How many times have you been running around fragging your best bud in your favorite FPS and stopped to look at the surroundings? I’m guessing none, not often or just to see where you might get a better vantage point, but that’s okay, you’re not alone. The environment of the game is supposed to be somewhat transparent. It’s meant to set the stage providing the background atmosphere of the story and game experience without being the center of your attention. I’ve long held a fascination for how the environments of games were developed and the concept art that comes from that process. So take a moment, smell the roses and take in the breathtaking beauty of some initial ideas for popular games of today.
Agnes Staudt
Attic
North
Ocean
Oltar
TheatreAngel Yates
Haunted
NinjaBen Andrews
Apothecary Exterior
The Pilgrimage
Village NorthBen Greene
A Distantant Venture
Beacon
Witches HutDaniel Thiele
Hostile Worlds - Environment 1
Hostile Worlds - The Tower
Hostile Worlds - TQ House 4Derick Tsai
Junk Wars - The Bazaar
Junk Wars - Birth of Monkeystein
Junk Wars - Faux HawkGleydson A. Caetano
Deserto dos SinaisGuang Yang
Environment
Game Environment 2
Minerals War
UndergroundHelen Rusovich
Iscaldgard
Mist VillageHideyoshi Ruwwe
Immortal Souls - Slum District
Soeldner X 2 Ingame Art 9
Soeldner X 2 Ingame Art 10Indre Lelertaviciute
Creation Realm
Destruction Realm
TR ConceptJacek Grzeskowiak
Necrovision - Catacombs
Necrovision - Dragon Lair
Necrovision - Vampire KingdomJohannes Barte
Dantes Inferno
Rusty Sector 7J.P. Targete
MyconKarYSs Concept
Amsyzer Landscape
Drashkall Concept
Eternity
Legendary RuinsKenneth Fairclough
Ornos Mining Colony
Outpost 579
The Sunset Will Never Charm UsNacho Yague
Jungle 1
Jungle 2
Mountain Resort 2Noah Ark Studio
Fantasy 18Noah Bradley
The Journey Ahead
Where Once We Met the GiantsPaul Scott Canavan
Admin
Red Light DistrictPete Amachree
Biker Base
Downtown Waterfall
Fable Environment IdeaPierre Massine
Environment 1
Landscape 2Rado Javor
Derelict
InvasionRainer Petter
Bronze Environment
Fantasy LandspaceReza Ilyasa
Steamy HollowRobin Olausson
Powercore TerminalRodrigo Vega
ScenerySean K. Dunkley
Lusao Outpost
SalamStuart Ng
Army of Two: The 40th Multiplayer Concept - Day Skyscrapers
Ghostbusters - Ghost LobbySueng Jin Woo
Castle of Scarp
Castle on Mountain
Dragon Riders
Rocket Platform
Unknown Industlial CityTom Scholes
Guildwars 2 - Cave
Until AcheronTony Holmsten
And the Gate Opens
Bionic Commando Multiplayer
Floating Rocks
Frozen Geyser
Polar Bears
Tree Spirit FriendsTyler Edlin
Departure
Hilltop City of VisegardVoltaCrew
Abandoned Harbor
HangarYun Hyun Jung
After Rain
Ancient Forest
Frozen Ships
Labbit House
Luna
Mangrove
Nymph’s Place
Rainbow Gorge
The Bottom of the Hill
The Little TownZack Fowler
Atlantean Chasm
City of the Ancients
Tower of BabelZen-Master
Aurelia
IceworksRelated Content
- Mega Collection: 101 Superb Examples of Fantasy Art
- 25 Examples of Fantastic Sci-Fi Illustrations
- Interview with Illustrator & Designer Michael Heald
- 46 Unique Examples of Abstract Vector Art
- Thunder Game Works
About the Author
Brian Rhinehart is a designer and illustrator who has worked in the media and design industry for the past sixteen years. Aside from freelancing and running Illustration Toolbox, he enjoys playing the bass, spicy foods and chasing the cat around the house with squeaky toys.
Sp0nky
June 15th
oau..this is so nice..:) i hope some day i have this inspiration too :))
inspirationfeed
June 27th
Wow, amazing roundup! I love your website keep up the great work!
Sam Duke
July 19th
Awesome arts.
steve
July 20th
great images, would be nice to know what games they were concept art for.
Brian Rhinehart
July 20th
@steve: But half the fun is trying to figure that out.