Game development is often a gateway into STEM careers. Many dream of creating their own games but feel overwhelmed by the coding, logic, and effort involved. Many others, that dream begins long before they even know how to spell or type proficiently - skills that are needed to learn to code.
Luckily, some games include level editors - tools that allow players to design and build their own levels, no code required. These editors, often added by developers to increase a game’s replayability, also give determined players a taste of what it’s like to make a game. By dragging, dropping, and experimenting - like building with Lego bricks - players can flex their creativity while they learn the basics of game design.

Lessons Level Editors Teach
Spatial Reasoning
Level Editors allow players to think maneuver around the 2D and 3D (the X, Y, and Z coordinates, for those who now have flashbacks of math class). Players are able to think of the best place to set items and materials of various shapes and sizes around a play space.
Systems Thinking
In a game, there are many assets, like weapons, hazards, and terrain, and they have their own properties. Some give players cool abilities while others can cause harm to the in-game player. Some assets can even interact with other assets in interesting ways. Level editors allow players to experiment and expand on their vision based on these observations.
Patience and Perseverance
STEM can be very difficult, even to the smartest of players. However, the most important part of taking the STEM path is they'll soldier through each hard concept and each seemingly impossible project till completion. Level Editors are a small but rewarding first project to strengthen patience and perseverance.
Recommended Level Editors
Growing up, some of my favorite memories involved crafting my own levels - levels that were super hard, super unfun. Here are some of the level editors I grew up with or still enjoy today:

Alien Hominid: PDA Game (PS2)
Alien Hominid is one of the earliest games I remember my parents renting for me from Blockbuster. In the core game, players play as a cute, little alien whose spaceship crashed onto Earth and now must fight through the Secret Service in order to find a new spacecraft and get back home.
Apart from the main game, there were also minigames, with the PDA Game being one of them. Here, players are a stickman going through single screen, 2D platform obstacle courses. Start from Point A, run, jump, defeat all the enemies to unlock the exit, and make way to Point B alive!
The 200 levels alone kept me entertained as an 8-year-old, but PDA also had a level editor! The Editor was straightforward enough for my child mind to navigate comfortably and I remember fondly putting way too many blocks all over in one level, too many enemies shooting projectiles in another, and a level with as much water as possible (the stickman can't swim). So not the best designed levels, but I enjoyed creating something I could quickly play on my PlayStation 2.
Alien Hominid has since seen many re-releases on current consoles, but I can't currently comment if the PDA Level Editor exists in those versions.

N++ (Switch and all modern consoles)
This momentum based 2D platformer is addicting and the right amount of difficult. As a stickman, players go through Episodes, each episode has 5 stages players play back-to-back on a shared timer. The game has plenty of levels to keep them busy. At the end of every stage, players are told your global rank by completion time which gives them more reason to try a level again for a faster time.
The level editor for N++ is simple to use and all of the levels from the base game gives players ample inspiration for stage ideas. Another plus is anyone can share their levels online with others who'll find creative ways to speed run through their submission.

Ultimate Chicken Horse (Switch and all modern consoles)
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a multiplayer game that makes level editing the core gameplay loop.
Players and up to four friends at the start of each round choose from a random bunch of items, hazards, and platforms and place them wherever on the stage. Players aim to balance reaching the goal easy enough to complete the stage but hard enough so not everyone survives.
The game is full of chaos from the loads of stages to unlock and the amount of randomness ensures no two games are ever alike. It also comes with a non-competitive stage editor so players can create whole levels and then try to beat them.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Switch)
Smash Bros is a game series known for its 2D platform fighting and its celebration of all video games, with Smash Bros Ultimate boasting countless video game characters across the decades, franchise, and platforms.
Their level editor amounts to just building platforms for players to fight on, but it gives creators the freedom to build their very silly and downright broken (but hilarious) battlefields. It also gives design practice on a platform fighter as the stage editor allows players to test various layouts to experiment and see for themselves which are the best for certain fighting styles, and which are not.

Super Dungeon Maker (Switch and PC)
Super Dungeon Maker gives Zelda and top-down adventure fans a level editor so they can easily create their own treacherous dungeons.
The tutorial is informative and gives a short but sweet showcase of the sort of dungeons players can design with the game's editor.
Though Super Dungeon Maker accomplishes their goal, the cluttered interface and limited and tools leaves players wanting more from this experience. These limitations can foster creativity, and limitations are part of the game development process.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some other level editors worth mentioning. I either haven’t personally used them, they aren't built into the base video game, or I find them too advanced compared to the ones listed earlier. That said, each of these tools demonstrates the creativity and problem-solving skills level editors can inspire.
Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite (Most modern consoles)
These three games dominate the modern gaming landscape for kids and teens. Their appeal lies in the total freedom to create and play unique experiences. From building intricate worlds in Minecraft to scripting advanced experiences in Roblox or designing custom maps in Fortnite Creative Mode, these platforms allow players to express themselves while picking up valuable skills like logic, design, and even basic coding for more advance customization.
Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)
Everyone knows Mario, whether or not they've played a game he's starred in. Super Mario Maker 2 makes designing 2D Mario levels fun and approachable, with its intuitive drag-and-drop tools and an impressive variety of features, items, and enemies to choose from. Whether you’re creating challenging stages for friends or paying homage to your favorite Mario games, it’s a playful and creative experience for all ages.
Game Builder Garage (Switch)
More than just a level editor, Game Builder Garage introduces players to visual programming in a fun and approachable way. With its detailed tutorials and accessible interface, it teaches players how to think like a programmer and design their own games from scratch. All this makes it a perfect first step into game development.
Mr. Maker 3D Level Editor (PC)
Nintendo fans have long dreamed of a 3D Super Mario Maker, and Mr. Maker 3D Level Editor offers a small glimpse of what that could look like. While it’s a limited tool compared to official Mario games, it’s a fascinating experiment in 3D level design. The game gives players the opportunity to create simple 3D platforming levels, although it lacks the polish and depth of more advanced tools. A Switch port was planned but, unfortunately, appears to have been canceled, leaving PC as the only platform to experience it.
Amnesia (Switch and PS4)
Known for its tense atmosphere and psychological scares, Amnesia also allows players to create their own terrifying experiences through its modding tools. While it requires more technical know-how than traditional level editors and interested modders have to install a separate program on their computer, it’s a great option for horror enthusiasts to craft chilling, custom maps and share them with the community. It’s a fantastic way to blend creativity with the art of storytelling in a survival horror setting.
Doom (Everything, even a PDF file)
The boomer shooter classic Doom is famous not only for its fast-paced gunplay but also for its rich modding scene. With beginner-friendly level editors and a high skill ceiling, Doom invites players to create their own intense maps. The game’s modding community is legendary, and players can find or create custom WADS (map files) ranging from simple to utterly stunning. Some WADS are so creative and detailed they rival professional-level design. Doom is an excellent introduction to level editing.
Quake (Switch and all modern consoles)
Another classic from Id Software (and one of my favorite games), Quake combines an oppressive atmosphere with fast, satisfying combat. For those ready to try their hand at level design, tools like TrenchBroom make it easy to craft your own heart-pounding arenas. While creating custom maps for Quake requires a bit more technical skill than modern level editors, it’s incredibly rewarding and opens the door to crafting tightly designed, action-packed experiences.
Final Thoughts
Level editors are marvelous programs. For many players, they’re a first step into game design and even a full-on career in STEM, offering a chance to develop spatial reasoning, systems thinking, and patience and perseverance. Whether you’re building your dream house in Minecraft, making a level no one can beat in Ultimate Chicken Horse, or creating your own map in Quake, these tools inspire curiosity.
Even if they don’t lead to a STEM career, the level editors teach lifelong lessons to those who take the time to explore them. So, next time you pick up a game with a level editor, give it a try!
You might discover your own passion for building.
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