Designing with vision
Hello, I’m Stephen. I specialise in level design for RPGs, and am on the hunt for new challenges and opportunities after graduating my BA Game Design degree. Please take a look through my current portfolio of work - I’ve worked on some excellent projects as part of my studies, including a third-person RPG survival horror.
Personal Projects:
I’ve developed several personal game projects across different genres. Crimson Dawn ( still in production) is a third-person RPG survival horror game built in Unreal Engine 5, featuring resource management, enemy AI, a full algorithmic round based system and a rich post-apocalyptic narrative. I also created a 2D platformer within Unity inspired by Doodle Jump, with hand-drawn visuals, player stat upgrades and procedurally generated levels. These projects showcase my versatility and passion for immersive game design.
Working With Studios:
I worked with a professional game studio on a VR level for Kaiju Climber VR, based on a client brief requiring detailed terrain, traversal paths, environmental hazards, and climbable structures like buildings and debris. I helped design and implement the level in Unreal Engine 5, focusing on layout, player flow, and interactive elements. This project strengthened my skills in VR level design and collaborating within a professional development pipeline to meet client goals.
About Stephen Darbyshire
A mature Game Design student transitioning from 10+ years in hospitality management to pursue a lifelong passion for game development. Focused on level design with growing skills in combat and environmental design. Motivated by fatherhood and a desire to create a better future, currently studying BA (Hons) Game Design and thriving in collaborative, youth-driven environments.