High polygon modeling and low poly refer to the amount of polycount presented in 3D models made for games, animation and other services. Both of these types have their pros and cons in terms of appearance, performance and usability. We are going to discuss it in detail in this blog post dedicated to a general comparison of low poly vs high poly.

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We will also see what makes both high poly and low polygon modeling appealing for particular projects, audience and even stylistic choices, along with some examples from recent games and projects.

What is high poly: High Standards, Details & Fidelity

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High polygon modeling means that the object or a model has a big number of polygons, resulting in a very realistic look that feels smooth, natural and real. Obviously, you want this type of imagery to be presented in your project that focuses on visuals that should feel life-like, establishing a picture that the audience will find attractive and immersive.

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Sadly, models and objects of such details will surely require more effort and time, leading to certain limitations in the great scope of things: there will be a lot of models in your project that will require a high-polygon modeling technique. That’s why high polygon modeling requires at least a team of talented artists with tasks assigned and distributed between them.

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Pros:

• High polycount = high fidelity: High polygon modeling consists of many polygons, which leads to producing more intricate details, overall smoothness and realistic textures. It’s a great choice if you’re creating a high-budget, premium, immersive experience that requires this level of finesse and craftsmanship, high poly has got to be your choice.
• Visual quality: If you create a high-budget, premium, immersive experience that requires this level of finesse and craftsmanship, high poly has got to be your choice. It can work effectively well in mediums besides gaming: a lot of architecture bureaus, e-commerce studios, and real estate agencies use high-poly models as well, to convey an image that will be as close to real life as possible. 
• Flexibility for additional work: If you use high polygon modeling for your game, artists and animators can refine such high poly meshes more effectively in comparison to low-poly, producing great-looking input with additional enhancing tweaks that blend well on all levels, leading to final results that will match high industry standards in terms of visual work.  

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Cons:

• Performance may be affected:  High poly counts require more power from your computer, which leads to it being demanding, especially on lower-end hardware.
• Big file size and optimization issues: High polygon modeling increases file sizes, slowing down the storage and loading times of your projects. It may create several obstacles if you’re making a project that is not aimed at a hardcore gaming audience that possesses big storage and powerful devices to boot up your technically demanding project.
• Requires a lot of time and effort: Comparing high poly vs low poly, creating and texturing high poly models takes longer, increasing production time and costs. Such demand may be a deal-breaker if you’re aiming to create a short experience targeted to smaller audiences rather than a massive project aimed at a big audience.

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Use high poly if… 

…You’re crafting a game that uses striking visuals to immerse players, 3D animation of great quality, rich in details, or educational material, such as architectural buildings, art exhibitions, commercial objects or other 3D models' examples made for training or educational purposes. 

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What is low poly: Simplicity & A Certain Charm

A polar opposite of what we’ve described above, low polygon modeling leads to visually degraded imagery that used to be associated with low-budget or a particular artistic vision. And yet, nowadays, a lot of indie game developers use it to focus on important aspects of their games, such as gameplay or art style that can easily cover the imperfection of a low polygon modeling. Despite everything, low poly is still popular and frequently used among artists and designers to reach a particular goal, whether it’s about performance or a specific stylistic decision.

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It’s also popular among VR/AR developers: this modern technology still requires a perfect performance, otherwise, your brain will not accept the laggy imagery, quite literally: it may result in nausea. That’s why developers use low polygon modeling to keep things smooth, making things life-like at least in motion. Also, some VR headsets that are stand-alone are not as performative as high-end PCs, which also influences the low-poly presence in VR titles.

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Another very interesting aspect of low-poly is that it is frequently used in horror games. The reason for that is quite interesting: a low polygon modeling has a certain “foggy” quality to it that once inspired the French movement of Impressionism, the world as if it’s seen in motion, with your imagination filling the gaps. 

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Another close example is the imperfect technology of VHS tapes, which is also heavily associated with horrors for the same reason: the audience’s own perception increases the scare factor. This is why it’s very popular among horror game makers: a face that doesn’t have a detailed visual aspect scares the player much more than a meticulously crafted face full of bruises, scars and blood. 

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Pros:

• Performance efficiency: Low-poly is perfect for VR and indie games, thanks to its effective usage of resources due to the models’ simplicity. If your audience appreciates the art style over the technical level of modeling and texturing, low polycount is a great choice for your project. 
• Smaller file size: Low poly modeling is lightweight in terms of final models’ sizes, making them easier to store and preserve, share between fellow artists and load in the final project eventually. Which works very well for smaller projects that require portability and optimization over the visual fidelity.
• Quick and effective workflow: Another aspect that makes artists choose low poly when it comes to choosing between low poly vs high poly is workflow simplicity: lighter geometry makes it quicker for artists to work on animating and modeling, along with rigging, which is perfect for establishing prototypes or particularly stylized art and visual style that focuses on expression rather than the quality of a model.

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Cons: 

• Not everyone likes the lack of details: Low poly models lack the smoothness and intricacy of high poly, often appearing blocky or jagged up close.
• Can be used with only selected styles: They’re best suited for minimalist or retro aesthetics, which may not fit projects needing realism.
• Textures require more effort: To compensate for low detail, they often depend heavily on high-quality texturing and mapping, which can lead to the additional requirement of texture work from artists.

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Use low poly if…

…You’re developing an AR/VR/indie project or a mobile game: any kind of experience that requires depth, performance and simplicity over the complexity of in-game objects and models.

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Still not sure whether high or low poly suits my project the best…

If you still can’t make up your mind between high poly vs low poly and can’t decide whether your project requires more polycounts or less, or if you don’t know how to combine low poly with a remarkable art style that is yet to be established, do not hesitate to reach out for help from the game art outsourcing studios.

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RocketBrush Studio has been working since 2016, collaborating with numerous top-tier video game studios, from Supercell and Paradox to Applovin and John Romero’s Romero Games. To see our appraisals, check out our list of testimonials. ‍

Since 2016, we’ve gained experience in crafting all types of 3D models, from high poly with carefully crafted details and textures to low poly, matching the project’s unique artistic vision. Take a look at our portfolio.

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Our skilled artists excel at bringing your vision to life with industry-standard quality, ensuring an immersive experience that will resonate with players and make them fall in love with your project.

Conclusion

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It seems that choosing between high poly vs low poly and the general polycount discussion will never go away: it will be affected by both technological advancements, adding more and more polygons and the passage of time and our human obsession with imperfections: those who prefer the flaws of tech from the past will always adore the simplicity and mysterious touch of low poly modeling.

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At the end of the day, it’s totally up to you: if you’re making a game that requires high fidelity, you need to use high polygon modeling. If you’re crafting a VR experience, a small-budget indie story or a horror title, low-poly will be beneficial to you in many ways. Pick the one that brings your unique vision to life in the best way possible!

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No matter how many polygons you have, don’t forget that the effective, eye-catching art style can also affect the way your game looks. And in addition, gameplay elements and mechanics will be another crucial factor of your project you should not neglect! 

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