I throw my poison seeds upon
the ground on which I tread upon.
As summer leaves turn brown and fall
upon contaminated ground.

A poison tree, now growing tall,
above the kingdom walls, so tall.
They bear their fruit, throw seeds into
the wind, to land on fertile ground.

The consequences have been grave,
and now I dig my very grave.
Ten-thousand men have died from blight,
I threw their bodies underground. — origami_alligator

The golden age of NUMA might have come and gone, but its brightest stars still shine ever brightly among the sea of long-lost artefacts. DDAs, once a regular staple of the site, became famous due to their satisfying engineering, and “Chasing Three Tails” by Mohit_Ghune is perhaps one of the most impressive DDAs you are ever likely to see—both for its technical merit and gobsmacking action. Incredibly, Mohit_Ghune has managed to cram in a hold-left, hold-right, and a don’t-do-anything path, all of which result in the rocket relentlessly seeking the ninja with rambunctious tenacity. Check. It. Out. NOW! — ska

i'll level with you: this map is ugly as sin and there's more than a few gameplay kinks throughout, so what's the deal? honestly, i don't think i'm gonna win anyone over to this genre of raw, unpolished adventure map anytime soon but ima go ahead and say that this for me represents a pure N map: it's hard, long, and a hell of a journey to get through. the hugeness of it is daunting, and there's a jump-scare at every corner. it's not perfection, but for me it's a bit special, and i want more of em. gimme.
— mahi_mahi

You know, 5-tile maps just never seem to get old. Look how minimal and bare-bones "kiaora" is because of this specific tile motif. kiaora has woven a glass skeleton to surge through as led sprays through the cracks. I always wondered how kiaora was able to get so much style out of such a small amount of items. it's an incredibly nuanced skill that only several mappers have become adept at.

We miss you, mintnut. Come back! — Radium

The classic “Metanet” style, often encapsulated by artfully placed 45-degree tiles, is a style that many authors attempt to replicate, but there’s usually something about them that feels dull or out of place. This is not the case here. The map is actually a remix of a Lifdoff map [nmaps.net], and I, for one, think this is one of the best remixes of any N level that has ever been made. Vaguely reminiscent of Lucidium’s final submitted map, Halftone [nmaps.net], this level is a truly inspired confluence of some of the best N level makers to have ever messed around in NED. — ska

this fella [nmaps.net] always floored me with his intricate, dazzling and adventurous maps. something about the way he crafted structures seemed to make his maps seem 10 times bigger than everyone else's. this particular gem is more like a pit stop than a huge road trip, but even in minimalism you feel like it's so much more than its individual parts. (plz come back we miss you) — mahi_mahi

Prison is tough, and we're all going to prison eventually, so it's good to get tough. Whether its dementors or crazy bird men, prison will suck out your soul and leave you insane. I know this prison top to bottom, because I helped build it. If you think you're tough enough, there's a secret tunnel, guarded by mindless drones. If you don't die, bring me the treasure you collect along the way. Freedom comes at a steep price. — origami_alligator

When we look at a map, what do we see? Do we plot out our route? Do we observe the tiles and the negative space to form a picture or idea? Do we build a narrative in our head, equating it to something fantastical?

When I look at Flame Trigger, I see something unique. The design space allows the laser drones to be more deadly than one would normally expect. Always be careful of when (and where) you jump in the corridor, because this map will not give you any room for error. Good luck! — origami_alligator

Take note, folks — this is how you make a there-and-back-again map. An abundance of gold to collect, plenty of nooks to explore, and just enough danger to keep you on your toes. The mines are everywhere, but they're never overbearing; there's many a path to cut through this bunker. Infiltration's never been so fun! — Tempus_Fugit

Here ye lay, lost at Sea 'neath a blood moon, kept afloat by a lonely piece o' driftwood. There! in the fog, a ship appears as though made by Fog itself. Glints of gold, shiny metal that men of all walks of life covet, beckon ye come within the belly of the Vessel. Aye, that be but one path to the Crow's Nest. Or ye could ascend the outside, claim the Ghost flag and die in the plummet to Davy Jones' Locker. Truth be told, Death is chasing you no matter which way ye climb. — origami_alligator