Foxes After The Fall
Cozy pixel-art adventure set in a mysterious forest with warm, intuitive UI
Role: Game UI/UX Designer · Timeline: 4 months · Team: 2 people · Platform: Mobile / Steam
Mobile Game UI, Pixel Art, Cozy, Adventure
Overview
A cozy pixel-art adventure game set in a mysterious forest. The player guides a fox through ancient ruins and vibrant autumn landscapes. The UI design focuses on clarity and warmth, complementing the nostalgic pixel art style.
The Challenge
Designing a modern, user-friendly interface that respects pixel art constraints—limited resolution, restricted color palettes, and chunky proportions. The menus needed to feel cozy and approachable rather than retro-clunky, maintaining warmth and readability across wildly different screen sizes from phones to desktop monitors.
The Solution
Developed a user interface that mirrors the game’s pixel art aesthetic while maintaining high readability. Used a warm color palette dominated by oranges and browns to match the campfire and autumn themes.
Results
Achieved a seamless blend of retro visuals and modern UX practices. The interface tested positively across all target devices, with players specifically highlighting the inventory system as "the coziest they’ve ever used." The consistent warm palette increased perceived session comfort in player surveys.
Key Takeaways
- Pixel art UI must be designed at native resolution first, then scaled—never the reverse, or you lose the crisp aesthetic
- Warm color palettes significantly affect perceived comfort and can measurably increase session length
- Constraints breed creativity: the limited palette forced stronger visual hierarchy decisions than unlimited color access would
Deliverables: Mobile App, Pixel Art UI, Menu System, Inventory Design
Gallery
- Menu & Loading (1 image)
- Gameplay & HUD (1 image)
- Inventory & Modals (1 image)
- Dialogue & Crafting (1 image)