Episode

An episode is a collection of worlds and levels that are tied together. Episodes can be compared to full games such as Super Mario World. Generally, episodes have an underlying narrative or backstory, although this is not a requirement. Episodes can contain a list of worlds or a list of levels - either way, the player traverses linearly through the given list.

Episodes are composed of several elements: Episodes are created through a wizard in the Level Editor, and can be edited likewise.
 * Identifying Information: Contains name and author fields that are displayed in the episode selection screen.
 * Gameplay Settings: Determines several rules for gameplay, including whether this episode is composed of worlds or levels.
 * List of Worlds or Levels: A list of filenames that link to the worlds or levels. The order of the files is used to determine how the player progresses through them, and this can be changed inside the Level Editor.

The default folder for episodes is %AppData%/SMLimitless/Episodes, but this can be changed in the game's settings. Episodes can also be loaded through a file dialog, and they will then appear in the episodes list (which is maintained in a file named in the same AppData folder). Episodes can be removed from this list.

Upon playing an episode for the first time, a Save File is created. The save files are placed in a separate AppData folder. When playing an episode again, the user is given the option to select from any existing save files or create a new one. The save file is then used to either load the world or start the level that the player saved on.

Episodes automatically save on every return to the world in an episode with worlds, or on every death in an episode with only levels.

In an episode with worlds, the player traverses through the world by clearing level exits. The first world in the episode's list of worlds is used as the starting world. Worlds have world exits that link to other worlds which are usually unlocked by clearing level exit, which reveals the paths to them.

In an episode with a list of levels, the player starts at the first level. Clearing any exits moves them to the next level until they finish the episode on the last level, which "completes" the save file. As the player clears levels, the levels appear on a list of levels when the episode is selected. The user can go back and play any cleared level at any time on the save file.