Finding your tabletop RPG's style - "The art should evoke curiosity and wonder"

Find your art style; colourful characters
(Image credit: Ryan Kingdom)

Finding an art style is something many artists fret over, and it's something that comes naturally over time with experience. But in game art finding a unique style is vital, and something that needs to be worked at. I ask artists behind some of the best new tabletop role-playing games how they achieved their game's unique 'voice'.

It isn’t easy to stand out in the crowded tabletop role-playing game marketplace. One aspect that sets some games apart from the rest is their voice: a combination of artwork and writing that supports a clear core game concept to create a distinctive setting and atmosphere. A voice that fascinates and ignites curiosity is a sure-fire way to tempt people into your world.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

TOPICS
Tanya Combrinck

Tanya is a writer covering art, design, and visual effects. She has 16 years of experience as a magazine journalist and has written for numerous publications including ImagineFX, 3D World, 3D Artist, Computer Arts, net magazine, and Creative Bloq. For Creative Bloq, she mostly writes about digital art and VFX.

Read more
Avowed key art; a skull with plants and coral growing from it
Dissecting Avowed's beautifully abstract artwork, and how it was made
Asterism indie game
How hand-crafted indie game Asterism mixes digital art and papercrafts
Citizen Sleeper 2 interview; a space person floats in a yellow room
"Game development is more accessible than ever": how Citizen Sleeper 2 was created without coding
Your House indie game art interview; A stylised illustration depicts a young woman seated, seemingly contemplative, in a setting that combines elements of a comic book panel and a vintage aesthetic
"This is a game you can read, or a book you can play” – solving the visual design of Your House, a detective game crossed with a Daniel Clowes comic
Raid character design tips; a female queen character in red leather armour carrying a large axe
Game art tips: how to breathe new life into a classic character design
Making indie game Mythmatch, a cartoon girl and greek mythical monster fight
Making indie game Mythmatch - finessing 2D animation to tell diverse stories
Latest in Gaming
Game remakes by Nightdive Studios ; stormtroopers from Star Wars Dark Forces
Nightdive Studios are masters of retro game remakes - this is how it's done
Jaws: Infested Waters
The new Jaws game looks terrifying for all the wrong reasons
Brothers A Tale of Two Sons Remake review; two characters sit on a bench overlooking a coastline
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake review: a beautifully Grimm revamp
ASUS ROG Ally deal
$200 off the Asus ROG Ally makes it a serious Steam Deck rival
Apple Vision Pro Game Boy emulator
Game Boy for Vision Pro doesn’t need to exist
Warhammer Rogue Trader; warriors fight monsters set against a green moon
Creating the art of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader - "one picture is better than a thousand words"
Latest in Features
Selection of Guinness ads throughout the ages
The best Guinness adverts of all time – from the toucan to a singing pint
Tina Touli headshot
"The 9 to 5 work routine was draining my creativity”: a day in the life of Tina Touli
Promise Mascot Agency;
How Ikumi Nakamura's 'art bible' helped create Promise Mascot Agency's grotesque mascots, and why collaboration in indie game development is vital
Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau discuses AI; a digital illustration showcases a stylised female figure, reminiscent of a comic book superhero, likely Supergirl, with vibrant colours and a dynamic pose
"In the future, there will be fewer artists like me – real artists" says Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau as he reflects on the dangerous impact of AI on art
Pittura, a short film made at ArtFX
"We wanted to talk about AI and its relationship to art" – how we made 2025’s VES Student Award-winning animation Pittura
Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau; a vibrant, dynamic illustration showcases Spider-Gwen in a dynamic action pose amidst a cityscape, radiating a sense of energy and playful confidence
"Art is not easy. You have to suffer in joy" – Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau reflects on what it takes to succeed in comic art