Great character design, in our opinion at Melior Games, is the foundation of games that players will remember. Across genres and types of games, characters are what players remember most. They are the face, the personality, and the emotional connection to your game world. For this reason, character design is about strategy, storytelling, and making characters who are genuinely useful to the brand and gameplay.
In this article, we’ll walk you through our approach to character design and how we collaborate with clients to develop compelling, functional, and visually stunning characters that fit their vision for the game.
1. Start with a story, not a form
Every great character starts with a purpose. Melior Games always begins with comprehending your game’s story, genre, intended audience, and gaming mechanics. Is your game lighthearted or dark and gritty? Should your characters evoke laughter, mystery, strength, or vulnerability?
We ask the right questions:
- What is the character’s role in the game (hero, villain, NPC, comic element)?
- What are their motivations and backstory?
- How should players feel when they see or play as this character?
This narrative foundation guides every visual decision, from their silhouette to the materials they wear.
2. Shape Language and Silhouette Matter
In the first few seconds of seeing a character, players should be able to recognize their role and personality. We use shape language (circles for friendly characters, squares for strong or solid ones, and triangles for dangerous or mysterious ones) to communicate emotional cues visually.
A clean, distinctive silhouette helps your character stand out, even from a distance or in low-resolution formats. This is especially important for mobile and indie games, where visual clarity has a direct impact on gameplay.
3. Color Psychology and Costume Design
Colors are powerful emotional tools. Characters might be aligned with factions or game mechanics, or they can indicate danger or safety. Colour palettes are meticulously balanced by our painters to:
- Reflect personality (e.g., bright for energetic characters, muted for serious ones)
- Coordinate with the user interface and environment
- Make sure it works well in a variety of lighting conditions
Costume design also carries a message. A futuristic hacker may be wearing glowing electronic gear, and a warrior may have battle scars on their armour. Every little detail contributes to a narrative without using words.
4. Stylized vs. Realistic: Matching the Game World
When choosing between hyper-realistic, cartoony, and pixelated characters, consider the following:
- Platform (mobile, console, PC)
- Target demographic
- Genre norms
- Production budget and schedule
Stylized characters are often more memorable and easier to animate across platforms, while realistic characters can add cinematic gravitas.
5. Animation-Ready Design
It is one thing to design a character for static graphics. Another is designing for gameplay and animation. Our team of animators and developers works closely together to ensure:
- Character proportions work well with rigging and movement
- Facial expressions can convey emotion
- Accessories and clothing won’t cut or break during gameplay
If your character will perform complex movements, transformations, or visual effects, we take all of this into account during the sketching stage.
6. Client Collaboration is Key
The character generation process at Melior Games is open and cooperative. From moodboarding through concept art and completion, we work with our clients. You will be involved in key creative decisions, while our experienced artists will provide advice on what works best for both the artwork and gameplay.
- Initial sketches and style options
- Feedback and iteration rounds
- Color exploration and personality boards
- Full completion sheets and facial expression tests (if needed)
7. Why character design is important to the success of your game
Characters are your brand ambassadors. They appear in your marketing materials, icons, trailers, and merchandise.
Strong character design can:
- Attract attention in app stores or Steam thumbnails
- Drive fan engagement and community building
- Increase monetization opportunities (skins, collectibles, etc.)
Investing in character design is about more than just appearances. It concerns playability, profitability, and game identity.
Let’s design your next iconic character together
At Melior Games, we build captivating character designs by fusing artistic skill, in-depth gaming experience, and effective workflows. We can help you make your heroes (and villains) come to life, regardless of whether you have a serviette sketch or a fully completed game concept.
Ready to meet your main character? Contact us today to start designing characters that players won’t forget.
