How do Game Developers recommend we plan?

To learn more about the best way to tackle planning my game properly, I turned to YouTube to find a suitable video made by a game developer. I think YouTube is heavily underutilised in general for learning and can be used as a highly effective tool in learning new things for free.

Mechanic Planning Table

Level Planning

UX/UI Flow Design

1. Title Screen (game art and big title)

2. Main Menu UI

   1. Play

   2. Select Level

• Level 1

• Level 2

• Level 3

• Back

3. Settings

• Fullscreen

• Main Volume

• Music Volume

• SFX Volume

• Back

4. Leaderboard

• Level 1 Board

  • Top 10 fastest times

  • Back

• Level 2 Board

  • Top 10 fastest times

  • Back

• Level 3 Board

  • Top 10 fastest times

  • Back

• Back

5. Quit Game

3. Begin tutorial section

4. Storyboard “cutscene” #1

5. Lead into Level 1

• Pause menu available on specified input

6. Storyboard “cutscene” #2

7. Lead into Level 2

• Pause menu available on specified input

8. Storyboard “cutscene” #3

9. Lead into Level 3

• Pause menu available on specified input

10. Storyboard “cutscene” #4

11. Final Time + Coin Count

12. Back to Main Menu

Game Scope

I want to create a small but highly polished 2D platformer experience, ideally spread across three levels. That said, I’m very aware that three levels is a big goal considering the time constraints I’m working under. Realistically, I may need to focus on delivering one or two fully refined levels, rather than stretching myself too thin. Quality is the priority here - I'd much rather create fewer levels that feel tight, fun, and satisfying than rush through more and end up with something that feels half-baked.

One of my main goals with this project is to encourage players to explore the full potential of the movement mechanics I implement. I want to design sections that look impossible at first glance - huge jumps, tight gaps, tricky sections - but that are actually totally do-able with precise timing, clever use of momentum, or perfect chaining of abilities. These kinds of challenges are what make platformers feel rewarding, and I want players to get that buzz of “Wait... I can actually do this!” after trying and finally nailing a tough jump.

I'd also really love to include a speedrunning feature, with a best-time leaderboard that adds a competitive edge to the game. Ideally, this would be a global leaderboard so that players from all over the world could compete and see how they stack up. However, I’m aware that implementing global saving and networking is a big technical challenge - maybe too big for this project’s scope. If that's the case, my fallback plan is to include a local leaderboard system, similar to what classic arcade games used - think Galaga, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders. Even something simple like initials and best times can hopefully inspire replayability and local competition.

I’ve got a handful of enemy types sketched out in my head, each with unique behaviors and roles, but again, I need to be realistic. Adding too many could become overwhelming from a development standpoint. After thinking it through, I believe sticking to one distinct enemy type per level is both manageable and effective. This keeps things fresh without making me burn out.

During development, my number one priority will be the feel and quality of the core platforming. Before I worry about enemies, environments, or anything else, I want the basic act of moving, jumping, sliding, and dashing to feel amazing. If I can make a test level that’s just boxes and platforms feel genuinely fun to play, I’ll know I’m on the right track. Everything else will be built on top of that strong foundation.

My development philosophy is simple: Fun over everything. If a feature doesn’t make the game more fun, it doesn't belong. If cutting something means I can polish what's left to perfection, I’ll cut it. This project is all about creating a fun 2D platformer, it doesn’t matter if it’s simple as long as it is fun.

Action Plan

I decided to use Trello to plan and schedule this massive project as it’s perfect to keep everything organized in one place and it’s easy to add/remove assignments.

Concept Development

Moodboards

Asset Creation

Concept Art

Level 2 - City Skyline Parallax Background

Storyboards

Main & Pause Menu Track

Level Track

Level Design

Design

Philosophy & Plan

As this is my first time working on level design, I’m approaching it with a focus on learning how to build levels that feel good to move through, support the game’s mechanics, and help tell a story through the environment. My main priority is making sure that the levels are structured in a way that lets players take advantage of the movement mechanics I’ve planned, things like coyote time, jump buffering, dashing, and wall jumping. I want to experiment with layouts that encourage momentum, fluid motion, and a sense of flow, even if they take some trial and error to get right. At this stage, I'm thinking about how to build levels that teach the player through play rather than tutorials, and that reward skill while still feeling fair.

Environmental storytelling is something I’m really excited to explore. I’m planning to use it to give each level a distinct personality and help communicate what kind of place the player is in, without needing a lot of dialogue or explanation. For example, in Level 1, which takes place in an office building, I want to create the feeling of a normally busy and active workspace that’s just temporarily empty, like the player is sneaking through late at night when everyone has gone home. I’m planning to use decorations like neatly arranged desks, glowing computer monitors, and personal items like coffee cups, desk toys, or whiteboard notes to suggest the presence of workers who’ve just stepped away for the night. The goal is to make it feel like a real, working environment that’s been paused rather than abandoned, adding a subtle contrast between the stillness of the space and the player’s movement through it.

In Level 2, which takes place on rooftops during a night-time escape, I want to use scale and lighting to create tension. Big gaps between buildings, a dark city skyline in the background, and distant helicopters with moving spotlights can all help sell the idea that the player is mid-escape. I'm thinking about how adding subtle touches, like pigeons fluttering away or blinking antenna lights, can make the rooftops feel like a real part of a larger world.

For Level 3, the bank heist, I plan to use visual contrast and clutter to create a sense of chaos. I imagine scenes with broken vault doors, scattered piles of cash or gold, and flashing red alarms. Even small details like cracked floor tiles, damaged security panels, or flickering laser grids can help tell the story of a heist in progress or gone wrong. I’m still figuring out how to balance clarity for gameplay with the visual detail I want to include, but this level is a good opportunity to push the drama and raise the stakes through design. Of course, all of these ideas represent a best-case scenario, and given the tight time constraints, it’s possible that not every detail, especially more complex elements like flying helicopters or laser systems, will make it into the final build.

Overall, my level design planning is about finding ways to support the core gameplay while making each space feel alive. Since I’m new to this, I’m expecting to iterate a lot,  testing different layouts, refining how movement feels in each environment, and trying to make levels that are both fun to play and visually interesting. This is all part of the learning process, and I’m excited to see how these ideas evolve as I begin building.