Do visual designs manipulate feelings?
Okay, so let’s take off our little judgmental hats and put them on the table. Actually, let’s put it back on, because we know you love judging. Whether it’s your friend’s fashion choice, your sibling’s snack choice, or the biggest one yet: games. When it comes to visual design, we don’t judge for fun (okay, well maybe just a little). We judge because we want to figure out why some games look like they should belong in a museum, instead of The Scary Night, or whatever it’s called. (We’re kidding. We love you, Vincent.) While other games look like a student from the third grade put together a PowerPoint slide, with way too much motion blur.
Visual design is the soul of a game’s first impression to gamers. Before you pick up the controller and start aggressively clicking on the buttons, the color palette, typography, shapes, and textures are already whispering in your ear with its hot breath, “Hey.. this is the vibe.”
Think Journey with its warm and soft golden dunes that make you feel spiritual.
Then there’s Cyberpunk 2077, where there’s neon chaos in every corner, screaming, “I’m cool but insane.”
Design choices aren’t there for just aesthetics (as a designer, it’s my duty to explain this to everyone). They help set the mood… not that kind of mood. They guide player’s focus and they tell stories silently. A foggy swamp isn’t just a place that’s hard to see through, it’s something that says “something’s lurking here.. proceed if you want to give up peace.”.
The smartest games actually treat visuals like it’s a language, and honestly? It is. The props, lighting choices, and even the way the menu is laid out, all contributes to immersion. It’s when the games don’t make you just look, but you’re being spoken to. Whether it’s the use of color theory, composition, and emotional manipulation (in the best way possible).
So next time you want to review a game, take a step back and ask yourself why the world feels this way. Why was that certain font on the menu chosen? Was it just for vibes or are they preparing to tear your heart into pieces when you reach the end of the game?
Behind every unforgettable gaming experience, there’s a designer flipping through 12 different shades of blue, debating on which one will have the most impact on the gamers.
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