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3D Level Design Tools in Blender

by alex

There are limited options for 3D level design in modern tooling.

A common modern approach is to build modular pieces in a 3D modelling tool and assemble them in editor.

Built-for-purpose tools (i.e. programs in which entire levels are intended to be authored) target old workflows like BSP.

Blender is industry standard and accessible for general purpose 3d modelling. It is not appropriate (understandably) for building levels. UV and mesh cutting tools in particular are not optimised for level design.

There's space for an addon here!

1 Comments
alex · Jan 19, 2026 at 3:22 PM

I'll add any other good links to the resources section here.

I also saw some comments on my youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNbCiGadp5k saying they don't see the point of the addon. Happy to engage here if anyone is interested.

Resources
Anvil Level Design
open_in_new
  • Inspired by Hammer / Trenchbroom
  • Auto UV correction better than Blender built-in
  • Intended scope covers UV, blockout, and navigation
  • In active development
  • Engine agnostic
  • Incomplete; currently limited to UV tools
  • Material export limited by .gltf and .fbx
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