How do you create a game location or level in styles like sci-fi, post-apocalypse or in our case, sweets?

First, let’s forget about that and focus on building a game level that meets specific criteria. Should there be obstacles and cover? Should the character die and restart the game if they fall off the path? Should they hide from enemies or dodge turret fire? In the initial stage, this is what you need to think about — the game mechanics.

In our case, we are considering what obstacles will be present, how they will function, and how the character will navigate through the course. Here are a few examples:

After thinking through the mechanics, do we start creating sweets? No. Next, we block out the location, and we still don’t think about style or the environment, if we need it.

We create the required obstacles using primitives — cubes, spheres, and simple shapes. It’s essential to consider the size and proportions of the elements so the character can physically jump the needed distance, dodge, or run to the intended spots.

For ease of work, we color-coded the objects. Those that will be movable are painted green, while those performing other functions (in our case, those that explode, knock back, or shoot at the player) are red, and the stationary ones are blue.

Once we’ve created a functional prototype of the level using primitives, we can start thinking about what objects will replace the placeholders.

In our case, flat objects were replaced with chocolate bars, cones were turned into upside-down ice cream cones. Cylinders became candy, and elongated objects became candles or straws.

The main work on creating the level is done. Next, we added decorative elements, like donuts that the level passes through, coins and items for the character to collect, and drones that serve as direction indicators. At the finish line — a big, beautiful trophy.

To make the level look better, we added an environment made of similar sweets. It’s necessary to create contrast between the level and the environment so that the level reads clearly and doesn’t blend into the environment.

Step by step, we turned basic 3D shapes into an appetizing, low-poly Platformer Chocolate asset pack. Remember that creating high-quality 3D assets requires practice and continuous skill improvement. Analyze your work, experiment with new techniques, and your 3D worlds will become even more impressive!