Why Concept Art for Video Games is Essential

Apart from the gaming industry, concept art is no stranger to other fields that use art: cinematography, animation, advertisement, and so on. The principle remains the same, though. It allows creators to form and visualize ideas in a short time. To create the desired image, it would not hurt to see its representation from different points of view. That is why multiple artists are usually tasked to draw the same concept art. Games then take the very best each professional has provided.

When developing a game, work on game design concept art should start as early as possible. The illustrations your concept artists create will simplify the further art development. Remember that you need an experienced concept artist who understands the primary responsibilities and peculiarities of the profession. If you lack a specialist(s) on your team, outsourcing is always a good option.

The work of concept makers influences everything in the game world. You can be sure that not a single piece of machinery, prop, landscape, or character was created from a single sketch. Even individual equipment elements like rivets on armor are drawn multiple times in different colors, shapes, and textures before "the one and only" variant is found. There are always dozens of basic drawings, but only a few selected images receive a seal of approval.

Games are complex products. Considering all the factors in developing a video game, you may assume that concept artists should have different specializations. And you will be 100% correct because there are multiple types of concept art. Let's briefly discuss them.

Character designers need concepts to begin their work. Even though early sketches can be rather primitive, they still should demonstrate the hero's traits and features. Creature game design concept art includes anatomical features, color schemes, clothing, and armor sets. Whether working on realistic video game characters or stylized face designs, character concept artists do it all—and that’s a lot of drawing. Most such concepts are rejected, but this is the normal flow for concept makers.


A good designer must be familiar with human anatomy and know animal physical traits. After all, not all characters in games are human. In fantasy or sci-fi settings, drawing stylised animals with familiar attributes is completely normal. For example, the reptilian race of Argonians or cat-like Khajiit from The Elder Scrolls franchise, turians from Mass Effect, you name it.

Every game occurs in a particular setting, so someone must illustrate it according to the script and lore. Environment concept artists initially visualize landscapes, architectural objects, and elements that set the game's tone. These environments—whether for photorealistic games or stylized ones—bring the game world to life. One needs a vivid imagination and skills to draw from simple words on paper to conceptualize cool fictional places. Other designers will continue working on this basic imagery, turning it into digital art that will be added to the game.

Whether it is a futuristic city street or a bar on an alien planet, the image must be eye-catching and intriguing, prompting viewers to ask what could happen in such a place. A confident environmental concept artist must be proficient with the perspective in art. If anything in the scene seems off, unnatural, or out of place, it can easily ruin the atmosphere and look of the piece. This is especially crucial when developing realistic graphics games.

Sculptures of fantasy demigods, decorated bottles with magic potions, barrels with wine, and other smaller objects that fill the environment are called props. Take them all away, and the world will look empty and lifeless. Prop designers create all these little things to add extra flavor to the game environment. This type of game concept art is arguably the most creative and open to experiments with style as designers draw inspiration from thousands of objects that exist(ed) in our world. Creativity has some limits, and you cannot mindlessly add something like firearms to a medieval setting without justification. Anyway, all props must feel right and align with the game's design code.

Some designers say that equipment art is a props sub-category, but we disagree with this statement. Armor, weaponry, and gear characters used in games are much bigger than your ordinary props. Equipment video game concept art can provide more information about the world where the action takes place. Also, the favorite protagonist's gun can say a lot about their traits and preferences, providing a more comprehensive feel to the final product.

Artists who draw weapons have a good understanding of such items, knowing how the tech would work in the real world. Most weapon prototypes are based on existing industrial designs, so it's no wonder weapons look so convincing.

According to Mary Keo's Graphic style in games, there are three main art styles: abstract, stylized, and realistic. This trio derives from a multitude of other art styles, so to keep it simple, we will focus on the basics.

Abstract video game art relies on shapes and forms that defy conventional representation. Unlike realistic or stylized art, abstract designs do not immediately communicate their purpose. Players are often left to interpret the functionality of the game elements as they explore the game world. This approach encourages exploration and discovery as elements gradually reveal their roles through interaction.

As for the characters, they can even be portrayed as simple geometric figures like triangles or squares. For example, the protagonist of Super Meat Boy is a cube with hands, legs, and a face. Classic arcade games like Asteroids and Pong serve as early examples of abstract art style video games. The latter uses two simple vertical lines as paddles and a small dot as a ball.

Abstract art gives game developers a ton of creative freedom. Since there’s no need to follow real-world physics or visual expectations, devs can go all-in on designing gameplay mechanics that break the mold. This flexibility lets them experiment with new and unusual ways to challenge players, offering fresh and unpredictable gameplay.

What is stylized art? You have probably played Super Mario Bros. or at least seen it on the Internet. It is a perfect example of stylized art. It takes a more playful approach to video game art style. Games that go with this style have cartoonish, generally exaggerated graphics. They draw inspiration from comics and caricatures so that game elements may look absurd and unusual.

Stylized games are free from many boundaries, like realistic physics, movements, etc., but that does not mean they cannot be realistic whenever they want. Take Fall Guys, for example—its goofy, oversized characters move with exaggerated, wobbly motions, but there’s still a surprisingly complex physics system underneath that determines how they bounce off obstacles or crash into the ground.

The stylized art style in video games often pulls inspiration from animated films, comics, and caricatures. Games like Cuphead take it to another level, embracing the look of 1930s cartoons while combining that nostalgic style with fast-paced, innovative gameplay mechanics.

Developers have nearly limitless creative freedom when figuring out how to create a video game with stylized visuals. Whether it’s crafting quirky stylized animals or exaggerated characters, the goal is to create appealing graphics that enhance the fun and personality of the game without being tied down by the rules of realism.

You know what it is all about, and have definitely played at least one game that looks realistic. The game world, characters within it, their equipment, and all objects around try to replicate the things from real life as closely as possible. This is the go-to art style for most modern first-person shooters and action adventures (Resident Evil, Death Stranding, Cyberpunk 2077). Various simulator games love being realistic, such as Forza Horizon 5 or Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Generally speaking, concept art must have two elements for it to be considered realistic. Game elements are reminiscent of their real-life counterparts, while the movement and behavior of these objects must obey real-world physics. To achieve realism, developers use advanced animation techniques like motion capture to ensure characters move naturally, and sophisticated physics engines to simulate real-world behaviors. Whether it’s vehicles handling rough terrain in Forza Horizon 5 or characters interacting with the environment in The Last of Us Part II, realistic video game art aims to blur the line between the digital and the real.

Creating a game with realistic visuals can be a challenge for developers. Photorealistic graphics require significant processing power, making it necessary to find a balance between performance and visual quality. When figuring out how to create a game in this style, developers must consider optimizing the game’s performance while still delivering the high level of detail that players expect from modern, realistic graphics games.

Developers must decide which one of the best video game art styles suits their vision and how these visuals will shape the player’s experience. For those looking to create a game, mastering the art style that aligns with the project’s goals will make all the difference in delivering appealing graphics and an unforgettable gameplay experience.

The tasks of a game concept designer vary greatly depending on the production phase. In the early stages, there’s a heavy focus on research and exploration to create the foundation and set visual guidelines for the game world. During this phase, game concept artists produce numerous illustrations, often called "postcards," which serve as the final form of concept art. These are frequently featured in promotional materials for video games, showcasing the game’s vision and art stylization.

Later on, artists switch to other, more specific tasks, and solve problems that appear during development. For example, they may need to refine designs for environments, characters, or machinery. Their work covers a wide range of different game art styles, depending on the project. Concept artists must adapt their gaming drawing ideas to fit the art direction, whether the game requires a stylized, cartoonish look or a more realistic, detailed approach.

The quality of concept illustrations and sketches does not have strict standards. Some can be crude and somewhat primitive, others – refined and complex. A typical workflow for concept art begins with rough sketches that focus on the scene's overall composition and critical elements. The artist considers what problem the drawing is meant to solve, whether presenting a specific location, visualizing complex machinery, or designing character outfits. After the initial image is blocked, artists add effects and lighting to enhance the piece. In best art style games, these small details are crucial to creating a cohesive and immersive experience.

Finalized illustrations must be as clear as possible because other artists, modelers, and animators will continue working with them, and it is important that not a single detail is lost in the transition.

One of the most important aspects of a game concept artist’s job is iteration. The first design is rarely the final one, and concept artists are accustomed to revising their work multiple times throughout development. This constant iteration helps refine the game’s visual elements

Concept artists are also problem-solvers. They don’t just create beautiful images—they solve practical design challenges. For example, if a character's design as first conceived doesn't suit the game in terms of gameplay or story, then the concept artist needs to iterate on that design while keeping the character's identity.

Conversely, if a certain environment doesn't have enough happening or isn't atmospheric enough the artist may address this by reworking parts of the scene so that player immersion is increased.

Therefore, the main goal of a well-executed concept piece is to provide direction for the rest of the art production. A strong concept doesn’t just inspire—it informs. It serves as a visual blueprint that ensures the final product adheres to the intended art stylization and theme.

Creating game design concept art requires a deep understanding of the process on multiple levels of work. If you are going for a graphically light project in an abstract art style, you will need less time to produce art. Choosing a stylized or realistic approach will be trickier and most likely require specialists with particular skills.

Since not every investor or publisher has an art studio, outsourcing has become the best way to solve game production issues. Whether you need just a little help with artwork and concepts or would like someone competent to take care of the entire project, we are ready to listen to you and consult on the topic!

At Argentics, we have plenty of experience with A to Z game development and being an emergency support unit that helps complex projects deliver on time. We cooperate with gaming companies, other development studios, and individual investors, creating 2D/3D game assets, models, and animation for them as well. Don't take our word for granted, and check our portfolio of projects! If you are interested in hiring us, email us or fill out the contact form, and we will get in touch.