7. (Tie) “Water Castle” by shaoshao

Much like “Filtration System,” “Water Castle” by shaoshao (author of the recently released romhackIdes of March) utilizes novel takes on water and swimming, but the two levels feel very different. Where “Filtration System” uses water to break up open space and switch blocks to change its nature, “Water Castle” has you pressing shoulder buttons to instantly switch between a room full of water and one with no water. It also uses the one-room challenge concept that’s become popular recently in hacks like Mad with Kaizo Power and the Nightmare Café series.

With each room no bigger than one screen, this level is fairly beginner-friendly, which earned it a Valdio Award for excellence in introductory-difficulty level design, one of many categories of secondary awards the judges present to select levels. “I wanted my level to stand out, so I came up with and programmed my own level gimmick,” shao says, referring to the ability to toggle water in each room. “This gimmick was inspired by a level in Arobam’s Ultra Kaizo World 2 hack and fits nicely in with one-room challenge sections that mix platforming and puzzle elements.”