The Tile-Based Level Map provides the spatial foundation for a level: a grid of typed tiles, arranged across one or more layers, that is loaded from a structured JSON file rather than generated in code. It builds on the existing TerrainComponent / TerrainFactory renderer, extending them to support typed tiles, multiple layers, and data-driven spawn points.

Levels are stored as JSON under core/assets/maps/. A file has four sections: a legend mapping single characters to tile definitions, an ordered set of character-grid layers, a tileSize, and spawns for the player, enemies, and loot. JSON was chosen over TMX so a level can be hand-edited in any text editor and the loader stays dependency-free.

Every tile carries a TileType, which maps to a CollisionType used by the collision layer.

Tile type	Collision	Behaviour
FLOOR	SOLID	Solid ground the player stands on.
WALL	SOLID	Blocks movement.
PLATFORM	PLATFORM	Standable support surface.
HAZARD	HAZARD	Passable, but damages the player on contact.
DECORATIVE	NONE	Visual only — no collision.

A level is drawn back-to-front from an ordered set of named layers:

Layer	Purpose
background	Scenery drawn behind the player.
terrain	The main gameplay tiles (walls, platforms, hazards).
foreground	Objects drawn over the player.
collision	Optional explicit source of collision tiles.

The collision system reads the collision layer if present, otherwise the terrain layer.

• Tile-Based Level Map — Technical Reference — classes, API, and code examples.