Exploring the Art Style of Brawl Stars By Eldar Kalinin Game Designer at RetroStyle Games | Aug 23, 2024 Ask a Question Brawl Stars is known for its unique art style. The game is famous for its bright colors and cartoon-like visuals. This design makes it appealing to a wide audience, especially younger players. The characters in Brawl Stars are playful and exaggerated, with bold features that are easy to recognize. This simplicity in design helps players quickly understand the action, which is important in fast-paced gameplay. For those who don’t know, Brawl Stars is a fast-paced mobile game where players battle in various game modes. The game features colorful characters called Brawlers. Players can team up in 3v3 matches or play solo. Brawl Stars also offers different modes.The environments in Brawl Stars are just as colorful and lively as the characters. Each map is designed to be dynamic, matching the energy of the battles. The bold and simple visuals help players focus on the game without being distracted by unnecessary details. The game’s visual effects, like explosions and power-ups, are also designed to be clear and exciting. Smooth animations add to the fun, making each action feel impactful. Brawl Stars doesn’t just rely on its original ideas. The developers often look at feedback from the community. While they don’t directly copy fan suggestions, they do take inspiration from what players want. This connection with the community helps keep the game fresh and relevant. Fans also create art and concepts that sometimes influence the design of new characters and skins. And even gadgets, even if the influence is subtle. Brawl Stars has made a big impact on the gaming world. Its art style has influenced many other mobile games. The game shows how important a strong visual identity is for success. The simple yet effective art style not only makes the game fun to play but also helps it stand out in a crowded market. History of Brawl Stars Art Style Brawl Stars, released by Supercell on June 15, 2017, started with a clear vision of creating a game that was accessible. The early concepts of Brawl Stars’ art style drew heavily from the playful and exaggerated art styles seen in various forms of animated media. The inspiration came from a desire to create characters distinct in their abilities and their visual identities. These early designs were rooted in the idea of blending fun, cartoonish elements. But they add a touch of edge, making the characters recognizable and relatable to players of all ages. As Brawl Stars evolved, so did its art style. Initially, the characters were rendered in 3D, which added depth and dimension to the game. These 3D models allowed for more dynamic animations and a greater sense of immersion. Over time, the developers decided to shift towards a more stylized, comic-like art direction. This transition was partly driven by the collection of community’s feedback and the desire to give the game a fresh, unique look. The new art style embraced bold lines, vibrant colors, and exaggerated features which not only differentiated Brawl Stars from other games but it also aligned with Supercell’s broader visual identity across their games.The change in art style did not go unnoticed. The community had mixed reactions. While some players missed the detailed 3D renders, others welcomed the new, more playful design. The shift reflected the developers’ ongoing commitment to keeping the game engaging. This evolution in art style was not a superficial change but a strategic decision to make the game appealing to a broader audience. Discover More Inspired by Brawl Stars, we focused on designing characters with distinct visual identities. By studying Brawl Stars' evolution, we sought to blend the depth of 3D modeling with the charm of a more stylized, comic-like approach. This allowed us to create a game that feels both familiar and fresh. Echoing Brawl Stars' successful elements while adding our unique twist. The initial sketches of Robo Spike in action show its rounded, almost cartoonish form, perfectly aligned with the other characters in the Brawl Stars aesthetic. These early sketches use simple lines to explore different poses. It highlights Robo Spike’s bulky, playful design. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size In the final render, Robo Spike has acquired signature colors and details. The bright yellow casing, combined with the red accents and industrial touches, perfectly fits into the high-energy, fast-paced Brawl Stars. The render adds depth and texture. It makes Robo Spike stand out with its strong, confident stance and the green vines draped over its head, blending power with a unique, quirky charm. Here the designs are more detailed, with an emphasis on varying costumes and facial expressions. The characters exhibit a broader range of emotions and physical traits. The art here leans more towards dynamic poses and lighting, adding depth to the characters. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size While both sets of concept art are effective, they serve different purposes. The Brawl Stars character focuses on simplicity and clarity. It makes the character instantly recognizable. We aim for diversity and depth, creating a richer, more varied cast of characters. This comparison highlights how art direction can vary depending on the narrative and gameplay needs. In doing so, we hope to capture the same sense of fun and engagement that Brawl Stars has delivered to its community, ensuring that our creation resonates with players in a similar way. CONTACT US Characteristics of Brawl Stars Art Style The Brawl Stars characters and environments are heavily stylized. With exaggerated proportions and playful shapes.The color palette is bright and eye-catching. Making characters and objects stand out on the screen.Brawl Stars character designs are simplified. This is done to ensure clarity and recognizability, even on small mobile screens.The art style is crafted to attract a broad demographic, including younger players, through its approachable and fun visuals. Discover Our Icons Style When comparing the icons, Brawl Stars’ art style is very recognizable. The icons for games are simple, using bold lines and high contrast to ensure they are identifiable at a glance. The skull motif is a recurring theme, adding a consistent visual element. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size In contrast, our set of logos takes a darker, more intense approach. The skull designs are more detailed with cracks and shadows that suggest a more mature or gritty tone. We made this shift in style which reflects a different target audience and game atmosphere. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size Our team used skulls as a central theme, but the execution differs significantly from Brawl Stars. The game has a light and playful theme while our design leans into a more edgy aesthetic. GET IN TOUCH Character Design Style Both Brawl Stars and our own game character concept art show a wide variety of characters, each with their own powerful super abilities. Through interviews with the Brawlers team, we’ve learned about the intricate process behind character creation, particularly with characters like Cordelius, who required the longest development time to achieve the perfect balance between gameplay and design. On the animation side, characters such as Monster Truck Meg presented unique challenges that showcased the creativity and complexity involved in bringing these characters to life. The interplay between design and animation is crucial to ensuring that the characters are not only visually stunning but also functional within the game, especially during special events where the art style reaches new creative heights. We invite you to delve deeper into our artistic process and explore how our creative designs match up with the unique characters found in Brawl Stars. Discover the similarities, celebrate the differences, and see how creativity pushes the boundaries in both worlds. Discover More When you're creating characters for a game like Brawl Stars, it's all about capturing that signature style — bold, dynamic, and instantly memorable. Let's take a closer look at how some of the characters from the original and our art style images mirror each other. This will provide valuable insight into designing new, iconic brawlers in this art style. Consider the Emz from Brawl Stars. She’s wrapped in bandages with a stylish, modern twist — an undead influencer with a love for selfies. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size Brawl Stars' design offers a more playful, colorful interpretation, perfect for engaging a wide audience. Just look at the girl with the torch in the first image.She finds her match in the man with the book and flame from the second image with our characters. Also, she has a more energetic, battle-ready look, which is perfect for the fast-paced action of the game. Our Skeleton character carries a similar to Emz’s eerie vibe but with a more traditional, ancient Egyptian look. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size Compared to a girl with the torch and our similar character, both of them have the element of fire, but our character in the second picture leans toward a mystical, wizard-like presence.Another interesting comparison is the Brawl Stars healer, Poco, a skeleton with a musical flair. Compare him to the wizard characters in the second image, who wield magical energy with ancient wisdom. While Poco brings the rhythm and charm of a skeleton, the wizards offer a more classical view of power. When creating your own characters for a game like Brawl Stars, these comparisons highlight the importance of balancing distinct, recognizable themes with a vibrant, engaging art style. Whether it's an undead brawler, a fiery adventurer, or a powerful robot, your characters should have a personality that blends the familiar with the fresh to keep players engaged. When you’re designing for a game as dynamic as Brawl Stars, think about how you can take classic character archetypes and give them a unique twist — something that makes them stand out on the crowded battlefield while still feeling at home in the world you’re creating. CONTACT US The Best Brawl Stars Characters by Style Over the years, Brawl Stars has seen a significant evolution in its character design. Early designs were simpler, with a focus on clear, readable shapes and bright colors. As the game has developed, the art style has shifted towards more detailed and expressive models. This change is evident in the comparison images of the characters before and after their redesigns. Crow Originally, Crow had a more simplistic and angular design. The newer version smooths out these angles, giving him a more refined and polished look. His expression also became more pronounced, adding more personality to the character. Spike Spike’s redesign is subtle but effective. The updated model enhances his round, friendly appearance, making him look even more approachable and iconic. The flower detail is more defined, giving Spike a fresher look. Mortis The update for Mortis makes him look more dynamic and expressive. His hat and cape are more detailed, and his stance is more imposing, reflecting his mysterious and dark character. Pam Pam’s redesign brings a more structured and determined look to her character. The new model highlights her strong and capable nature, making her a standout among the brawlers. Frank The newer Frank model adds more depth and texture, making him appear more intimidating and powerful. His expression and posture were refined to better convey his role as a tank character. Barley The redesign of Barley adds a lot of character. The new Brawl Stars character model is more vibrant, with exaggerated features that make him stand out more in the game. His accessories are also more defined, adding to his charm. The evolution of the Brawl Stars characters reflects the game's growing complexity and the need to keep the visuals engaging. The best characters by style are those that have benefited most from these updates. Environment Design Art Style Brawl Stars has developed a unique environment design style that has evolved over the years. The maps are bright, colorful, and immediately engaging. Discover Our Environments Classic Brawl Stars map designs are rich in color and feature stylized, almost cartoonish elements. These video game environments are designed to be fun and accessible, with clear visual cues that help players navigate the map. Each map is distinct in its theme. From jungles and graveyards to desert canyons, each is infused with a playful yet competitive atmosphere. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size Our maps have a detailed and sophisticated approach to map design. Newer environments include more intricate details and a deeper sense of place. The environments evoke specific historical and fantasy settings, such as ancient ruins and underwater kingdoms. The increased detail and realism in these designs indicate an evolution in the game’s art direction. Click to details Zoom In Zoom Out Reset View full size The progression from the earlier, more simplistic designs to the later, more detailed environments mirrors the growth of Brawl Stars. The game has moved from a focus on clear, functional design to more elaborate and thematic elements. GET IN TOUCH Animation and Visual Effects Brawl Stars excels in its use of dynamic animation and special effects. The game’s animation team has crafted each character with unique movement patterns and special effects. It highlights their personalities and abilities whether it’s the fiery explosion from Dynamike’s dynamite or the electric zap of Surge’s attacks. These effects are not just for show — they enhance gameplay by providing clear visual cues for what’s happening in the game.Character movements are fluid and responsive, giving each brawler a distinctive feel. For example, Leon’s stealthy movements match his role as a sneaky assassin. While Bull’s heavy, deliberate stride emphasizes his tank-like nature. The winning and losing animations further add to the charm of each character. To fully appreciate how these animations have evolved over time, check out this video that shows Every Brawler Remodel Winning and Losing Animation in Brawl Stars: Discover More Brawl Stars' video shows a bright and vibrant animation style with exaggerated character movements and environments. In return, our video presents a more realistic and detailed animation style. The visuals are cartoonish with bold colors, emphasizing action and fun. The 3D models are simple yet effective in conveying the playful tone of the game. The use of lighting is straightforward, focusing on clear visibility and enhancing the playful atmosphere. Сharacter design is intentionally simplifiedб focusing on easily recognizable features and exaggerated proportions. The movements are quick and exaggerated, fitting the fast-paced nature of the game. This design choice appeals to a younger audience and aligns with the game’s overall theme of fun and action. This animation is targeted at a younger audience or those looking for light-hearted, entertaining content. The style is meant to be approachable and engaging, with an emphasis on fun gameplay and quirky characters. The use of lighting is dynamic, creating a dramatic effect that complements the serious tone of the trailer. The movements are fluid, and the overall aesthetic is geared towards a more mature audience. The characters are designed with more attention to realism with proportional body shapes and more subtle facial expressions. The movements are smooth and lifelike, contributing to a more immersive experience. The design is intended to attract an adult audience highlighting the technical capabilities of the outsourced 3D modeling studio. Aiming to show the technical prowess of the 3D weapons models and studio and attract a more serious gaming audience. The tone is more mature, with a focus on creating a visually stunning experience. Overall, the Brawl Stars 3D animation focuses on simplicity, fun, and accessibility, making it perfect for a younger or casual audience. On the other hand, CG 3D animation aims to impress with its realistic visuals and fluid movements, appealing to a more mature or serious audience. Both animations excel in their respective domains, but they have very different vibes and purposes. CONTACT US Through extensive research and practice, we have discovered that animation studio services significantly influence the success and quality of animated projects, leading to higher engagement and better audience retention. As a result, investing in professional animation services can be a critical factor in achieving long-term success and standing out in a competitive market. Art Style and Player Engagement We looked at this interview from A to Z. We hope the Brawl Stars team won't blame us for commenting on them so publicly. Anyway, this is a wonderful interview and we have really enjoyed watching it! Community Impact on Brawl Stars From the interview, it’s clear that community input plays a significant role in shaping the art style and character design within the game. The developers frequently look at community posts on platforms like Reddit. Which indicates that they value the ideas and feedback from their player base. But the team does not directly copy ideas from fan suggestions. They are subconsciously influenced by the trends and desires expressed by the community. This influence is often seen in the types of characters and skins that get developed. Even if the developers don’t actively realize they’re drawing from community suggestions. Balancing Originality with Community Wishes The developers mention how certain fan art, even if not directly referenced, aligns closely with what the team is working on. For example, there is a mention of fan art resembling an Assassin Brawler that the community wanted. Which influenced the team’s thought process. The game team often finds themselves arriving at similar conclusions as the community, such as creating unique skins or characters that players have been discussing online.The developers acknowledge the challenges of balancing originality with community desires. They strive to keep their designs organic and not dictated by community input, to maintain creative integrity and avoid repeating past concepts. This is particularly important when they notice that their new Brawl Stars character design might closely resemble existing fan art or ideas previously shared by the community. The team is aware of the “dangerous lines” of too closely following fan suggestions. Which could lead to potential legal or creative conflicts. Impact on Future Designs The discussion also touches on how past community feedback and fan art can shape future designs, even if it’s not a direct influence. The developers consciously try to avoid doing something that feels repetitive or too similar to previous concepts, especially when it comes to creating Brawl Stars new character skins. They mention how they now approach character design with the awareness that the community is very active and influential, which makes it challenging to create something entirely original that doesn’t overlap with fan expectations or prior concepts. Conclusion Brawl Stars’ art style is a key part of its success. The vibrant and cartoonish visuals make the game instantly recognizable. This style appeals to both younger players and those looking for a fun, casual experience. The simplicity in design allows for quick readability, which is crucial in fast-paced gameplay across various game modes.The impact of Brawl Stars on the gaming industry is significant. It has set a standard for mobile games with its unique blend of art and action. The game shows that a strong visual identity can elevate a title above its competition. By embracing community feedback, the developers keep the game fresh and engaging. Brawl Stars proves that art style isn’t just about looks; it’s about creating an experience that players connect with. Submit Rating Average rating 4.8 / 5. Vote count: 31 No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Let us improve this post! Tell us how we can improve this post? Submit Feedback ❤️ 👽 😎 🎮 👻 Get the Latest News in GameDev industry 😎