7 games every games artist should study

Games art is one of the most exciting areas of the games industry, bringing together creativity, technology, and visual storytelling to create worlds that players can explore and experience.

At MetStudios, our BA (Hons) Games Art and Technology course allows you to develop the skills needed to create those worlds. You can build your skills across 2D and 3D visual technologies, with opportunities to explore areas such as environment art, character art, and technical artistry.

In this blog, we’re looking at seven games with inspiring art styles. Each one demonstrates a different approach to creating memorable characters, environments, and worlds.

Ori and the Blind Forest

Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautiful example of how a distinctive art style can shape the entire experience of a game. Its environments were created using hand-painted artwork, giving the world a magical, storybook quality. The characters were created as 3D models, creating an interesting contrast between the characters and their surroundings.

For games artists, it is particularly interesting to study the use of colour and atmosphere. The environments shift in tone throughout the game, helping to communicate emotion and support the story without relying solely on dialogue.

Rain World

Rain World creates a world that feels alive, unpredictable, and often dangerous. Its creatures exist within a wider ecosystem, with the player becoming part of a world that continues to function around them. The environment and creature designs help communicate this sense of survival by making the player feel small, surrounded by creatures and environments they cannot fully control.

What makes the game especially interesting for artists is the way visual design works alongside creature behaviour. Each species has its own appearance, movement, and place within the world, making the creatures feel like independent parts of a living environment, rather than existing for the player to encounter.

Journey

Journey demonstrates the power of simplicity. Its visual style relies on simple shapes, strong silhouettes and carefully controlled colour. Lighting and composition are used to create atmosphere across its vast landscapes, while the scale of the environments makes the player character feel small within the world.

For aspiring games artists, Journey is a reminder that a visually striking scene does not need enormous amounts of detail. Composition, lighting, colour, and silhouette can have just as much impact, particularly when they are used with a clear artistic intention.

Okami

Okami has one of the most recognisable art styles in games. Inspired by traditional Japanese art, its world looks like a living painting. Bold colours, expressive brushwork and ink-like outlines give the game a distinctive visual identity.

What makes Okami particularly useful to study is its consistency. The same artistic language runs through its characters, environments, effects, and animations, showing how a strong art direction can make every element of a game feel connected.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 takes inspiration from historical art and design to create something distinctly its own. The game draws on the visual character of the Belle Époque, alongside influences from Art Nouveau and darker, more surreal styles. These influences can be seen across its characters, architecture, and environments.

For games artists, this game is a strong example of how research can inform visual design. Art history, architecture, fashion, and other creative disciplines can all provide starting points for developing an original visual identity.

Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 shows how strong art direction can make a game world instantly recognisable. Arkane Studios placed a strong emphasis on fine art and design when creating its environments and characters. The result is a world with a distinctive visual identity that also supports the way players explore and interact with it.

It is particularly inspiring for anyone interested in environment art. Buildings, interiors, props, and architecture are not simply there to make the world look convincing; they help guide the player, establish atmosphere, and communicate the character of each location.

BioShock

BioShock is a brilliant example of how visual design can establish the identity of an entire world. Its underwater city of Rapture is heavily influenced by Art Deco and decopunk design. The architecture, signage, advertisements, and objects found throughout the city all contribute to its distinctive look.

These details also help tell the story of Rapture. Rather than explaining everything through dialogue, the environment gives players clues about the city’s history, its people and what happened there. For games artists, it demonstrates how visual design can communicate information and build a believable world at the same time.

Create your own worlds

These games demonstrate just how many different approaches there are to games art. At MetStudios, you can take that inspiration and develop your own ideas.

Our BA (Hons) Games Art and Technology is an innovative, multi-disciplinary course designed to equip you with the skills needed to thrive in the games industry.

From day one, you’ll work on real games, not just study them. You’ll build a portfolio that shows studios what you can actually do, while receiving feedback from experienced lecturers throughout your studies. You’ll also work with the same software used across the industry, developing practical skills and experience that help you prepare for a career in games.

Our course goes beyond developing your artistic skills. You’ll build your understanding of games production, design fundamentals and game culture, giving you a broader perspective of the industry and the variety of creative roles.

The games industry is full of incredible worlds. At MetStudios, you can learn the skills to create your own.

Join us

Looking to join our community of creatives? Our Open Days give you a behind-the-scenes look at life at MetStudios Brighton, so you can explore the campus, meet the team, and get a feel for what it’s really like to study with us.