diff --git a/schemas/adventure.schema.json b/schemas/adventure.schema.json
index cabdc3f9..22553a71 100644
--- a/schemas/adventure.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/adventure.schema.json
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
     },
     "level": {
       "type": "object",
-      "required": ["id", "name", "difficulty", "learnings", "devcontainerPath", "discussionUrl"],
+      "required": ["id", "name", "difficulty", "topics", "learnings", "devcontainerPath", "discussionUrl", "intro", "objective", "toolbox", "howToPlay", "verification"],
       "additionalProperties": false,
       "properties": {
         "id": { "type": "string" },
diff --git a/scripts/generate-adventures.mjs b/scripts/generate-adventures.mjs
index a9e51a28..833ec2af 100644
--- a/scripts/generate-adventures.mjs
+++ b/scripts/generate-adventures.mjs
@@ -136,11 +136,17 @@ function validateAdventure(data, id) {
       if (!["Beginner", "Intermediate", "Expert"].includes(level.difficulty)) {
         errors.push(`${prefix}: Invalid difficulty "${level.difficulty}"`);
       }
+      if (!level.topics || level.topics.length === 0) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing topics`);
       if (!level.learnings || level.learnings.length === 0) {
         errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing learnings`);
       }
       if (!level.devcontainerPath) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing devcontainerPath`);
       if (!level.discussionUrl) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing discussionUrl`);
+      if (!level.intro || level.intro.length === 0) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing intro`);
+      if (!level.objective || level.objective.length === 0) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing objective`);
+      if (!level.toolbox || level.toolbox.length === 0) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing toolbox`);
+      if (!level.howToPlay || level.howToPlay.length === 0) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing howToPlay`);
+      if (!level.verification) errors.push(`${prefix}: Missing verification`);
     }
   }
   return errors;
diff --git a/scripts/new-adventure.mjs b/scripts/new-adventure.mjs
index 628d602f..b3583770 100644
--- a/scripts/new-adventure.mjs
+++ b/scripts/new-adventure.mjs
@@ -99,28 +99,55 @@ const levelEntries = levels
   .map((level) => {
     const difficulty = difficultyMap[level];
     return `  - id: ${level}
+    # required | e.g. "Stand up the Lab" / "Outcome by Cohort" / "Lights On"
     name: "TODO: Level name"
     difficulty: ${difficulty}
     topics:
+      # required | technology and tool names shown as pill tags on the level card.
+      # e.g. OpenFeature, flagd, Spring Boot
       - "TODO: Add topic tags"
     learnings:
+      # required | full sentences describing concrete skills or insights gained.
+      # e.g. "How an OpenFeature client and provider work together: the SDK is provider-agnostic and plugs in via dependency only"
       - "TODO: Add learning 1"
       - "TODO: Add learning 2"
-    devcontainerPath: ".devcontainer/TODO/devcontainer.json"
-    discussionUrl: "/t/TODO"
+    devcontainerPath: ".devcontainer/TODO/devcontainer.json" # required
+    discussionUrl: "/t/TODO" # required
     intro:
+      # required | one or two sentences: what the player will wire up and what they will prove works.
+      # e.g. "Wire the OpenFeature Java SDK into a Spring Boot service so flag evaluations are resolved by a flagd sidecar. Prove that editing flags.json flips the response without restarting the app."
       - "TODO: Add intro paragraph"
     backstory:
+      # optional | narrative context that sets the scene for this specific level.
+      # e.g. "The lab is on its first shift and it isn't reading the chart. Every subject who walks through the door gets the same hard-coded reading, no matter what the director signed off on."
       - "TODO: Add backstory"
     objective:
+      # required | verifiable outcomes a player can check with a command.
+      # e.g. "curl http://localhost:8080/ returns a vision_state resolved from flags.json (not the hard-coded fallback)"
       - "TODO: Add objective 1"
+    # optional | uncomment to describe who this level is aimed at and what prior knowledge helps.
+    # audience: "Best suited for: Platform engineers, SREs, and developers curious about Kubernetes security. No prior Kyverno experience needed, but familiarity with basic kubectl and YAML will help."
+    # optional | uncomment to describe the technical setup (services, ports, how they connect).
+    # architecture:
+    #   - "TODO: e.g. Two containers run side-by-side: the app on http://localhost:8080 and a sidecar on :8013."
+    #   - "TODO: e.g. Edit config.json through the IDE; the file watcher picks up changes within a second."
     toolbox:
+      # required | list the CLI tools and services available in the Codespace. Add a url field for external docs.
+      # e.g. name: "./mvnw" / description: "Maven wrapper; builds and runs the Spring Boot service"
       - name: "TODO"
         description: "TODO: Add tool description"
     howToPlay:
+      # required | walk the player from the broken state to a working solution, one titled step at a time.
+      # Use fenced code blocks for commands. First step: confirm the broken state. Last step: run the verifier.
       - title: "TODO: Step 1"
         body: "TODO: Add instructions"
+    helpfulLinks:
+      # optional | reference docs the player will need. label is the link text; url must be a full https:// URL.
+      # e.g. label: "OpenFeature Java SDK" / url: https://openfeature.dev/docs/reference/technologies/server/java/
+      - label: "TODO: Doc title"
+        url: "https://TODO"
     verification:
+      # required | keep the defaults unless the verification script name or message differs.
       command: "./verify.sh"
       description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the verification script."`;
   })
@@ -129,26 +156,33 @@ const levelEntries = levels
 const yamlContent = `id: ${id}
 title: "${title}"
 month: "${month}"
+# required | 2-3 sentences covering what technology is used and what each level does.
+# e.g. "Three levels of OpenFeature with flagd as the provider, in a Java + Spring Boot service.
+#   Wire the SDK (Beginner), add cohort targeting (Intermediate), then instrument with OpenTelemetry (Expert)."
 story: "TODO: Add adventure story summary"
 tags:
+  # required | technology and tool names. Mirror the topics used across all levels.
+  # e.g. OpenFeature, flagd, Spring Boot, Java, OpenTelemetry
   - "TODO: Add tags"
 
-# Uncomment and fill in if the adventure has an external contributor:
+# optional | uncomment and fill in if the adventure has an external contributor:
 # contributor:
 #   name: "TODO: Contributor name"
 #   url: "https://TODO"
 #   about: "TODO: Short bio"
 
 backstory:
+  # optional | sets the scene for the whole adventure. Can be 1-3 paragraphs.
+  # e.g. "The Aletheia Institute is running a multi-phase vision-enhancement trial. The lab is a Spring Boot service whose one job is to record the vision_state of every subject..."
   - "TODO: Add adventure backstory paragraph 1"
 
-# Uncomment and fill in for a 'What you will be using' section:
+# optional | uncomment and fill in for a 'What you will be using' section:
 # context:
 #   title: "What you'll be using"
 #   body:
 #     - "TODO: Explain the main technology"
 
-# Uncomment and fill in for reward info:
+# optional | uncomment and fill in for reward info:
 # rewards:
 #   deadline: "TODO: Day, DD Month YYYY at HH:MM CET"
 #   eligibility: "TODO: Eligibility criteria"
@@ -215,6 +249,11 @@ writeFileSync(sitemapPath, sitemapContent);
 console.log(`  Patched: public/sitemap.xml`);
 
 // Done
+const levelList =
+  levels.length === 1
+    ? levels[0]
+    : levels.slice(0, -1).join(", ") + ", and " + levels[levels.length - 1];
+
 console.log(`\n\x1b[32mDone!\x1b[0m Adventure "${title}" scaffolded.\n`);
 console.log("Next steps:");
 console.log(`  1. Fill in the TODOs in src/data/adventures/${id}/adventure.yaml`);
@@ -222,3 +261,4 @@ console.log(`  2. Update discussion URLs in the YAML and matching *-posts.json f
 console.log(`  3. Run: npm run generate`);
 console.log(`  4. Run: node scripts/refresh-discussions.mjs`);
 console.log(`  5. Run: npm run lint && npm test && npm run build && npm run test:e2e`);
+console.log(`  6. Commit: git commit -s -m "feat(adventures): add ${title} adventure with ${levelList} levels"`);
diff --git a/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven.generated.ts b/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven.generated.ts
index 6bca9615..71703410 100644
--- a/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven.generated.ts
+++ b/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven.generated.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ If you changed the backend configuration, run \`tofu init -migrate-state\` first
         { label: "OpenTofu backend configuration", url: "https://opentofu.org/docs/language/settings/backends/configuration/" },
         { label: "Google Cloud provider", url: "https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/google/latest/docs" },
       ],
+      verification: {
+        command: "./smoke-test.sh",
+        description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution.",
+      },
     },
     {
       id: "intermediate",
@@ -158,6 +162,10 @@ make apply
         { label: "Input validation rules", url: "https://opentofu.org/docs/language/values/variables/#custom-validation-rules" },
         { label: "Moved blocks", url: "https://opentofu.org/docs/language/modules/develop/refactoring/" },
       ],
+      verification: {
+        command: "./smoke-test.sh",
+        description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution.",
+      },
     },
     {
       id: "expert",
@@ -219,6 +227,10 @@ cd adventures/02-building-cloudhaven/expert
         { label: "Trivy action", url: "https://github.com/aquasecurity/trivy-action" },
         { label: "TF-via-PR action", url: "https://github.com/OP5dev/TF-via-PR" },
       ],
+      verification: {
+        command: "./smoke-test.sh",
+        description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution.",
+      },
     },
   ],
 };
diff --git a/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven/adventure.yaml b/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven/adventure.yaml
index dfe50870..2c912807 100644
--- a/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven/adventure.yaml
+++ b/src/data/adventures/building-cloudhaven/adventure.yaml
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ levels:
         url: https://opentofu.org/docs/language/settings/backends/configuration/
       - label: Google Cloud provider
         url: https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/google/latest/docs
+    verification:
+      command: "./smoke-test.sh"
+      description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution."
   - id: intermediate
     name: The Modular Metropolis
     difficulty: Intermediate
@@ -197,6 +200,9 @@ levels:
         url: https://opentofu.org/docs/language/values/variables/#custom-validation-rules
       - label: Moved blocks
         url: https://opentofu.org/docs/language/modules/develop/refactoring/
+    verification:
+      command: "./smoke-test.sh"
+      description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution."
   - id: expert
     name: The Guardian Protocols
     difficulty: Expert
@@ -283,3 +289,6 @@ levels:
         url: https://github.com/aquasecurity/trivy-action
       - label: TF-via-PR action
         url: https://github.com/OP5dev/TF-via-PR
+    verification:
+      command: "./smoke-test.sh"
+      description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution."
diff --git a/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit.generated.ts b/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit.generated.ts
index 319352ac..66b164bb 100644
--- a/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit.generated.ts
+++ b/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit.generated.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ kubectl apply -n argocd -f adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/beginner/manifests
 adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/beginner/smoke-test.sh
 \`\`\`` },
       ],
+      verification: {
+        command: "adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/beginner/smoke-test.sh",
+        description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution.",
+      },
     },
     {
       id: "intermediate",
@@ -173,6 +177,10 @@ adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/intermediate/smoke-test.sh
         { label: "PromQL basics", url: "https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/basics/" },
         { label: "kube-state-metrics exposed metrics", url: "https://github.com/kubernetes/kube-state-metrics/tree/main/docs#exposed-metrics" },
       ],
+      verification: {
+        command: "adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/intermediate/smoke-test.sh",
+        description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution.",
+      },
     },
     {
       id: "expert",
@@ -266,6 +274,10 @@ adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/expert/smoke-test.sh
         { label: "Argo Rollouts analysis", url: "https://argo-rollouts.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/analysis/" },
         { label: "PromQL basics", url: "https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/basics/" },
       ],
+      verification: {
+        command: "adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/expert/smoke-test.sh",
+        description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution.",
+      },
     },
   ],
 };
diff --git a/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit/adventure.yaml b/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit/adventure.yaml
index 9af617b2..0face394 100644
--- a/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit/adventure.yaml
+++ b/src/data/adventures/echoes-lost-in-orbit/adventure.yaml
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ levels:
           ```sh
           adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/beginner/smoke-test.sh
           ```
+    verification:
+      command: "adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/beginner/smoke-test.sh"
+      description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution."
   - id: intermediate
     name: The Silent Canary
     difficulty: Intermediate
@@ -236,6 +239,9 @@ levels:
         url: https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/basics/
       - label: kube-state-metrics exposed metrics
         url: https://github.com/kubernetes/kube-state-metrics/tree/main/docs#exposed-metrics
+    verification:
+      command: "adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/intermediate/smoke-test.sh"
+      description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution."
   - id: expert
     name: Hyperspace Operations & Transport
     difficulty: Expert
@@ -382,3 +388,6 @@ levels:
         url: https://argo-rollouts.readthedocs.io/en/stable/features/analysis/
       - label: PromQL basics
         url: https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/basics/
+    verification:
+      command: "adventures/01-echoes-lost-in-orbit/expert/smoke-test.sh"
+      description: "Once you think you've solved the challenge, run the smoke test to verify your solution."
diff --git a/src/data/adventures/types.ts b/src/data/adventures/types.ts
index 13857e28..0482ce0a 100644
--- a/src/data/adventures/types.ts
+++ b/src/data/adventures/types.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export type AdventureLevel = {
   name: string;
   difficulty: "Beginner" | "Intermediate" | "Expert";
   // Short topic tags shown on the adventure overview card (e.g. ["Argo CD", "GitOps"]).
-  topics?: string[];
+  topics: string[];
   learnings: string[];
   codespacesUrl: string;
   discussionUrl: string;
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ export type AdventureLevel = {
   // Short narrative hook shown directly under the page title.
   hook?: string;
   // Brief intro paragraph(s) shown under the page title before the main content.
-  intro?: string[];
+  intro: string[];
   // Narrative backstory paragraphs shown as a collapsible scenario section.
   backstory?: string[];
   // Concrete acceptance criteria shown as the "Objective" card.
-  objective?: string[];
+  objective: string[];
   // Audience line shown inside the Start CTA card (e.g. "Best for platform engineers, SREs…").
   audience?: string;
   // Long-form narrative shown as a styled scenario block under the hero.
@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ export type AdventureLevel = {
   // Accessible alt text for the architecture diagram image.
   diagramAlt?: string;
   // Tools pre-installed in the Codespace, rendered as a row of cards.
-  toolbox?: ToolboxItem[];
+  toolbox: ToolboxItem[];
   // Numbered walkthrough rendered as a vertical stepper.
-  howToPlay?: WalkthroughStep[];
+  howToPlay: WalkthroughStep[];
   // Reference documentation links shown after the walkthrough.
   helpfulLinks?: HelpfulLink[];
   // Verification card rendered as the final section.
-  verification?: VerificationInfo;
+  verification: VerificationInfo;
   // Mock community stats shown in the CommunitySidebar. Real data will replace
   // these once we aggregate certificate posts and cross-challenge contribution.
   solvedCount?: number;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ export type AdventureLevelSummary = {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   difficulty: "Beginner" | "Intermediate" | "Expert";
-  topics?: string[];
+  topics: string[];
   learnings: string[];
 };
 
diff --git a/src/test/filteredLevelCard.test.tsx b/src/test/filteredLevelCard.test.tsx
index c3d5d8f4..a10bc971 100644
--- a/src/test/filteredLevelCard.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/filteredLevelCard.test.tsx
@@ -12,9 +12,15 @@ const LEVEL: AdventureLevel = {
   id: "beginner",
   name: "Beginner Challenge",
   difficulty: "Beginner",
+  topics: ["Kubernetes", "GitOps"],
   learnings: ["Deploy a service", "Configure observability", "Write a test"],
   codespacesUrl: "https://codespaces.example.com/level/1",
   discussionUrl: "https://community.example.com/t/topic/42/1",
+  intro: ["Fix the broken deployment and restore service."],
+  objective: ["The service responds on port 8080.", "All health checks pass."],
+  toolbox: [{ name: "kubectl", description: "Kubernetes CLI" }],
+  howToPlay: [{ title: "Confirm the broken state", body: "Run kubectl get pods and observe the error." }],
+  verification: { command: "./verify.sh", description: "Run the verification script to confirm your solution." },
 };
 
 const LEVEL_MANY_LEARNINGS: AdventureLevel = {