unity-scene-assets

Scene & Asset Management -- Decision Patterns

Prerequisite skills: unity-foundations/references/prefabs-and-scenes.md (SceneManager API, additive loading), unity-async-patterns (Addressables handle lifecycle, async loading), unity-game-architecture (bootstrap patterns)

These patterns address the most common asset management failures: Claude hardcodes Resources.Load, ignores async loading, and does not account for memory lifecycle.

PATTERN: Scene Architecture Strategy

WHEN: Structuring a project's scenes for a real game (not a prototype)

DECISION:

• Single scene -- Game jam, prototype, tiny game. Everything in one scene. No loading, no complexity. Outgrow it quickly.
• Scene-per-level -- Linear progression (platformers, puzzle games). LoadScene(name, LoadSceneMode.Single) between levels. Clean separation but no shared state without DontDestroyOnLoad.
• Additive scene composition -- Open worlds, persistent HUD, shared systems. A "Boot" or "Persistent" scene stays loaded, gameplay/UI scenes load additively. Most flexible, most complex.

SCAFFOLD (Additive scene coordinator):

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.SceneManagement;

public class SceneCoordinator : MonoBehaviour
{
    [SerializeField] private string persistentSceneName = "Persistent";
    private string _currentContentScene;

    public static SceneCoordinator Instance { get; private set; }

    void Awake()
    {
        if (Instance != null) { Destroy(gameObject); return; }
        Instance = this;
        DontDestroyOnLoad(gameObject);
    }

    [RuntimeInitializeOnLoadMethod(RuntimeInitializeLoadType.SubsystemRegistration)]
    static void ResetStatic() => Instance = null;

    /// <summary>
    /// Load a content scene additively, unloading the previous one.
    /// The persistent scene stays loaded.
    /// </summary>
    public async Awaitable LoadContentScene(string sceneName)
    {
        // Unload previous content scene
        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_currentContentScene))
        {
            await SceneManager.UnloadSceneAsync(_currentContentScene);
        }

        // Load new content scene
        await SceneManager.LoadSceneAsync(sceneName, LoadSceneMode.Additive);
        _currentContentScene = sceneName;

        // Set active scene for lighting and new object spawning
        SceneManager.SetActiveScene(SceneManager.GetSceneByName(sceneName));
    }
}