How to Make Your First Super Mario Maker 2 Level

Making your very first Super Mario Maker 2 stage is a daunting prospect. What parts should you use? How should you lay them out? How do you pace your level, and make a fair challenge? To help you clear this hurdle, here are ten steps you can follow to get your first level made, published, and open for feedback.

Leave your level codes in the comments below and I’ll play them next week on a livestream on YouTube.

More Platformer Level Design

Super Mario 3D World's 4 Step Level Design | Game Maker's Toolkit

Analysing Mario to Master Super Mario Maker | Game Maker's Toolkit

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Mario's Level Design, Evolved | Game Maker's Toolkit

Breaking Down the Best World in Rayman Legends | Game Maker’s Toolkit

How Mega Man 11's Levels Do More With Less | Game Maker's Toolkit

Video chapters

00:00 - Introduction
01:20 - Step 1: Choose a Main Mechanic
02:20 - Step 2: Consider Every Evolution
03:10 - Step 3: Introduce the Mechanic
03:51 - Step 4: Ramp up the Challenge
04:57 - Step 5: Find Combinatorial Mechanics
06:10 - Step 6: Create the Second Half
07:53 - Step 7: Add in Enemies and Items
08:39 - Step 8: Playtest and Bugfix
10:32 - Step 9: Do your Research
11:30 - Step 10: Start Again

Games shown in this episode (in order of appearance)

Super Mario Maker 2 (Nintendo, 2019)
Braid (Number None, 2008)
Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo, 2013)
New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo, 2012)
Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo, 2017)
Bomb Chicken (Nitrome, 2018)
Mega Man 11 (Capcom, 2018)
Celeste (Matt Makes Games, 2018)
Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games, 2014)
Rayman Legends (Ubisoft Montpellier, 2013)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Retro Studios, 2014)

Music used in this episode

Super Mario Maker soundtrack - Nintendo
Super Mario Maker 2 soundtrack - Nintendo

[crimsonhawk]

Wait a second, this is how to design a level in most games, not just Mario! Mark, you've done it again!

[huhneat]

0:53 This is actually peak level design, it's just too complex for you to comprehend.

[carrillmunnings]

"Give the player time to rest"

I think a lot of creators in this game don't understand this.

[lockedgames]

Brilliant tutorial. I've been watching this channel for years now, and have on occasion watched some of the videos in front of my eldest daughter. Shes now 8, and firmly into video games. But, she has yet to watch a video alongside me as intently as this one. She was glued to the screen, and even days later she is still drawing reference to the tips in this video. I cant speak highly enough of this tutorial. Amazing work Mark!!

[uwirl]

"So now the player has shown that they have mastered the basic mechanic" *cue Mario dying in an easy obstacle involving the basic mechanic

[smort]

"Kill your best ideas when they're not cooperative."

Boy that escalated quickly.

[vanderengland]

“28 Goombas on a Seesaw” should be a sitcom

[TalathRhunen]

10:12 you now have to do a shell-jump, obviously ^^

[davidj]

BPP-9DY-K3G

“GMTK Teeter-Totters”

This one’s all about seesaws, that then get augmented with tracks, on-off switches, and yes, goombas (although sadly not 28).

[Blackthornprod]

It's incredible how Mark makes me want to buy and play almost every game he features in a gmtk video ;D !
Mario Maker 2 sure would be a very fun way to practice level design. Great video :) !

[fwwz]

Why am I watching this tutorial? I don't even own a switch lmao

[TheBrianMiles]

PMK-31K-DVF

Mine's called Lava Armada. It's about maneuvering across a fleet of warships in the castle theme! 😁

[andrewbrasuell]

NV9-RSC-YYG
"Goomba Latches"
Puzzle & Themed
I came up with a mechanic of using the seesaw gizmos as latches to block and unlock paths. Includes 3 main puzzles, 1 optional side puzzle, and an optional 8 coin scavenger hunt as a stretch goal. Pretty thoroughly playtested, and I definitely haven't seen anyone else use the seesaw like this, and I'm feeling pretty darn good about the results. Okay, now I need sleep. Hope you play it, but either way, keep up the good work.

[pinepy]

Quizz: Who is the heaviest ? SX1-MXC-90G


It's a level based on weight comparaisons questions for different enemies.

[quantumhornet]

“The level is now impossible” Little does he know..

[puremrz]

I took your advice and made "28 Goombas on a seesaw" (the movie, the book, the game): KT5-H9L-DKG

[AlcorSolaire]

You’ve seen 28 goomba’s on a seesaw
*HOW ABOUT 29 GOOMBA’S ON A SEESAW!?*

[nowionlywantatriumph]

This is my first attempt at actually making something since the first year of Mario Maker 1, so we’ll see how this goes!

**Thwomp Romp**

VPW-XMK-YPF

It’s a Mario-flavored Mario level that’s set in the 3D World style because of Mario’s mechanics and Thwomp-y things. Try to find all the secrets!

[russianalphabetuser]

4GK-G9W-WRF - Gone With the Wind
The level based upon wind and precise jumping, it involves some flying through obstacles on lakitu cloud as well - all while fighting the winds in the desert.

[MrFirefox]

"Don't be afraid to kill your best ideas if they're being uncooperative" -- What a coincidence, this is my philosophy with friends and family!