Tunnel - Games

In game design, tunnels serve as versatile spatial tools that guide player movement and shape narrative pacing. They often represent transitions between environments, creating tension through claustrophobic corridors or offering moments of respite with hidden secrets. Mechanically, tunnels can funnel players into controlled encounters, introduce verticality through shafts, or establish rhythm with alternating light and darkness. Symbolically, they may signify journeys into the unknown, psychological descent, or passages between reality and other realms. From survival horror's oppressive narrowness to platformers' intricate networks, tunnels fundamentally structure exploration and emotional cadence within virtual worlds.