When to Use

Teach: introduce a mechanic (tutorial)
Test: challenge players with what they&#x27;ve learned
Rest: lower intensity — exploration, narrative, reward
Boss: peak challenge + culmination of zone themes

When designing individual levels or encounters — from first-time player intro to end-game challenge.

Core Jobs

Every level has one primary goal:

Mix these across a campaign: teach → test → rest → boss.

Establish a baseline difficulty before ramping it up
Never increase difficulty on multiple axes simultaneously (new enemy type + new mechanic + harder platforming = frustration)
Place rewards near challenges (reward = dopamine hit after difficulty spike)
If players are stuck, add a shortcut or safe zone — don't just make it easier

When designing individual levels or encounters — from first-time player intro to end-game challenge.

Every level has one primary goal:

Mix these across a campaign: teach → test → rest → boss.

Establish a baseline difficulty before ramping it up
Never increase difficulty on multiple axes simultaneously (new enemy type + new mechanic + harder platforming = frustration)
Place rewards near challenges (reward = dopamine hit after difficulty spike)
If players are stuck, add a shortcut or safe zone — don't just make it easier