Crafting the Visual Aesthetic of Palm Run
When I first embarked on the development of Palm Run, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted the game to feel good to look at. As an endless runner, the gameplay would always be front and center, but I wanted the visuals to evoke a sense of relaxation and adventure, something that felt inviting and worth diving into. Little did I know how much work would go into refining the aesthetic and bringing it all together.
Here’s a look into the evolution of Palm Run’s visual design, from early iterations to the current lush, tropical vibe it’s grown into.
The First Steps: Prototypes and Simplicity
Like many game developers starting out, I began with placeholders and basic shapes. It wasn’t about making something pretty right away—it was about making something functional. My early builds were composed of bright, flat colors and primitive objects. Cylinders for characters, cubes for obstacles, and a lot of grids in the background. These early iterations weren’t much to look at, but they were crucial in shaping the foundation of the game’s mechanics.
As basic as it was, there’s something charming about these early stages. The simplicity helped me focus on gameplay without the distraction of making things look "just right." Looking back, I’m grateful for this phase. It reminded me that every game starts as an idea, and it’s okay if it doesn’t look perfect right away.
Discovering the Tropical Vibe
Once the core mechanics were in place, it was time to think about the world players would inhabit. I’ve always been drawn to lush environments, and a tropical jungle theme felt like the perfect match for an endless runner. The aesthetic also carried over from an earlier concept called Quantum Echo, which I had abandoned due to its ambitious scope. There’s a natural sense of movement in palm trees swaying, sunlight filtering through leaves, and sandy paths stretching into the distance.
To bring this vision to life, I leaned heavily on the Polygon Tropical Jungle Pack from Synty Studios. Its low-poly art style matched the vibe I was going for—clean, approachable, and full of charm. The assets gave the game a vibrant yet cohesive look, making it easier to create an environment that felt alive without being overly complicated.
Seeing the first stretch of a jungle path with palm trees lining the sides was a turning point. For the first time, Palm Run started to feel like a game I’d want to play myself. The visual aesthetic wasn’t just decoration; it became part of the game’s identity.
Iterating and Refining
As I added more assets and refined the environment, the game began to transform. It wasn’t just about plopping down trees and rocks, though that was an important part of building the obstacle system to place them dynamically on generated segments. The real challenge has been designing segments with enough variety to keep the gameplay interesting.
Currently, I only have four segments in rotation—three with slight variations and one that stands out with unique ruins. While these provide a foundation, I know I need to expand this library significantly to keep players engaged over longer runs. Balancing variety with consistency has proven to be a tricky but rewarding process, and it’s something I’m still fine-tuning.
One challenge I’m still working through is balancing detail with performance, especially due to the grass. While the Synty assets are optimized for efficiency, it’s still easy to overdo it and end up with too much clutter. I’ve had to carefully place foliage, rocks, and other props to make the world feel full without overwhelming the player or slowing down the game.
Another layer of iteration came with the Fantasy Wooden GUI: Free pack from the Unity Asset Store. These UI elements, though simple, added a handcrafted charm that complemented the game’s overall feel. The clean, whimsical design of the coin and gem counters fit perfectly within the tropical setting, adding to the polish.
The Challenge of Segment Variety
What I’ve come to appreciate most about creating the aesthetic for Palm Run is how every detail contributes to the player’s experience. The tropical vibe isn’t just a backdrop—it’s part of what makes the game enjoyable. The interplay of light and shadow as you run through a jungle, the way the horizon stretches endlessly, hinting at adventure—these are the moments I hope resonate with players.
Of course, it’s still a work in progress. With only a handful of segments currently implemented, there’s a lot more work to be done to build out a diverse and exciting world. Adding more unique features, like ruins or other thematic elements, is high on my list of priorities.
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
Crafting the visual aesthetic of Palm Run has been as much about learning as it has been about creating. Here are a few takeaways I’ve gained from this journey:
Start Simple: It’s easy to get caught up in making things look good from the start, but focusing on functionality first can save a lot of headaches later.
Leverage Assets: High-quality asset packs like those from Synty Studios can be game-changers, allowing you to focus on design and implementation instead of modeling everything from scratch.
Iterate Relentlessly: Visuals evolve over time. Don’t be afraid to experiment, refine, and even scrap ideas that don’t work.
Most importantly, I’ve learned to enjoy the process. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing a blank canvas turn into a world you’ve built piece by piece. Palm Run might still be a work in progress, but it’s one I’m proud of—and I can’t wait to share it with others.