Hell map

The hell map is a style of thematic level design centered around hellish landscapes. It makes heavy use of "satanic" imagery and a palette of red colors, evoking a sense of dread and impending doom. Hell maps can either be designed around exteriors or interiors, or a combination of both, usually by creating hell structures, like castles, sorrounded by infernal mountains.

Hell maps are one of Doom's main level design themes, standing as a prime example of the original maps introduced in Inferno. The Shores of Hell also include a variety of hell maps, but mostly done in conjuction with the techbase map style, in a way that's commonly described as "hell corrupted".

This style of mapping can be very diverse, and it's commonly combined with other styles of mapping to create unique settings. The E4 styled level design is a subtrope of the hell map.

Designs found in hell maps

 * Brick structures
 * Red mountains or skies
 * Cavern systems
 * Granite textures
 * Flesh texures
 * Lava lakes
 * Blood lakes
 * Tortured humans
 * Corpses
 * Graves
 * Pentagrams
 * Altars
 * Crosses
 * Religious symbols
 * Satanic/Demonic imagery
 * Fire pits

Notable maps

 * E3M1: Hell Keep (Doom)
 * MAP29: The Living End (Doom II)
 * MAP28: Sacrificial Grounds (Whispers of Satan)
 * MAP01: On Hell's Horizon (Hellcore)
 * MAP05: Crimson Canyon (Crimson Canyon)
 * MAP21: Imperishable (Eviternity)
 * MAP02: Torture Chamber (Deus Vult)

WADs that feature multiple hell maps

 * Whispers of Satan
 * Eviternity
 * Hellscape
 * Crimson Canyon
 * Doom 2 the Way id Did
 * No End In Sight
 * Deus Vult
 * Hellfire
 * Hellbound
 * Resurgence
 * 2002 A Doom Odyssey