to act faster.Overall I'm happy with the project, it was a good experience and I learned a lot. It was interesting to design the map and think about what kind of experience and what emotions players should feel in this or that part of the map. I am grateful to the team and all the people who took part in the playtests.

The main concept of the game is that the entire world is actually a laboratory, and the player is an experiment, though they are unaware of this. The world consists of portals through which the player travels across different time periods. The player doesn't know which world will come next, but they must keep moving forward, searching for a way out of the maze of worlds to escape this hellish loop.

For this project, I developed a level prototype, which I then implemented. I started with a top-down map, followed by creating the first blockout and simple mechanics, such as opening a secret door and using a flashlight. After playtests, I realized the level was too small, so I added more rooms in the second iteration. However, after further playtests, I understood that my level lacked verticality. I then revised the map again, adding an underground floor. After that, I adjusted the lighting and worked on environment art. Additionally, I introduced more complex interactions, such as opening doors with keys, interacting with a box where the key can be found, a damage system and checkpoints, as well as unlocking doors using a specific code.

Before I started working, I found references on which I then based my work.

This is the first iteration of the top-down map, where I placed the main events.

This is the third and final iteration of the top-down map. Here you can see how the map has changed after all the playtests and iterations. I added verticality to the map, more events were introduced, and a small level scenario was developed.

In the first example, I wanted to demonstrate how I used lighting to make the scene feel darker and more unsettling. The image shows a person inside a box enclosed with glass. Under normal lighting, it would look like an ordinary lab setting. However, the red light adds a sense of unease. The light only illuminates the silhouette, and the glass blurs the image, preventing the player from fully identifying what the object is. The silhouette appears human, but people don’t typically reside in a metal, frozen box, which creates a feeling of horror.

Here, the red light is used again, but this time in a prison cell. A prison cell on its own already causes discomfort, but when combined with red lighting, it transforms into something truly horrifying.

In the third image, you can see white light. White light doesn't evoke anxiety and is often associated with safety. This zone is indeed a safe area, and the white light communicates this to the player.

In this example, you can see a secret passage that activates when a special trigger is pressed. The main goal was to create a horror game, but as I mentioned earlier, the theme of the level was a "Secret Abandoned Hospital". So I felt it necessary to add unexpected passages that the player could activate through some kind of trigger. This passage leads to an optional area that is not required to complete the level.

There is also a door with a code that opens a passage to an important part of the map – a secret basement. I decided to create this door to diversify the player's experience. I made the Blueprints and UI for this door myself.

I'll say right away that I haven't made any animations or triggers for this zone yet, but I would like to explain the idea. I wanted to add screamers to the game, and for this, I created a specific zone. The idea is that just before the exit, the player encounters creatures that are breathing heavily. These creatures jump at the player if they get too close. I was inspired by this scene from the movie "I Am Legend."

One of the main challenges in creating the level environment for Object 11204 was designing unique rooms that would help with visual communication for the player. This means the player could remember these rooms and understand whether they had already been in that room or not.In the first screenshot, you can see the starting area, located on the first floor. The space and assets work together to show the player that this is an abandoned space. I used Modeling Mode to add windows and create holes in the ceiling. Decals from Quixel were very helpful. I used debris, graffiti, and broken decals to achieve the feeling of an abandoned place.

In the second screenshot, you can see an operating table, which lets the player understand that this is an abandoned hospital. Here, I also used assets from Quixel, as well as assets from the Dungeon Pack, which I got from the Unreal Marketplace. However, I had to create some assets myself, like the operating table, cabinet, and lamp. I made them in Unreal using Modeling Mode and then applied textures.

In the third screenshot, you can see the underground area, which is completely different from the first-floor area. You can see that the walls are carved out of stone, as if this place was made inside a mountain. The main goal was not only to make this area scary but also to show that it’s a secret location. The player should feel like they’ve seen something beyond what’s available to the average person.For this scene, I used assets from Quixel. I was curious to experiment with creating a secret underground lab, which somewhat resembles a bunker.

In the final screenshot, I wanted to showcase the doctor's office, located on the underground floor, which can only be accessed via a key. Here, I added many unique and small details, such as photographs, posters, luxury items, and plants. This area stands out significantly from the others, yet it fits perfectly into the narrative of the story.

Rules:
1. Players start on the first tile and gradually reveal the rest of the map.
2. Each player begins with 3 action cards. Action cards can be swapped each turn, with a maximum of 3 in hand at any time.
3. Players can move in any direction.
4. The game begins from one of the 4 corners of the map.
5. If a player reaches a dead end, they can break through a wall for 2 points.
6. The map is assembled randomly in an 8x8 grid.
7. The game features events and loot that can either help or hinder you.
8. There are 2 exits in the game.
9. Players roll two dice per turn, with the highest roll being 3 points and the lowest 1 point.
10. The main objective is to gather as much loot as possible and escape the dungeon before it collapses (in 15 rounds).

My main task from day one of the project was to create an interesting map. However, the map needed to not only be engaging but also reusable. This meant that the map had to be random every time the game was played.

The first iteration of the map featured tiles that were all identical, with doors on all sides that could be opened. We immediately disliked this iteration because there was no uniqueness in the map—each tile looked the same.

In the second iteration, I tried placing doors in different locations. To open a door, the player could spend 1 point, with the remaining points used for movement. This seemed like a good idea until we did the first playtests. During the playtests, we received a lot of feedback that the doors were slowing down the game, and all the zones still felt identical.

Then we decided to try creating a pre-made map. It turned out well, and people were interested in playing. However, the downside of this map was that after 1-2 playthroughs, players would memorize it, which is a problem for a board game when we talk about replayability and potential sales.(Unfortunately, I lost the materials for the pre-made map, so I can't show them to you.)

The final iteration, which you can see in the image, is similar to the iteration with doors, but we changed the game mechanics. Instead of opening doors, when a player is stuck, they can break a wall for 2 action points. After breaking the wall, the player can place a special "bridge" tile, which you can see in the top-right corner. This bridge makes the passage permanently accessible for both the player and others. This sped up movement across the map, encouraging players to take more risks and explore more.Additionally, this version allowed us to add my favorite card, called "restart". If players draw this card within the last 3 rounds of the game, they must shuffle all the tiles and rearrange the map.

Here you can see examples of the cards present in our game.
For action cards, the range is in the top left corner, and the cost in points is in the top right corner.

ACTION CARDS

LOOT CARDS

EVENT CARDS

This project was a real challenge. I spent quite a bit of time figuring out how to make the map the way we wanted it, and the solution came to me literally just a few days before the deadline. We also faced some difficulties and misunderstandings as a team. Despite that, we managed to bring the game to a prototype stage, and in the end, this was probably one of my favorite courses, and it's one of my favorite projects. One day, I will try to bring this project to a full release.

The main concept of the game is that the entire world is actually a laboratory, and the player is an experiment, though they are unaware of this. The world consists of portals through which the player travels across different time periods. The player doesn't know which world will come next, but they must keep moving forward, searching for a way out of the maze of worlds to escape this hellish loop.

For this prototype, me and the second level designer (Erik) found metrics for our boss fight. Also, we decided to make two phases. Phase one would be when the boss would have 100-50 hp, and phase two would be from 50 to 0. Erik was responsible for phase one, and I was responsible for phase two. The idea was that the first phase would be on the floor, and the second phase would be on the pillars. The pillars will appear from the ground after the first phase is over.

To start, I made modular pillars with a height ranging from 1 meter to 12 meters and a width of 4 meters. Our character’s double jump height was 2.8 meters, meaning a single jump was 1.4 meters. The width of 4 meters was chosen because jumping and shooting at the boss simultaneously is quite challenging, so the platform’s width needed to be comfortable enough for the player to focus primarily on shooting rather than on the jumping challenge.

We also created a small tension graph to show the team the level sequence and what events would take place.

I made a quick sketch of the level in SketchUp to show the team my idea.

The first problem I encountered was the lack of variety. Since I decided to place the platforms 2 meters apart, it ended up being too safe for the gameplay. Another issue was the double jump height—because the player could jump 2.8 meters, it wasn't always clear during the fight whether the platform gaps were 2 meters or 3 meters. Therefore, together with the design team, we decided to change the double jump height to 3.2 meters, making the single jump height 1.6 meters.But let's get back to the platforms. How did I solve the issue of platform variety?

The first thing I did was add platforms with a passage inside. The main idea behind these platforms was to save the player from a failed jump. You might ask, "Didn't you just say the level felt too safe?" Yes, that was true in the first iteration. However, in the second iteration, I increased the distance between the platforms. This helped me introduce more variety.

In the third variation, after playtests, I changed the platforms once again. Many players, when falling, didn’t press the "W" key and simply fell straight down. So, it was decided to add a 1-meter ledge to make it easier for players to land inside the platform.

VIDEO EXAMPLE:

In the third iteration, I also added platforms that were 2 meters wide and placed them on top of platforms that were 4 meters wide. What did this achieve?1. The 2-meter wide platforms allowed me to diversify the level and create a unique area.
2. The 4-meter wide platform underneath helps players recover from a failed jump, ensuring the area doesn't feel too difficult.

I know this is a small level, but I wanted the player to be able to recognize which area they are in, even during combat. Each area offers the player a different experience and is visually distinct.

Area 1 consists of solid platforms (up to 4 meters high) and platforms with pass-through sections. The platforms with a passage inside visually distinguish this area, making it unique. The pass-through platforms can be used by the player as cover. This area will collapse first when the boss reaches 40% health.

Area 2 consists of solid platforms that are 4 meters and 2 meters wide. I also added bridges connecting the platforms. This area is unique because it features 2-meter-wide platforms without a safety platform below, and it includes bridges, making it one of the safest areas. Players can walk across this zone rather than just jump, as in other areas. This area will collapse when the boss reaches 30% health.

Area 3 features 2-meter-wide platforms with a 4-meter-wide safety platform below. This creates the visual uniqueness of this area, as it is the only place where the 2-meter platforms are paired with a safety platform. While it seems challenging, it’s actually much easier due to the safety platforms below. However, the player still needs to be agile to secure a good position on top. This area will drop down when the boss reaches 15% health.

Area 4 consists of solid platforms that are 4 meters wide, to which I also added smaller platforms that are 4 meters wide and 2 meters long, placed where the player might make a mistake with their jump. This area is unique because it is the only one featuring 4x4 platforms, which makes it visually distinct.

Erik (the level designer who worked with me) created jump pads using Blueprints. I didn't participate in the prototyping of the jump pads, but we together determined the jump strength to ensure it matched our levels.

I decided to develop a wall run. Since our game is focused on movement, I thought it would be interesting to try it out. So, I created a simple wall run that accelerates and boosts the player. However, we decided not to use it because I had to duplicate the player controller, which slightly altered the double jump. Due to this bug, the double jump became 4.2 meters, and we didn’t have enough time to fix it.

We wanted to create a smooth transition between levels, where the second level rises from the lava. For my level, I made each zone as a separate mesh and added them all into a single blueprint, which ultimately looked like this:

This was a great idea for creating a smooth transition, but because the assets had many collisions, we were losing a lot of FPS during the level transitions. So, the other level designer and I went into the mesh and started fixing each area individually.

When working on this map, I encountered only one problem. Since Roblox Studio is a new engine for me, I didn’t know that physics is enabled for all objects by default. So, when I built houses and windows from cubes (which you can see in the background of my map), all these objects successfully collapsed.

It turned out that this problem was not so difficult to solve. I just needed to make the objects "Anchored." After that, the objects become non-movable.