Creating a game character is more than just drawing a cool-looking figure—it’s about crafting a persona that tells a story, evokes emotions, and enhances gameplay. Whether you’re a budding artist, a game developer, or someone looking for the perfect gift for a creative gamer, understanding character design is crucial. The best game characters are those that feel alive, with designs that reflect their personalities, histories, and roles in the game world. From selecting the right tools to mastering artistic techniques, this guide will provide 20 essential design tips to help bring characters to life. We’ll also include Amazon product recommendations for must-have tools to elevate your creative process.
1. Understand the Role of the Character
source @conceptdesignacad
Every great character starts with purpose. Is your character a heroic warrior, a mischievous trickster, or a mysterious villain? Their role in the game dictates everything from their appearance to their animations. A strong character design should immediately communicate who they are and how they fit into the game world. Consider how they interact with the story, their environment, and other characters. A well-thought-out backstory can influence their outfit, posture, and even facial expressions. If you’re struggling to define this, a sketchbook for brainstorming (available on Amazon) is a great tool to start refining your ideas.
2. Research Character Archetypes
source @we_are_brainstorm_school
Many iconic characters fall into familiar archetypes, such as the wise mentor, the lone hero, or the chaotic anti-hero. While using an archetype can help establish a foundation, adding unique twists prevents clichés. Think about how you can subvert expectations—perhaps a villain with a soft, approachable design or a hero with an unconventional silhouette. Studying films, books, and real-life personas can help refine your character’s uniqueness.
3. Master the Art of Silhouettes
source @samdoesarts
A character should be instantly recognizable just by their silhouette. This is a fundamental principle in great character design. If a character’s outline is too generic, they may blend into the background and lose memorability. Experiment with bold shapes—large, exaggerated weapons, dramatic hairstyles, or distinctive postures. Using silhouette exercises in digital art software, such as Photoshop or Procreate (aided by a high-quality digital drawing tablet), can help refine a design that stands out.
4. Choose a Striking Color Palette
source @voltacreations
Color plays a huge role in character perception. Warm colors like red and orange evoke passion and energy, while cool tones like blue and green create a sense of calm or mystery. The key is using contrast effectively—opposing colors make details pop, while complementary shades unify the design. If you’re new to color theory, investing in a book on the subject or using digital color palette tools can make the process easier.
5. Focus on Facial Expressions and Features
source @tanstar.artist
A character’s face is the gateway to their personality. Strong jawlines might signal confidence, while wide eyes can indicate innocence or curiosity. Subtle details, such as scars, wrinkles, or freckles, add layers to a character’s story. Practicing different expressions can help bring depth and emotion to your designs. Many artists find expression reference books or anatomical sketch guides helpful in mastering this.
6. Pay Attention to Proportions and Shapes
source @conceptdesignacad
Shapes convey meaning. Round characters often feel friendly and approachable, while sharp, angular designs suggest danger or intensity. Understanding proportion can help reinforce a character’s personality. Consider how cartoons exaggerate features to make expressions more readable—large hands for expressive gestures or oversized eyes for an innocent appearance. Experimenting with different shapes will allow you to create distinctive characters that instantly communicate their essence.
7. Develop a Consistent Art Style
source @symphony_sonata
A game’s aesthetic needs consistency, and so do its characters. If one character is hyper-detailed while another is overly simplified, they may look like they belong to different worlds. Creating style guides with rules on line thickness, shading, and proportions can help ensure visual harmony. If you’re working digitally, software like Clip Studio Paint or drawing tablets can help streamline your workflow.
8. Clothing and Costume Design Matter
source @xandersmith_design
A character’s outfit isn’t just decoration—it reveals their personality, background, and even game mechanics. Armor might signify a warrior, while loose, flowing robes suggest a mage. Avoid overcomplicating designs to the point where details get lost in gameplay. Investing in a historical costume reference book or 3D modeling software can make designing complex outfits easier.
9. Use Accessories to Enhance Personality
source @gameologyau
Accessories are more than just decorative elements; they can add depth to a character’s backstory and personality. A rugged adventurer might wear a tattered scarf from a lost companion, while a high-tech hacker could have a set of futuristic goggles. Every accessory should serve a purpose—whether it’s functional or purely aesthetic, it should align with the character’s role and setting. Overloading a character with too many small accessories can make the design look cluttered, so it’s important to find a balance. If you’re working digitally, using an accessory reference book or a 3D modeling tool can help with design precision.
10. Work on Dynamic Poses and Movement
source @josh_ryba
A well-designed character should look dynamic even when standing still. The way a character holds themselves—whether slouching in exhaustion, standing with confidence, or in a battle-ready stance—communicates a lot about their personality. Stiff, lifeless poses can make a character feel uninteresting, while fluid, exaggerated gestures bring them to life. Practicing gesture drawing with a sketchpad or digital drawing software can improve your ability to create motion-filled, expressive characters. A high-quality stylus or drawing glove can make the process smoother when using digital tools.
11. Understand the Role of Textures
source @artofhaf
Textures make a character feel more tangible and real, especially in 3D game environments. A rugged warrior might have battle-worn armor with scratches and dents, while a sleek sci-fi android could have smooth, polished metal plating. Different materials—such as leather, fur, metal, or cloth—can drastically change the feel of a character. Digital artists often use specialized texture brushes or 3D software to add realistic textures to their designs. Investing in a digital brush set for Procreate or Photoshop can help in achieving detailed, high-quality textures.
12. Experiment with Hairstyles and Features
source @kevinrupard
Hair is one of the most expressive elements of a character. Wild, untamed curls might indicate a free-spirited personality, while a tightly styled ponytail could suggest discipline and control. Experimenting with different hair types and facial features can help distinguish characters from one another. Reference guides on human anatomy and hairstyles are useful tools for artists looking to master realistic or stylized hair designs. For digital artists, custom hair brushes can speed up the process of rendering complex hairstyles.
13. Create Backstories for Characters
source @andrewtarcher
A well-developed backstory can influence everything about a character, from their clothing to their expressions. Where did they grow up? What motivates them? Have they been through hardships that changed their demeanor? Even if the backstory isn’t explicitly shared with players, it informs the design choices. Subtle details—like a character’s choice of jewelry, scars, or even posture—can hint at their past. Keeping a character development journal or using a character creation template can help flesh out ideas before committing to a final design.
14. The Importance of Line Weight and Details
source @sanchitadaswani
Line weight plays a huge role in defining a character’s visual appeal. Thick, bold lines can give a character a strong, animated presence, while delicate, thin lines can make them appear more refined or fragile. Artists can use line variation to create depth and focus attention on important aspects of the design. Digital drawing tablets with pressure sensitivity allow for smoother control over line weight. Investing in fine-tipped pens or styluses with pressure adjustments can help refine this technique.
15. Take Inspiration from Nature and Real Life
source @sketches.of.shay
Nature is an incredible source of inspiration for character design. Animal traits, plant textures, and even geological formations can be incorporated into designs to create unique and immersive characters. For example, a warrior’s armor could be inspired by the scales of a lizard, or a mage’s robes could flow like ocean waves. Observing real-life people, animals, and environments can provide fresh ideas for movement, patterns, and textures. Keeping a nature sketchbook or using reference photography can be helpful in developing creative concepts.
16. Get Feedback and Iterate on Your Designs
source @ben_eblen_design
No design is perfect on the first attempt. Seeking feedback from other artists, game developers, or even friends can provide new perspectives. Online communities like ArtStation, DeviantArt, and Discord art groups are great places to receive constructive criticism. Iteration is key—making small tweaks based on feedback can drastically improve a character’s design. Using a tablet with a responsive stylus or a sketchbook with easy erasing capabilities can make it easier to refine your work without starting from scratch.
17. Keep the Player Experience in Mind
source @theplayerexperience
Game characters should not only look great but also function well within gameplay. A character with overly complex details might look stunning in concept art but become a nightmare for animators and developers. Players should be able to recognize and connect with characters instantly, even in fast-paced action sequences. Simplifying excessive details, ensuring clear silhouettes, and keeping colors distinct can enhance gameplay readability. A good way to test this is by viewing your designs at smaller sizes to ensure they remain recognizable.
18. Design for Animation and Rigging
source @mish.mov
If your character will be animated, their design must accommodate movement. Overly rigid costumes, floating accessories, or complex joint structures can cause issues during animation. Game developers often use skeletal rigs to animate characters, so it’s essential to design with flexibility in mind. Studying basic animation principles can help artists understand how to create designs that move well. 3D modeling software or animation-friendly drawing programs like Blender or Spine can help test how characters perform in motion.
19. Experiment with Different Art Mediums
source @wanglama26
Trying different art mediums can lead to unexpected and unique results. Some artists prefer traditional pencil and paper before transferring their designs digitally, while others use digital tablets exclusively. Watercolor, ink, collage, and even sculpting can bring new insights into shape and texture. Experimenting with different methods can help artists break out of creative blocks and discover new techniques. A set of high-quality sketching pencils, digital drawing tablets, or sculpting clay can be great tools for expanding creative approaches.
20. Stay Inspired and Keep Practicing
source @mindset_advisory
Like any skill, character design requires continuous learning and practice. Staying inspired by playing games, watching animated films, reading comics, and studying the work of great artists can keep creativity flowing. Following industry professionals, taking online art courses, or keeping an inspiration board can help refine your style. It’s also important to revisit old designs and improve upon them as your skills grow. A subscription to digital art tutorials or a collection of art books can be invaluable resources for ongoing learning.
