Have you ever wondered what makes a game truly memorable?
For some, it’s all about the gameplay. Some would argue it’s all in the graphics, others would say the worldbuilding is what it takes for a game to be a masterpiece. However, we can all agree that behind most successful games lies a roster of well-designed characters.
Maybe it was something in their sentences, their odd clothes, their quirky antics, their awe-inspiring backstory, or how they faced (and conquered!) whatever challenges the game threw at them that made them so memorable.
Whatever it was, character design is an objectively critical aspect of game development, and it takes much more than a pretty face to create a compelling character.
In this article, we will explain what character design truly is, some of its key elements, and tips to create characters that players will remember long after they beat the game.
What is character design?
Simply put, character design is all about the process of creating the appearance, personality, backstory, and motivations of a character, which can then be used in movies, series, animes, advertising campaigns, and games, the subject of our article!
It involves creating unique and memorable characters that help both capture the players’ attention and build an emotional connection with the game world. After all, well-designed characters can add depth, immersion, and dimension to the plot of a game, making the experience much more enjoyable.
When it comes to game development, character design is one of the key components in making a game truly legendary, involving the creation of the character’s visual appearance (like their clothes, body type, hairstyle, accessories, …) and personality (likes and dislikes, underlying motivations, backstory, goals, …).
As designers work on them, it’s critical to take the game’s genre and target audience into consideration. For example, characters in first-person shooter (FPS) games might gravitate towards tougher and more aggressive designs, while characters in puzzle and casual games are more likely to be designed with an appearance that feels endearing and approachable.
Elements of character design
We understand how designing cohesive, believable, and good-looking characters is a tough task. To help you out, we have compiled some of the key elements to consider when designing your characters to be memorable:
Appearance: physical characteristics and clothes
Despite some people preaching the contrary, first impressions do matter, and the visuals of a character are usually the first thing players will come in contact with.
This encompasses everything players will look at – the character’s body shape, height, weight, hairstyle (and color), clothes (which can tell a lot about a character!), accessories, exaggerated features, and much more.
One approach to early character design is to think of them as shapes. It might sound wrong at first, but some geometrical figures relate better to certain traits. Let’s talk briefly about a concept known as shape language:
- Circles and ovals are commonly used for characters who are friendly and outgoing. They are organic shapes and, as they don’t have hard edges to call their own, they evoke feelings of warmth, approachability, and comfort – think of Kirby and Up’s lovable boy scout, Russell;
- Squares and rectangles, for instance, are mostly used to represent traits like strength, steadfastness, dependability, and confidence. It could, in certain circumstances, depict something daunting or even clumsy. As such, they’re often the choice for superheroes and characters meant to be strong – think of Clark Kent, Batman, and Professor Utonium;
- Triangle and pointed shapes, on the other hand, tend to express danger, unpredictability, and direction. As it’s the most “pointy” of the basic polygons, triangles are the most opposing shapes to the circle and are used all the time for antagonists and chaotic characters. This doesn’t mean, however, that protagonist and good-natured characters cannot be based on triangles – it could indicate a sharp mind or a peculiar strength;
Likewise, the clever use of symmetry (or lack thereof) is another way to describe a character’s personality. Those who have a more symmetric design tend to be reserved and level-headed, with more asymmetric characters leaning a bit towards chaotic behavior and extroversion.
Personality and backstory
While a character’s appearance is what draws players in, their personality, actions, and backstory are what make them truly memorable and interesting. Effective character design should enable players to get a glimpse of the character’s personality and backstory just by looking at them, and many traits could be inferred through their facial expressions, body language, choice of words, and even the way they speak.
Do they sound confident and outgoing, eloquently speaking at ease even in difficult situations, or do they stammer, sounding shy and insecure? Are they eager to get into action and act recklessly, or are they very mindful of their actions and decisions? Do they display a dominant body language, asserting themselves over other characters, do they hunch inwards, signaling submission, or are they more assertive?
There are thousands of ways to explore a character’s personality, with actions and dialogues being the most prevalent ones, but it’s all up to you.
Similarly, a character’s backstory can inform the audience about their personality and motivations. What events in their past have shaped them into whatever they are today? What are their goals and desires? How much did they change over the years, and why? Were there any highly traumatic or life-changing moments?
These aspects of a character’s design are amazing at adding depth and complexity to them, making them more relatable, engaging, and realistic to players.
Alignment
Intrinsically related to a character’s personality is their alignment. The term refers to the moral compass and ethical stance of a character, which ranges from good to evil, and lawful to chaotic (with neutral being in the middle for both axes). This alignment can be a crucial element that affects everything about a character’s actions and decisions – including the relationships with other characters in the game.
For example, a character with a lawful good alignment is likely to prioritize justice, fairness, and order above all else. Chaotic evil characters, on the other hand, might prioritize personal gain, chaos, and destruction at all costs. A true neutral character (who is neither lawful nor chaotic, and neither good nor evil) might abdicate entirely from having a strong moral stance, or might value self-preservation and balance above all things.
In short, it helps define the character’s core values and motivations, serving as a fantastic tool for designers to create actions that better resonate with them and conflicts that showcase their personality – possibly leading to character development within the game.
Tips for creating compelling character designs
We often state that there are many ways to skin a cat – and with character design, it is no different. However, there are some fundamental aspects designers have to consider when designing a character:
- Don’t forget your target audience: understanding the public for whom the character is designed is key;
- Collect references: when dealing with anything art-related, it’s good practice to invest some time to collect references for your character. Moodboards are an easy and effective approach for reference collection, which in turn will help your brain gears turn faster. And, who knows, the stroke of genius might be just around the corner;
- Use color and shape effectively: remember what was discussed above regarding shape language to convey part of the character’s personality and role in the game. Colors can also be used for the same purpose;
- Keep everything consistent: like when you’re trying to build a habit, consistency is key. In a meeting with top-level executives and the lead game designer, the art style for the game will be decided, and it’s critical to make everything blend well with each other;
- If you’re stumped, try working on the backstory: sometimes, shifting the gears and working on something else might give you a better idea of the character you’re designing. Furthermore, well-crafted backstories add depth and richness to a character, making them much more relatable to players;
- Consider keeping it simple: even simple designs can be extremely effective and memorable
- But strive to make each character unique: avoid creating characters that resemble another one – be it visually or psychologically – and try to give them something to make them special, like exaggerating or deforming a physical feature. You can even go as far as painting a character’s hair in a bright, eye-catching color, like neon green, and making them wear odd clothes;
- Don’t forget facial expressions and body language: even though their behavior can tell a lot about characters, using their body to communicate their feelings is a surefire way to make them more relatable;
- Consider cultural influences: culture can be a significant player in character design, with certain visual elements (especially tattoos and accessories) carrying different meanings across different cultures;
- But be careful with stereotypes: in character design, professionals often rely on stereotypes to get started with the design of a character, but it’s important to be aware of and avoid ones that are harmful or perpetuate negative representations of something. They are not something to be avoided, but must be used with caution;
- Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment: even experienced character designers won’t nail a design in their first few attempts. Good designs are usually a result of multiple small successes and a lot of experimentation!
Bringing Characters to Life: The Essence of Video Game Character Design
Character design in video games is a meticulous craft, merging artistry, storytelling, and technical skill. A character artist begins by sketching thumbnails to capture the essence of the character, focusing on their silhouette, gesture, and the interplay of basic shapes. While drawing, they often incorporate the principles of color theory, selecting a color palette that resonates with the character’s personality traits.
This initial linework is akin to the storyboard of an animator’s vision. Much like the iconic characters from Disney, a good character design starts with a compelling story, where even a humble character like Mickey Mouse has an intricate background. It’s all in the details, from the facial features to the character’s backstory, making them memorable and relatable to players. Amidst a plethora of character design tips and character traits, creating an iconic character often hinges on the clever use of exaggeration, lending a unique touch to the character’s physical appearance. It’s about capturing the mood, just like when you need to draw a mischievous Pikachu.
Inspiration is essential, drawing from reference material, reference images, and creating mood boards. As the character design process unfolds, from pencil and paper sketches to digital illustration with a stylus, it’s crucial to remain flexible yet attentive to detail, avoiding getting caught up in the minutiae. To truly make your character shine, your final design is a culmination of art, storytelling, and a deep understanding of who your character is and where they fit into the world they inhabit.
Closing thoughts
In conclusion, character design – the process of creating everything about a character – plays a vital role in video games. By allowing players to connect with the game’s characters, personalities, and motivations, players can create an emotional bond with the game. Some experiences are so intense that they have long-lasting and even life-changing effects, like a perspective shift towards something inherent to life.
As seen in this article, good character design takes into account their appearance, clothes, personality, backstory, demeanor, goals, underlying motivations, and alignment, creating a character that feels realistic and cohesive – if not relatable, like the case of many protagonists and secondary characters.
By following some basic guidelines and implementing the tips outlined in this post, designers can create characters that further enhance the player’s overall experience and make the game heaps more engaging and immersive.
That said, designing memorable characters is only half the battle – what good does a well-designed character do if there is no game to place them into? This is where game development, the other half of this equation, enters the fray.
Oftentimes, the effort that goes into designing and developing a game is underestimated, and, in many cases, people resort to outsourcing companies to make their dream come true. We, at Main Leaf, would be happy to provide a one-stop solution for all things game development tailored just for you!
With our incredibly talented roster of over 70 professionals and our proven track record spanning 13 years in the game development industry, we are the right company to take on the development of your upcoming game. Well-versed in both Unity and Unreal game engines, our quick and transparent development process, enabled by our Scrum-based workday, will leave you nothing short of impressed.
And all you have to do to get started is request a game quote below – so what are you waiting for? Don’t worry, we’ll get back to you in 24 hours!
