Despite the timeless advice against judging a book solely by its cover, it’s undeniable that we often form initial impressions based on appearances. This tendency extends to video game graphics as well. Think about how you immediately begin to shape your opinion of an upcoming game based on screenshots or a trailer. Regardless of how much you try to convince yourself that the final verdict will be influenced by gameplay testing, the foundation of your emotional response has already been laid. This is simply human nature at work.
It’s important to recognize that art and game mechanics are intertwined. While impressive graphics alone cannot rescue a game plagued by poor gameplay, exceptional gameplay cannot carry a game to success without high-quality visuals. Graphics serve as the primary visual medium through which the essence of the gameplay is conveyed to players. Consequently, choosing the appropriate game art style becomes crucial in ensuring players perceive and connect with the game in the desired manner.
The World of Visual Aesthetics in Video Games
A game art style is the seamless integration of all visual elements within a game, meticulously crafted to evoke the desired atmosphere for players. Ideally, every aspect should align harmoniously. However, it is not uncommon to encounter instances where there is a disconnect or indecisiveness between the visual style and the essence of the game. This discrepancy does not necessarily reflect poor execution by the game development team; rather, it may stem from ambitious ideas surpassing the available resources. It is essential to always consider the resources at your disposal before contemplating the game art style.
Creating artistic resources for games demands a significant investment of time and expertise. Whether you are embarking on a solo game development journey or collaborating with an indie team, it is crucial to evaluate the art style that you can effectively handle and manage.
Encountering Extremes
In this scenario, we are presented with two choices:
“I aim to emulate [a popular and successful game], but with my own unique twist.”
“I aspire to develop a completely original and groundbreaking game art style.”
While the first option may seem less audacious than the second, both options are bound to lead to failure. In the first case, you rely on the “crutches” of others’ creative ideas to adorn your gameplay mechanics. In the second case, you disregard the importance of solid mechanics and instead rely solely on the visual innovation’s striking impact. The fundamental issue lies in the inherent inconsistency and fragmentation of these approaches.
A truly exceptional game is not merely a mishmash of intriguing mechanics and groundbreaking visual concepts. The finest games exhibit flawless cohesiveness, providing players with a seamless and harmonious gaming experience. Every aspect is intricately integrated, making it impossible to separate and dissect the components without disrupting the overall brilliance.
The solution lies in aligning both the mechanics and the game art style with the central idea. It is essential to perceive the game as a unified entity and consistently deliver the intended experience to the players. By comprehending the interconnection and interaction of all elements within the game, you can organically arrive at the desired game art style without resorting to copying or pursuing an empty visual spectacle.
Breaking Free from Subjectivism’s Chains
The pervasive influence of subjectivism brings forth an unfortunate reality where what appears meaningful to you may be incomprehensible to others. This pervasive subjectivity casts a shadow over your ideas and comes with its own set of challenges.
If you find yourself grappling with questions like:
“Will players perceive my idea as intended?”
“Does my chosen game art style effectively communicate?”
Escaping this addictive swamp can prove to be quite daunting. It is important to acknowledge that matters are not always black and white, and it is impossible to consider every objective and subjective factor. However, you can strive to blend established design and testing methodologies with more advanced research on your target audience’s understanding of aesthetics and entertainment. By incorporating these approaches, you can navigate this complex landscape more effectively.
The solution lies in maintaining a clear understanding of your objectives and target audience. While your game may not cater to every player on the planet, it should instantly resonate with those for whom it is intended. Cultivating empathy becomes crucial in establishing effective communication between your game and the player. Avoid isolating yourself within a realm of intricate and innovative ideas that may be difficult for others to comprehend. Instead, actively engage with your audience, showcase your work, and foster a dialogue. Through this process, you will gain valuable insights into what resonates and what doesn’t, allowing you to refine your approach effectively.
Unlocking Artistic Potential: Moving Beyond Selected Art Styles
Within a team, there will always be various specialists who perceive the key game art style in their own unique ways and offer their ideas. While the ultimate decision rests with the designated decision-maker, having multiple equally viable options can alleviate their burden.
“Which one should I choose? These styles all look equally appealing.”
“What if I make the wrong choice among these options?”
These toxic questions tend to veer away from the core issue. The crux of the matter is selecting a visual tool that effectively represents the game’s form. Remember that it must seamlessly harmonize with the mechanics and effectively convey the necessary messages to the player throughout the game.
If you find yourself hesitating between several similar styles, it indicates a lack of complete understanding regarding the purpose and essence of your game. Placing excessive importance on visuals over other crucial aspects is an incorrect approach. It is inappropriate to treat the mechanics as if they were separate entities by laying out an array of disparate styles and attempting to force-fit them.
The solution lies in recalling the imperative of aligning form with content. Revisit your game and vocalize its essence and intended message to the players. When you possess a clear vision of the game’s purpose, visuals and mechanics will no longer exist as separate entities. The synergy between these elements creates the gaming experience. Thus, with a thorough comprehension of its purpose, you will instinctively know the style needed, as if it were a perfect puzzle piece, seamlessly fitting into the complete picture.
Essential Art Styles for Gaming
While game art styles lack a definitive and universally recognized taxonomy, game developers commonly identify key categories based on their distinctive features. For instance, in the realm of 3D games, notable styles include:
- Realism
- Fantasy realism
- Low poly
- Hand-painted
- Cartoon
| Art Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Realism | Displays characters and environments in the most realistic way as close as possible to real life. |
| Fantasy realism | Displays characters and environments in a realistic setting that is impossible in our real life: fantasy, steampunk, sci-fi, etc. |
| Low poly | Displaying characters and environments through densely spaced geometric shapes with a combination of light and shadow. |
| Hand-painted | Displaying characters and environments with hand-drawn textures: shadows and highlights are drawn on the texture without geometry. |
| Cartoon | Displays characters and environments using low poly and hand-painted techniques with high color and custom proportions. |
Here are some examples of games that utilize different art styles:
- Cartoon: Tails of Iron, Minecraft, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Overwatch – These games utilize a cartoon art style, featuring vibrant and exaggerated visuals reminiscent of animated cartoons.
- Realism: Insurgency: Sandstorm, Red Dead Redemption 2, Battlefield 1, Crysis 2 – These games aim for a realistic art style, striving to depict graphics that closely resemble the real world with high levels of detail and fidelity.
- Hand-painted: SpeedRunners, Hades, Spiritfarer, Hollow Knight – These games showcase a hand-painted art style, where the visuals are created by hand, often with brush strokes and textures that add a unique and artistic flair.
- Low-poly: Divine Knockout (DKO), Borderlands, Okami, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – These games employ a low-poly art style, characterized by simplistic and geometrically-shaped models with fewer polygons, resulting in a more minimalist aesthetic.
- Fantasy realism: Eternal Cylinder, Elden Ring, Skyrim, Fallout 4 – These games combine elements of fantasy and realism, blending imaginative and fantastical elements with visuals that strive for a high level of realism.
When it comes to 2D game art styles, we can identify the following categories:
- Flat
- Pixel
- Vector
- Realism
- Cel shading
- Monochromatic
| Art Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Flat | Displaying characters and environments without shadows and the illusion of volume as if they were cut out of paper. |
| Pixel | Displaying characters and environments in the form of pixels – indivisible elements of a rectangular or round shape, characterized by a certain color. |
| Vector | Displaying characters and environments based on vector graphics – these are images drawn using mathematical formulas. |
| Realism | Displaying characters and environments in the most realistic way possible with shadows, the illusion of volume, tints, and lighting. |
| Cel shading | Displaying characters and environments using non-photorealistic rendering to obtain an image that mimics hand-drawing with hard contours and sharp chiaroscuro transitions. |
| Monochromatic | Displays characters and environments in a limited color palette of 1 or 2 colors and a wide range of shades of these primary colors. |
Here are some examples of games that use different art styles:
- Flat: Gravity Defied, Nidhogg, Alto’s Adventure, Fez, To the Moon, Undertale, Owlboy – These games employ a flat art style, characterized by two-dimensional, simplified visuals without shading or depth.
- Pixel: Undertale, Noita, Steamworld Heist, Red Alarm, The Banner Saga, Ghost Trick, To the Moon – These games feature pixel art, which uses small, square-shaped pixels to create a retro, nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of older video games.
- Monochromatic: Limbo, Badlands, Inside, Minit, One Upon Light – These games utilize a monochromatic art style, typically using shades of black, white, and gray to create a stark, atmospheric atmosphere.
- Cel shading: Ultimate Spider-Man, Jet Set Radio Future, Mega Man Legends, Pokémon X & Y, X-Men Legends – These games employ cel shading, a technique that gives the illusion of hand-drawn animation by using flat, solid colors and bold outlines.
- Vector: Steamworld Heist, Red Alarm, The Banner Saga, Ghost Trick – These games utilize vector art, which relies on mathematical formulas to create smooth, scalable graphics. This style is often associated with clean lines and vibrant colors.
When it comes to realistic 2D graphics, they typically utilize raster graphics, which consist of a grid of pixels. On the other hand, vector graphics are better suited for cartoonish or stylized visuals due to their ability to scale without losing quality. You can learn more about the differences between raster and vector 2D graphics in the corresponding post.
Games with Distinctive Artistic Styles
Video games with exceptional and one-of-a-kind art styles offer far more than mere visual appeal; they create immersive experiences that captivate players on multiple levels. Here’s why these games are a sensory feast:
Atmospheric Ambiance: The distinctive graphic styles in these games contribute to an overall ambiance that transports players into rich and immersive worlds, heightening their sense of immersion and engagement.
Character Identity: Unique art styles often extend to the game’s characters, giving them distinct visual identities that make them instantly recognizable and memorable. These visuals enhance the connection between players and the game’s cast, making their interactions all the more compelling.
Narrative Enhancement: Visual artistry plays a pivotal role in storytelling, and games with exceptional art styles effectively leverage this. The visuals not only serve as a backdrop but also contribute to the narrative, enhancing the storytelling experience and drawing players deeper into the game’s world.
Unforgettable Aesthetic: The best games with extraordinary art styles leave an indelible mark, etching themselves into players’ collective memory. Their unique aesthetics make them stand out among the vast sea of games, creating an enduring impact and fostering a sense of admiration and appreciation among players.
Selecting the Ideal Art Style for Your Game
Now that we have explored the primary art styles commonly used in games, let’s summarize the key questions you need to answer in order to choose the perfect art style for your game.
What Resources Are Available to You?
Considering your financial and resource capabilities is crucial when embarking on game development. Recognize that creating an ultra-realistic game with complex open-world mechanics single-handedly may be beyond your current capabilities. Start by outlining your limitations upfront to determine what is currently unattainable. This pragmatic approach will simplify the decision-making process when selecting a suitable art style.
Defining the Essence of the Game
Consider what concept lies at the heart of your game. Is it set in a post-apocalyptic world, portraying the untamed power of nature, exploring the depths of sinister space, contemplating philosophical musings on life’s meaning, or a fast-paced shooter with a classic antagonist seeking to destroy the world? The chosen art style should align with the intended message you wish to convey to players.
Understanding the Target Audience
Remember, not every game is meant for a global audience. Identify the specific target audience for your game and gain an understanding of their needs, preferences, and expectations. Step into their shoes and envision how you would want the game to be from a consumer’s perspective. By empathizing with your target players, you can make informed decisions regarding the art style that will resonate most with them.
Conclusion
In reality, there is no definitive “best” game art style. Any art style can be the perfect fit for your specific idea. What truly matters is understanding the essence of your game and aligning your aspirations with your financial and resource constraints.
At Kevuru Games, we possess extensive knowledge of the latest art styles for games and have successfully crafted visual designs for a diverse range of projects, spanning from casual to AAA titles. If you find yourself grappling with the decision of choosing a style, feel free to reach out to us. We are here to assist you in discovering the ideal stylistic direction for your game. Moreover, if needed, we can create the artwork you require, be it individual elements or the entire visual representation of your game.