Alright, I admit it! I’m a huge fan of Pixel Art, that iconic graphical style from retro games like Super Mario, Metal Slug, and Pokémon. I’m not old enough to say I experienced these games in their original era, but I’ve always been fascinated by how artists could create characters and environments with just a handful of pixels, evoking so many emotions.
The Golden Age of Pixel Art
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, this graphic style dominated the gaming scene. Of course, technology at the time didn’t allow for real-time 3D rendering in 4K with Ray Tracing like we have today. Instead, games ran on home consoles like the NES and Super Nintendo, on computers like the Commodore 64 and Amiga, and in arcades powered by dedicated hardware such as SNK’s Neo Geo. Even early handheld consoles, like the Game Boy, used this graphical style to deliver visually engaging experiences despite their limited color palettes. On PC, games thrived on MS-DOS and early Windows systems, utilizing graphics cards like the 256-color VGA. What started as a technological constraint eventually evolved into a full-fledged artistic style, still influencing modern game design today.
Pixel Art in the Modern Era
Indie Games
It might seem surprising, but many independent developers still choose pixel art for its nostalgic appeal and ease of production compared to 3D graphics. Games like Celeste, Hyper Light Drifter, Stardew Valley, and Dead Cells showcase how the style can be refined with smooth animations, modern effects, and advanced color palettes. Plus, many of these titles are also available on portable devices like smartphones, keeping the pixel art tradition alive on new platforms.
Graphic Art and NFTs
You’ve probably come across pixel art illustrations online—many nostalgic artists have created a wave of compositions that have taken the internet by storm. More recently, especially during the cryptocurrency boom, entire collections of pixel art NFTs have exploded in popularity. A prime example is the CryptoPunks collection on the Ethereum blockchain, which has been sold for staggering prices on platforms like OpenSea.
How to Create Pixel Art?
There are several ways to create illustrations in this style, whether for a video game or simply for nostalgic artwork. The right software can be incredibly helpful in achieving these goals. Personally, I prefer using tools like Aseprite, Pro Motion NG, Pyxel Edit, GraphicsGale, and Piskel. Here’s a breakdown of each:
1. Aseprite
- The most popular choice for pixel art and animation
- Intuitive interface designed for pixel art
- Advanced animation tools (onion skin, frame-by-frame)
- Pixel-perfect precision and excellent color control
- Supports custom palettes, dithering, and tilemaps
- Paid software (~$20), but an open-source version is available for compilation
2. Pro Motion NG (Windows)
- Perfect for game development
- Advanced tools for tilemaps and patterns
- Professional-grade animation features, including onion skin support
- Supports game-ready formats (sprite sheets, Unity & Godot export)
- Slightly outdated interface
- Paid software (with a trial version available)
3. Pyxel Edit (Windows, macOS)
- Ideal for creating environments and tilemaps
- Optimized workflow for game design
- Simple yet powerful tools for seamless patterns
- Direct export to game engines
- Not frequently updated
- Free version with limitations
4. GraphicsGale (Windows)
- Great for pixel art animation
- Frame-by-frame animation with onion skin support
- Advanced selection and coloring tools
- Free version available
- Slightly outdated interface
- Windows-only
5. Piskel (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Free and available online
- Perfect for quick and simple sprite creation
- Minimalistic interface, ideal for beginners
- Supports animations
- Lacks advanced features compared to Aseprite
- No tilemap support
Whether you’re looking to create stunning retro-style games or simply want to experiment with this nostalgic art form, these tools can help bring your pixel creations to life. So, are you ready to dive into the world of Pixel Art? 🚀