Level Design
Competitive and narrative levels for Source 2, Unity and Unreal Engine 5 — from greybox and layout to final art.
Available for freelance & remote work
Source 2 · Unity · Unreal Engine 5
Denis Melikhov Level Designer
I design immersive game levels and gameplay experiences. Specialized in Source 2 (CS2, Dota 2, Deadlock), Unity and Unreal Engine 5 — with Python, C# and C++.
3Game engines
6+Shipped projects
5Programming languages
RemoteRemote · Worldwide
About Let’s work together
Level designer who ships playable, polished worlds
I am Denis Melikhov, a level designer and game developer based in France. I turn ideas into playable levels — from competitive Source 2 maps to narrative environments in Unity and Unreal Engine 5.
My workflow covers the full pipeline: greyboxing and layout, scripting in C#/C++/Python, 3D environment art, lighting, and performance optimization. I work remotely with studios and indie teams worldwide.
Languages
- EnglishFluent
- FrenchFluent
- RussianFluent
- SpanishFluent
- ChineseLearning
I can work directly with clients and teams in any of these — no translator needed.
Services
What I can build for you
Freelance game development services — from a single level to a full gameplay vertical slice.
Gameplay Prototyping
Rapid playable prototypes: mechanics, systems and game feel built with Blueprints, C# and C++.
3D Environment Art
Modular environments, PBR texturing, atmospheric lighting (Lumen / baked) and asset optimization.
Tools & Automation
Custom Python / C# editor tools, pipelines and automation that speed up your whole team.
Performance Optimization
Profiling and optimization: occlusion culling, LODs, draw calls, memory and frame budget.
Remote Collaboration
Reliable outsourcing with clear documentation, a clean Git workflow and on-time delivery.
Skills & technologies
Source Engine 2
Unity
Unreal Engine 5
Level Design
Game Design
Python
C#
C++
3D Modeling
SQL / MySQL
React / TypeScript
Git / Versioning
Portfolio
Selected projects
A selection of game and software projects.
Urban Marginal — Unity Level Design
Urban level design in Unity: greyboxing, baked lighting, occlusion-culling optimization and C# scripting.
Transition Energy — Unreal Engine 5
UE5 gameplay prototype: Blueprints, modular levels, Lumen, Nanite and C++ scripting.
Hogwarts — 3D Environment Design
3D reconstruction of Hogwarts: Blender modeling, PBR texturing and atmospheric lighting.
Atelier Médiatek — Symfony Full-Stack
Training-management app: REST API, JWT auth, React interface and a MySQL database.
Software & Full-Stack
Internship 1 — Web Development
API integration, database optimization and agile teamwork.
Read more: Internship 1 — Web DevelopmentInternship 2 — Full-Stack App
Web app development, unit testing and technical documentation.
Read more: Internship 2 — Full-Stack AppE5 — Support & Service Delivery
Design and deployment of IT services with operational documentation.
Read more: E5 — Support & Service DeliveryGame dev & level design blog
Articles on level design, Source 2, Unity, Unreal Engine and game programming.
How to Hire a Freelance Level Designer: A Client's Guide
If you're reading this, you probably need a level or a map built and you're trying to figure out whether a given freelancer can actually del...
Read articleSource 2 Level Design with the Valve Hammer Editor (CS2 & Dota 2)
Source Engine 2 represents a major leap in level design capabilities. The Hammer Editor, Valve's proprietary tool, allows designers to creat...
Read articleUnity Level Design: Core Principles
Unity offers a versatile platform for level design across multiple genres. From mobile games to AAA titles, understanding core principles is...
Read articleHave a game project in mind?
Tell me about your level, prototype or environment. I usually reply within 24 hours.