2D & 3D Blockout for Canceled Walking Dead Unreal Engine 5 Project

Level Design Process – 2D Blockout (Canceled Walking Dead Project)

• Project Context

  • Designed and prototyped levels for a canceled Walking Dead video game in Unreal Engine 5.

  • Though shelved, the project provided valuable experience in level design, environment planning, and cross-team collaboration.

• Research & Inspiration

  • Conducted detailed research into real-world architecture, focusing on:

    • Abandoned suburbs

    • Fortified settlements

    • Derelict infrastructure

  • Analyzed art styles, cinematic techniques, and narrative-driven design from games and media including The Last of Us, Resident Evil, and The Walking Dead TV series.

  • Established a strong visual and spatial direction rooted in both realism and narrative tone.

• 2D Blockout Design

  • Created a clean and organized 2D blockout map as the foundation for level design.

  • Ensured all elements were:

    • Carefully labeled

    • Scaled to realistic measurements

    • Built with modularity for easy layout adjustments

  • Clearly communicated gameplay flow, cover placement, and player navigation to design and art teams.

• 3D Prototyping & Iteration

  • Translated the 2D blockout into a 3D prototype in Unreal Engine 5.

  • Enabled fast playtesting and iteration, refining:

    • Player movement

    • Encounter pacing

    • Navigation flow

  • Reduced reliance on excessive feedback meetings by providing rapid, testable iterations.

• Outcome & Value

  • Though canceled, the process established a strong gameplay and narrative foundation for the project.

  • Strengthened skills in research-driven design, communication, and production pipelines.

  • Demonstrated the ability to align creative vision with practical development needs.