Custom 2D game art for visual novels, point-and-click adventures and indie story games.
Illustration Services creates detailed illustrated artwork for narrative games, adventure games, visual novels, fantasy games, sci-fi games and story-driven indie projects. From atmospheric backgrounds and character portraits to key art, Steam capsule artwork and special scene illustrations, the goal is to help your game feel more memorable, polished and visually distinctive.
If your game needs a world players want to explore, custom illustration can make the story feel stronger before the first line of dialogue is even read.
Custom illustration for story-driven games
Point-and-click games and visual novels rely heavily on mood, location, atmosphere and character presence. A strong illustration can define the feeling of a room, a city, a temple, a forest, a spaceship, a mystery scene or an entire game world.
I create custom game illustrations for:
- Visual novels
- Point-and-click adventure games
- Narrative indie games
- Fantasy and sci-fi games
- Mystery and horror games
- Story-based RPGs
- TTRPG-inspired digital games
- Kickstarter and Steam game projects
- Small studios and solo developers
The artwork can be created for in-game use, promotional use, campaign visuals or pitch materials.
What I can create
Background illustrations
Atmospheric locations for visual novels, adventure games and story scenes.
Examples:
- Ancient ruins
- Fantasy cities
- Forests and temples
- Sci-fi environments
- Mystery rooms
- Streets and interiors
- Shops, libraries, caves or hidden places
- Dreamlike or surreal locations
Backgrounds can be simple and clean, or more detailed and cinematic depending on the project.
Key art and promotional artwork
A strong main image for your game’s identity.
Best for:
- Steam capsule artwork
- Itch.io cover images
- Kickstarter campaign visuals
- Game announcement artwork
- Social media promotion
- Posters and press materials
- Main menu or title screen artwork
Key art is usually more polished and dramatic than standard in-game assets because it needs to sell the mood of the game quickly.
Character portraits and story scenes
Illustrated characters and special moments for narrative games.
Best for:
- Dialogue portraits
- Main character artwork
- NPC portraits
- Special visual novel CG scenes
- Important story moments
- Character-focused promotional art
- Fantasy, sci-fi, horror or adventure characters
Character artwork can be created as standalone illustrations or as part of a larger scene.
Item and object artwork
Small but important visual assets that support the game world.
Best for:
- Inventory items
- Magical objects
- Relics and artifacts
- Clues and puzzle items
- Icons or symbolic objects
- Collectibles
- Equipment or story items
This is especially useful for point-and-click games where objects and visual clues are part of the gameplay.
Game illustration pricing
Custom game artwork starts from €350.
A smaller item, portrait or focused illustration may fit the starter range, while a detailed background, key art image or polished scene usually starts from €750. Larger game art packages, multiple backgrounds, character sets or commercial campaign artwork are quoted individually.
Final pricing depends on the complexity of the artwork, number of characters, background detail, usage rights, deadline and delivery format.
Starter Game Illustration — from €350
Focused artwork with one clear subject or simple scene.
This option is best for smaller assets or simpler illustrations where the project needs a polished custom image without a complex environment.
Best for:
- Item artwork
- Object illustrations
- Simple character portraits
- Small scene illustrations
- Icons or relics
- Simple promo images
- Limited-detail backgrounds
- Small visual novel assets
Included:
- Creative direction based on your brief
- One sketch concept
- Final color artwork
- One review stage for small refinements
- Final files for agreed digital use
Good choice if you need:
A clean custom illustration for one character, object, item, clue or simple game scene.
Detailed Game Illustration — from €750
A polished 2D illustration with more detail, atmosphere and storytelling.
This is the best option for visual novel backgrounds, point-and-click locations, character scenes, key visuals and game artwork that needs a stronger final impact.
Best for:
- Visual novel backgrounds
- Point-and-click game backgrounds
- Character scene illustrations
- Steam capsule-style artwork
- Game cover artwork
- Kickstarter visuals
- Fantasy or sci-fi environments
- Important story moments
- Promotional game artwork
Included:
- Creative direction
- One developed sketch concept
- Detailed final illustration
- Color, lighting and finishing
- One review stage for small refinements
- Final files for agreed digital or promotional use
- Usage rights based on the agreed project scope
Good choice if you need:
A strong illustrated scene or background that helps define the visual world of your game.
Premium Game Art Package — from €1,500
High-detail artwork for complex scenes, multiple characters, detailed environments or broader commercial use.
This option is for game projects where the artwork becomes part of the main identity of the game, campaign or release.
Best for:
- Game key art
- Complex illustrated scenes
- Multiple characters
- Detailed fantasy or sci-fi environments
- Main promotional artwork
- Steam capsule and campaign visuals
- Main menu / title artwork
- Kickstarter campaign artwork
- Board game or digital game cover art
- Larger commercial game projects
Included:
- Creative direction
- Concept development
- Detailed sketch stage
- High-detail final illustration
- Color, atmosphere and finishing
- One review stage for small refinements
- Final files for agreed use
- Usage rights based on the agreed project scope
Good choice if you need:
A premium illustration that can represent the whole game, not just one small asset.
Game art packages and larger projects
Some projects need more than one illustration. Visual novels and point-and-click games often require multiple backgrounds, character portraits, item art or promotional visuals.
Quoted individually for:
- Multiple game backgrounds
- Character portrait sets
- Visual novel CG scene packages
- Full key art + Steam capsule artwork
- Point-and-click object / item sets
- Kickstarter visual packages
- Game pitch artwork
- Main menu and promotional art
- Long-term indie game collaboration
Final pricing is based on the number of illustrations, complexity, usage rights, deadline and delivery format.
Request a Custom Quote
What styles are possible?
The artwork can be adapted to the tone and genre of your game.
Common directions include:
- Fantasy adventure
- Sci-fi worlds
- Ancient ruins and lost civilizations
- Mystery and detective scenes
- Horror and dark fantasy
- Surreal dreamlike locations
- Anime-inspired visual novel art
- Comic-style adventure art
- Stylized RPG environments
- Magical objects and relics
- Character-based story scenes
The goal is to create artwork that fits the mood of the game, supports the story and gives players a world they want to enter.
What you receive
Depending on the project scope, final delivery can include:
- Final game illustration
- Background artwork
- Character portrait artwork
- Object or item artwork
- Key art image
- Steam / Itch.io promotional format if agreed
- Social media crop if agreed
- High-resolution files
- Web-ready files
- Transparent or isolated elements if needed and agreed
Before work begins, we agree on the final formats, size, usage and delivery requirements so the artwork is prepared correctly from the start.
What affects the price?
Every game project is different. A simple item illustration is not priced the same as a detailed background or full key art scene.
The final quote depends on:
Complexity
Simple artwork costs less than a detailed scene with many elements.
Background detail
A clean background costs less than a full illustrated environment with architecture, lighting and many visual layers.
Characters
More characters usually require more sketching, refinement and finishing time.
Usage
In-game use, promotional use, Steam page use, Kickstarter use, merchandise and advertising may require different usage rights.
Number of assets
A single illustration is quoted differently from a full background or character package.
Deadline
Rush projects may cost more if faster turnaround is needed.
Changes
Each project includes one review stage for small refinements. Larger changes, new directions, additional versions or expanded usage are quoted separately.
How the process works
1. Send your brief
Send a short description of the game, genre, story, visual mood, deadline, format needs and references. For backgrounds, include the location description and how the scene will be used.
2. Get a clear quote
You receive a quote based on the artwork type, complexity, usage rights, deadline and delivery format.
3. Sketch direction
A sketch or concept direction is created before the final artwork stage.
4. Final artwork
The illustration is developed, colored and finished for the agreed use.
5. Review and delivery
One review stage is included for small refinements. Final files are delivered in the agreed formats.
Why custom game illustration?
Custom illustration helps a game feel more original, atmospheric and memorable.
For visual novels and point-and-click games, the artwork is not just decoration. It creates the world, supports the story and shapes the player’s first impression.
Strong custom artwork can help with:
- Better Steam or Itch.io presentation
- Stronger Kickstarter campaign visuals
- More memorable game identity
- More atmospheric storytelling
- Better social media promotion
- More professional pitch materials
- Stronger connection between story and visuals
If your game is story-driven, the art needs to make players curious before they even start playing.
FAQ
How much does custom 2D game art cost?
Custom game illustration starts from €350. Detailed game backgrounds, key art and polished story scenes usually start from €750, while premium game artwork starts from €1,500.
Do you create visual novel backgrounds?
Yes. Background illustrations for visual novels, story games and narrative scenes are available.
Do you create point-and-click game backgrounds?
Yes. Point-and-click backgrounds, mystery locations, fantasy environments, object art and adventure-game scenes are a strong fit.
Do you create character sprites?
I can create character illustrations and portraits. Full sprite sets with many poses, expressions or animation-ready production files are quoted individually.
Do you create Steam capsule art?
Yes. Steam capsule-style artwork and promotional game key art can be created as part of a detailed or premium illustration project.
Can you create several backgrounds for one game?
Yes. Multiple backgrounds or artwork packages can be quoted individually based on the number of scenes and complexity.
Can the artwork be used commercially?
Yes. Commercial usage can be included in the quote. Usage rights are agreed before the project begins.
Do you work with indie developers outside Estonia?
Yes. Illustration Services works internationally. Communication, review and file delivery can be handled online.
Are the prices fixed?
The prices are starting points. Every project is quoted based on complexity, usage rights, deadline and final format.
Watch our illustration process:
Request game artwork
Send a short description of your game, the type of artwork you need, deadline, intended use and visual references. You will receive a clear quote based on the scope and complexity of the artwork.
Useful details to include:
- Game title
- Genre
- Short story or setting
- Type of artwork needed
- Number of backgrounds, characters or assets
- Intended use: in-game, Steam, Kickstarter, promo, pitch or merch
- Deadline
- Required size or format
- Visual references or style direction
- Budget range if you already have one