The Lazy Side Of Game Design
You're playing through a game and suddenly realize you've definitely been here before, just with different wallpaper. Developers love reusing level geometry because building new environments takes time and money they'd rather not spend. Sometimes the reuse is subtle, but other times it's so obvious you wonder if they think fans are completely oblivious. Check out some examples where developers basically copied their homework and hoped nobody would call them out on it.
KAMUROCHO'S A REAL PLACE??? by SnowiestAngeman
1. Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness – Castle Levels
When Legacy of Darkness arrived, gamers quickly noticed a familiar sight. Much of its gothic castle design came straight from Castlevania 64, right down to corridors and courtyards. While the game added new characters and a few tweaks, most levels carried the same eerie charm, just slightly rearranged.
2. Dragon Age II – Generic Caves / Dungeons
Recycling dominated Dragon Age II’s design philosophy. Most underground missions unfolded through identical maps, with only minimal alterations in structure. That shortcut broke immersion, leaving fans aware of the template behind the magic.
Dragon Age II (2011) - PC Gameplay 4k 2160p / Win 10 by FirstPlays HD
3. Halo: Combat Evolved – Assault On The Control Room
Halfway through Halo: Combat Evolved, you storm the icy “Assault on the Control Room.” Later, that same level reappears as “Two Betrayals,” this time in reverse. Despite the mirrored path, its design stays almost identical, which proves that even Master Chief couldn’t escape a little level reuse.
Halo: CE (SPV3) - Assault on the Control Room (4K 60fps) by Wubs
4. Mass Effect 1 – Generic Side Mission Interiors
Exploring alien worlds in Mass Effect promised discovery, yet every bunker seemed built from the same template. Warehouse missions and research stations shared near-identical rooms, only shuffled slightly. Fans joked about visiting “Space IKEA,” since every corridor and console looked straight out of the same catalog.
Mass Effect 1 Part 46 - UNC Rogue VI First Bunker - No Commentary by Nicholas Derk
5. Tales Of Xillia 2 – Areas & Dungeons
In Tales of Xillia 2, the déjà vu begins the moment someone steps into a dungeon. Almost every area mirrors the first Xillia’s design, with minimal changes beyond puzzles or monsters. While the story explores alternate dimensions, the environments themselves remain curiously unchanged and echo adventures already lived.
Tales of Xillia 2 - Gameplay 4k 2160p (RPCS3) by John GodGames Emus
6. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment – Dungeons
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment didn’t shy away from its roots. Many of its dungeon layouts return straight from Innocent Sin after being lightly altered. The two games share cities and corridors, giving fans the sense of walking through memories while unraveling a completely new psychological mystery.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSP) Mt Iwato Full Dungeon by Jet
7. Final Fantasy X-2 – World Maps
Stepping into Final Fantasy X-2 felt like returning to a beloved vacation spot that had barely changed. The same beaches and towns from Final Fantasy X awaited with a livelier tone. The world map remained familiar, though new mini-games and side quests offered reasons to revisit every corner.
8. Shin Megami Tensei If... – Assets / Dungeons
This cult favorite leaned heavily on familiar design. Shin Megami Tensei if... borrowed dungeon structures from earlier entries and rearranged them into its eerie school setting. Floors and hallways repeated often to give the impression of looping nightmares, yet the partner system and moral choices brought just enough freshness to each run.
BGW Plays: Shin Megami Tensei If... (SNES) Reiko's Route Part 1 by BetoGamingWorld
9. Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Post-Game Galaxies
Reaching the end of Super Mario Galaxy 2 didn’t mean discovering new lands. Most of the post-game challenges recycled previous galaxies by altering goals or adding time limits. Veterans found themselves leaping through colorful worlds again, this time chasing Green Stars hidden in the same familiar spots.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Full Game 100% Walkthrough (All 242 Stars) by ModernXP
10. Batman: Arkham Origins – Gotham City (North)
In Arkham Origins, fans explored a snow-covered version of Gotham that looked eerily familiar. The northern map mirrored large portions of Arkham City, with only subtle architectural tweaks. The story’s prequel timeline explained the resemblance, but the city’s repetition made even fresh missions feel like echoes of earlier patrols.
Batman: Arkham Origins – Full Game Walkthrough [I Am the Night] (4K 60fps) by Batman Arkham Videos
11. Trails In The Sky SC – Liberl Locations
The journey through Liberl in Trails in the Sky SC felt comfortingly recognizable. Nearly every village and street returned from the first game. Though new quests and conversations added color, the geography stayed the same. The familiarity worked thematically and symbolized continuity while trimming the sense of discovery.
How Get Original Gospel Liberl Ark - Trails in The Sky SC by Hafian Kun
12. Call Of Duty: Black Ops – Nuketown
Few multiplayer maps became as iconic or as reused as Nuketown. Across multiple Black Ops titles, its compact suburban chaos returned with only aesthetic changes. Each iteration shifted the era or style, but everyone recognized the same close-quarters playground, perfectly built for explosive matches and lightning-fast showdowns.
Call Of duty Black ops Multiplayer Nuketown TDM #2 by JohanNLbond
13. Pokémon Black & White 2 – Unova Region
Starting Pokémon Black & White 2 dropped you right back in Unova. The region’s roads and landmarks looked almost identical, just altered slightly by time. New characters and storylines filled the space, but the map itself remained a familiar backdrop for fresh rivalries.
POKÉMON BLACK & WHITE 2 Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (Nintendo DS) by Kouteshi
14. Devil May Cry 4 – Missions 11-20
Halfway through Devil May Cry 4, it becomes clear something’s off. The second half reuses the same stages from earlier missions played backward with a new character. Traversing those mirrored paths offers a fresh combat flavor and reveals how neatly the developers repackaged existing content into a clever illusion of progress.
15. Counter-Strike – Dust 2
For over two decades, Dust 2 has remained a cornerstone of Counter-Strike. Every version of the game brings the same map back. Its balance and simplicity keep it timeless, even as textures evolve. Everyone knows every corner by heart, yet still finds ways to outthink opponents in its familiar alleys.
Counter-Strike: Source de_dust2 Gameplay 2022 by unLeashed_FPS
16. Halo 2 – Zanzibar / Last Resort
When Halo 3 launched, longtime fans immediately recognized Last Resort. It carried the spirit of Halo 2’s Zanzibar almost perfectly, from the beachfront base to the turning windmill. Only textures and lighting evolved, yet the map’s iconic balance between open chaos and tight skirmishes kept it endlessly replayable.
HALO 2 Zanzibar 4V4 - Slayer in 4K 60FPS by Fatal Lysol
17. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater – Warehouse
Every skater remembers their first run through The Warehouse. Tony Hawk’s series brought it back repeatedly by adding polish while keeping its heart intact. Even when textures shifted or music evolved, the mix of speed and discovery still captured the thrill of early gaming.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 - Warehouse - 4K Gameplay - PS5 - (No Commentary) - 2020 by GamesArena
18. Gears Of War – Gridlock
Fans could step into Gridlock blindfolded and still explore its ruins. This symmetrical map has appeared in nearly every Gears of War release, each time more refined. Whether drenched in sunlight or shrouded in mist, its layout never lost its rhythm and created countless tense showdowns through the years.
Gears of War Multiplayer In (2022) Gridlock Gameplay by Classic PC Games
19. Team Fortress – 2Fort
2Fort became synonymous with Team Fortress itself. Two mirrored bases separated by a bridge set the stage for countless battles. Every remake kept its symmetry intact by enhancing textures or lighting instead. Despite endless standoffs, fans returned willingly, drawn by nostalgia and the chaotic balance that defined this timeless map.
Team Fortress Classic Sniper Gameplay on 2fort 2023 by unLeashed_FPS
20. Yakuza – Kamurocho
The bustling streets of Kamurocho serve as the beating heart of every Yakuza title. Returning to its alleys feels like coming home to familiar signs and recurring shops. Though the district rarely shifts in shape, its characters and evolving nightlife breathe fresh life into each new entry’s drama.
