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You can't have a video game without good graphics and expect it to do well. If you're creating visuals in-house or relying on game art outsourcing services, visuals shape the player's first impression. Good game art is crucial not only because it makes the experience more enjoyable and immersive but also because it's the very first impression the player gets from the game.
Unless you're a talented artist working on a small project, you'll likely have to find artists to create a good game. If you don’t know how to outsource 2D and 3D game art, this process might feel overwhelming at first — but with the right approach, it's manageable. And finding the right ones can mean the difference between making something memorable (and profitable) and a forgettable game that's hard to look at.
Let's take a look at your options. You can use your table of content to jump straight to the most interesting point to you:
We made a table that shows you the differences in the way these two options operate. Have a look!
Should you choose in-house artists or game art outsourcing?:
Take a look at differences each approach for game art creations presents.
| Criterias | In-house artists | Game art outsourcing studios |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Highest long-term cost | Cost-effective for mid- and large scopes |
| Scalability | Slow to scale | Easily scalable based on project demands |
| Consistency | Consistent within your team | High with established pipelines |
| Project Management | Integrated with dev workflows | Managed externally by dedicated studio PMs |
| Onboarding | Slow: hiring, onboarding, HR | Fast with pre-built teams |
| Communication | Internal and daily | Structured, with scheduled syncs to keep you in the loop |
| Best Use Case | Long-term core team | Full pipelines, expansions, tight deadlines |
Need a custom quote? Email us at hello@rocketbrush.com with your project details and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
When it comes to getting artists involved in your game, you can do three things: hire in-house employees, use freelancers, or outsource it to a game art outsourcing studio. Outsourcing studios usually offer the best balance. If you're considering the best game art outsourcing companies in 2025, here's why outsourcing may be your best bet:
But when you get an art outsourcing studio onboard, things are different. The right studio that provides game art outsourcing services will not only handle the hiring process but also manage workflows efficiently to meet your deadlines.
You do have to find them, but only once. Once you get them in, they'll take care of getting the talent you need to work for you. Human resources is a job and career on its own, and it's probably not how you should spend your time.
Now, when it comes to finding the right outsourcing studio, there are a few things to consider if you want to make the most out of it. Let's delve into it.
"Are they trustworthy? Isn't it risky? Will they meet my expectations?" are perhaps the regular questions you may ask when you start working with game art outsourcing studios.
It's understandable to be unsure about choosing an outsourcing studio. Many developers aren't sure how to outsource 2D and 3D game art in a way that fits their goals and timelines. Plus there are many out there, and not all will be a good fit for you. So you have to go through the process of finding one that fits your needs and establishing an effective collaboration with them. Here's the best way to do it.
The first and most important step. Before looking for an outsourcing partner, you must know what you need. Are you making a 3D game or is it in 2D? Are you pursuing Realistic or stylized art approach? If you're unsure where to start, look at how the best game art outsourcing companies in 2025 guide clients through this initial phase. It may not seem important in the early stages of a game, but deciding on an aesthetic can completely change the game's final result.
When you reach out to a game art outsourcing studio, you need to have an idea of what you're looking for. Note that you don't need to know all the details — after all, you're not the art specialist and they can help figure those out. But you need an approximate idea of the direction you want to take with your game.
Once you know what you need, it's time to search and compare game art outsourcing services to find the best fit.
Ask other developers that you know have outsourced their art and get to know about their experience with them. If you don't know any, Google is your friend.
When you find a potential one, look at their online portfolio. Check the kind of games they have worked on and see if any are similar to the vision you have for your game. Not that they must have something that looks like what you want, but their having worked on something similar is a reassurance that they can get this type of work done.
Regardless of the types of games they've worked on, look at how professional the final results look. Look up those games and see how gameplay footage looks like.
Read their client testimonials. The more they have, the better, and they can give you an insight into what's in store for you. What are their past clients especially happy about? Do they mention if they met their expectations? Can you read any possible negative side in between the lines?
The website itself can also tell you about a studio. Is it clear? Is it tidy? Are there any typos? A messy website can reflect a messy studio, and you want to avoid getting one involved in your project (unless you enjoy chaos). On the contrary, a polished and neat-looking website is a sign of an orderly studio. Not only that — does it look good? After all, they're artists and should have a good eye for aesthetics.
You can also check their socials. But remember that more followers don't necessarily mean they're a better studio — it mostly means they're putting resources into social media. Some successful artists and studios may have a more modest social media presence, which allows them to concentrate on honing their craft and delivering quality game art. This is often a good sign, especially when you're learning how to outsource 2D and 3D game art effectively.
At this point, you may have one or more possible candidates. But don't make a final choice yet.
The last step is getting in contact, and if they're a good fit, get things up and running.
When you get in contact, game art outsourcing studios will give you an estimation of the cost. But to do so, they'll likely ask you for a project brief describing your project and what you need (like this one). Be as transparent as you can — it's the key to a great working relationship.
It's not always needed, but if you agree with it, It's also likely that they'll arrange a call so that they can learn better what you need. This is also an opportunity for you to get to know how they work — if they didn't specify it on their website, ask about it. Get to know what you can expect from them, and what they expect from you.
Until you're convinced you've found the perfect fit, have conversations with various studios, if time allows. Then, you can make a more informed decision and choose the best option for your situation.
Outsourcing game art to a specialized studio gives you access to a diverse pool of experienced artists, scalable resources to meet deadlines, and cost savings compared to hiring full‑time staff. It lets you focus on core development tasks while the studio handles recruitment, pipeline management and quality control, resulting in faster turnaround and professional results.
Evaluate potential partners by reviewing their portfolios for a style match, checking client testimonials and case studies, and assessing their production pipeline and communication processes. Also compare pricing models, project management tools and creation times — plus consider studios recognized among the best game art outsourcing companies in 2025.
Yes — outsourcing is often more budget‑friendly for indie teams because you only pay for the art you need without overhead costs like benefits or office space. It also gives you flexibility to scale up or down based on your production cycle, making it a practical solution for limited budgets.
Your brief should cover the project overview, style references (mood boards or concept art), detailed scope of deliverables (characters, environments, UI), technical specifications (file formats, poly counts, resolutions), timeline and milestones, target platforms, budget range and any communication or review processes you prefer.
Getting an outsourcing studio onboard not only means less work for the developer but also an efficient way to make the game look as good as possible. Choosing the right game art outsourcing services studio can significantly impact both quality and efficiency of your project. All its benefits make finding and hiring them worthwhile, especially with studios with experience.
If you're looking for one, you can consider us, RocketBrush Studio. We've worked since 2016 on more than 150 projects for leading industry names, including Paradox Interactive, G5 Entertainment, SuperCell, AppLovin, Belka Games, Romero Games, and over a hundred more (see their testimonials here!). We take an individual approach to each client, and we're experienced in working on projects of any complexity.
Our own games, The Unliving and Ways of Alchemy, have a unique approach in terms of art: we can produce high-quality pixelated 2D art as well as gorgeous artwork stylized for medieval era art. And did we mention we made both games from scratch, creating gameplay mechanics, producing sound design, UI and other services we also provide for you?
Come say hello@rocketbrush.com and let's start working together on a game that will be truly remarkable and special!
