Color palette refers to the set of colors used in the visual elements of a video game. The colors are carefully selected by the game designers and artists to create a cohesive aesthetic that matches the game’s atmosphere and style. The color palette has a huge impact on the overall look and feel of a game, and is an important part of establishing the game’s visual identity. In this article, we will examine why color palette is important in games, the process of selecting a color palette, and some examples of distinctive color palettes in popular video games.
Why Is Color Palette Important in Video Games?
There are several key reasons why color palette is crucial in game design:
Sets the Mood and Atmosphere
Color choice directly affects the mood and emotional response generated in players. A gloomy, dark color scheme creates a sinister feeling while a bright, saturated palette feels fun and upbeat. Games like Limbo use a high-contrast black and white scheme to create an eerie, film noir mood. Selecting colors that reinforce the intended tone and atmosphere is vital.
Establishes Art Style and Visual Theme
The color palette defines the overall visual style and direction of a game. A stylized, cartoonish game like Fortnite uses vibrant, non-realistic colors as part of its aesthetic. On the other hand, gritty realistic games tend to use muted, desaturated colors. The colors help establish and maintain a cohesive visual theme.
Provides Visual Cues and Feedback
Colors can be used to communicate important gameplay information to the player. Red is often used to indicate enemies, danger or health. Blue might signify allies, energy, or mana. Green could represent neutral characters or healing. Color becomes a form of visual shorthand that helps players understand interactions at a glance.
Differentiates Interactive Elements
Interface elements like menus, icons and buttons need to stand out from the environment through color contrast. Vibrant colors attract the player’s attention towards interactive items compared to the muted background colors. Color distinction makes key gameplay elements clearly readable.
Guides the Player’s Focus
Color contrast draws the player’s eyes towards important objects and areas of interest. Brightly colored enemies stand out clearly against darker backgrounds. Glowing collectibles grab the player’s attention across a scene. Strategic use of color contrast subtly directs the player’s focus during gameplay.
How to Select a Color Palette for a Game
Choosing an appropriate color palette is an intricate process that requires planning, iteration and testing:
Define Visual Style and Goals
The color choice needs to complement the intended visual style of the game. Stylized games can use bolder colors while realistic games need more nuanced hues. The palette also needs to evoke the right emotional response in players. These style goals help narrow down color directions.
Gather Reference Images
References like concept art, photographs, film stills and art by other creators helps the developers hone in on colors that capture the desired look. The references inform the range of hues that coordinate well together.
Start With a Core Palette
A small selection of core colors forms the basic palette that dominates most of the game visuals. This includes colors for prominent environments, key characters, and interface elements. A cohesive palette is built out from this core set of hues.
Add Accent Colors
Accent colors in smaller quantities complement the main colors. They are used to make interactive elements pop out, show status changes, indicate collectibles, and add visual interest. But accents are applied sparingly to avoid clutter.
Test Colors Extensively
The palette needs to be tested in actual gameplay situations and environments. Colors that appear fine in isolation may not work well together in complex scenes. Testing helps eliminate issues like insufficient contrast and color clashes.
Iterate and Refine
Based on testing, more colors may need to be added or modified to improve contrast, visibility and aesthetic cohesion. Refining the palette is an ongoing process during game development right up to final polish.
Notable Color Palettes in Video Games
To appreciate the importance of a thoughtfully designed color palette, let’s look at some examples from popular games.
Limbo
| Core Palette | Dark greys, black |
| Accents | White, muted environment colors |
This atmospheric platformer uses a black and white core palette with film noir lighting to create a dark, eerie mood. Sparing use of grey provides depth, while occasional desaturated accents pop for interaction.
BioShock
| Core Palette | Ocean blues and greens |
| Accents | Red (health, enemies), yellow (electricity) |
BioShock’s underwater art deco setting relies heavily on blues and greens. Accents of red indicate enemies or health pickups, while yellow shows sources of electricity.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
| Core Palette | Cell-shaded greens, blues |
| Accents | Yellows, purples, reds |
Wind Waker uses a bright, cartoonish palette of greens and blues for environments and characters. Vibrant yellows, purples and reds highlight interactive objects and enemies.
Mirror’s Edge
| Core Palette | Whites, light greys, glass blues |
| Accents | Vibrant primaries (red, yellow, blue) |
Mirror’s Edge is dominated by sterile whites and blues, with occasional sharp accents of primary colors on interactive elements that stand out against the muted backgrounds.
Super Mario World
| Core Palette | Cobalt blue, cadmium green, greys |
| Accents | Reds, yellows, purples, browns |
The classic Mario color palette focuses on cobalt blue and green as main environmental colors, with Mario’s red and yellow accents popping out from the backgrounds.
Color Theory in Video Games
Understanding color theory principles helps creators select palettes that work in harmony:
Use Analagous Colors
Analogous colors like red, orange and yellow sit next to each other on the color wheel. They create palettes with natural cohesion. Games like Journey use analogous warm desert tones.
Complementary Colors Pop
Complementary colors like red and green or blue and orange contrast strongly, making interactive elements stand out boldly.
Pay Attention to Hue, Saturation, and Value
Hue refers to the pigment of a color. Saturation describes the intensity of color. Value indicates how light or dark a color is. Balancing these attributes ensures sufficient contrast.
Beware of Color Blindness
Roughly 5% of players are color blind, so always test palettes to ensure usability for common types of color blindness. Avoid conveying critical information through color alone.
Use Neutrals to Separate
Neutrals like blacks, whites and greys can separate elements that clash if placed side by side. Borders also help isolate disparate colors.
Set the Interface Apart
The interface sits on top of the game environment, so use colors different from the environment for clarity. Interface skins let players choose alternate palettes.
Conclusion
A cohesive, intentional color palette is foundational to achieving the desired look, feel, tone and visual communication in games. Colors set the stage, guide the player’s attention, convey meanings, establish branding and allow usability tuning through years of iteration. With the explosion of indie games expressing personal style through pixel art, the craft of color selection has only grown more important. A sensitivity to colormood, lighting, and theming allows game creators to shape deeply engaging virtual worlds.