Game interface design GUI/UI

Every game, from simple arcade games to MMORPG titles, has controls—a game interface. This interface can be simple or multi-layered, depending on the project's complexity.

High-quality interface development and design create an intuitive and enjoyable user experience, helping to attract players and increase their loyalty. After all, if the controls are awkward and the menu structure is confusing, even the most impressive characters, well-designed locations, and engaging storyline won't be able to fully unfold.

What is UI and GUI design for a game interface?

Creating interface design for games involves three different aspects – UX, UI and GUI.

UI design for games is the development of a graphical interface. This includes the design of menus, buttons, icons, health bars, and skill panels. This includes the visual hierarchy of interface elements, their placement, styles, and so on. UI design aims to ensure that functionality is aesthetically pleasing, understandable, and user-friendly.

UX design is the design of a user-friendly interaction with a product. UI and UX design services are closely related. However, UX focuses more on the technical usability, logic, and intuitiveness of interaction with a title.

A UX designer focuses on the psychology and behavior of a specific audience, rather than on graphics. They ensure functionality is accessible, reduce user load, and increase engagement. Their responsibilities include developing gameplay interaction scenarios, organizing the structure and order of screens, and identifying problem areas for the target audience.

GUI – design and graphic design of user interfaces for games.

This subset of UI design ensures the visual realization of concepts. GUI design is responsible for specific graphic solutions in the design of UI elements, stylistic integrity, and the recognizability of the final product.

GUI development for a game focuses on selecting colors and shapes for icons, frame graphics, tabletops, click animations, pop-up windows, and ensuring that the style matches the genre and overall concept.

To briefly describe the creation of a user-friendly interface in games:

• UX – logic of functionality;
• UI – graphic solutions;
• GUI is a visual implementation of the two previous points.

These three aspects complement each other seamlessly. At Arionis Games, GUI/UI design services for games can be ordered as a standalone service or as part of a comprehensive UX/UI design service.

Tasks solved by GUI/UI design for game interfaces

High-quality UI design improves the first impression of a product, ensures player retention, and simplifies learning and acquisition. It makes a title conceptually clear and enjoyable. GUI is the visual implementation of UI concepts tailored to the specific audience, plot, genre, and project as a whole.

Together, GUI and UI design for games ensure the authenticity of a product's aesthetic and its alignment with audience expectations and needs. They help navigate the game world, simplify learning the game's principles and mechanics, decision-making, and storyline progression.

Arionis Games specialists place special emphasis on adaptability, ease of integration, accessibility, and aesthetics. We create game interfaces that match the project's setting and concept, with intuitive navigation, user feedback, and well-thought-out information organization. Contact us – we'll offer effective GUI/UI solutions and provide a price estimate for interface design development for your game.

Stages of developing a game's graphical interface (GUI/UI)

At Arionis Games, you can order GUI/UI design for your games, either individually (with or without integration into a game development product) or as part of a comprehensive development project. Creating a game menu at our studio consists of several stages:

1. Preparation, analysis

Our specialists collect project data and analyze the market, including genre, concept, style, target platforms, audience expectations, and competitors' offerings. The UI for a mobile game and a hardcore PC shooter differ significantly in complexity, scale, and functionality. This is due to the unique characteristics of each platform. Our team's experience includes creating interfaces for Android, iOS, PC, and cross-platform solutions.

For example:

• For mobile games, the priority is minimalism, large elements, and the possibility of gesture navigation;
• For PC and console products – HUD customization, keyboard and controller support;
• VR/AR games are characterized by spatial menus with a minimum of visual noise;
• In shooters, quick readability is paramount; in strategy games, clear hierarchy and information content are essential; in RPGs, quick access to inventory and dialogue development are important.

Our deep expertise and extensive practical experience creating game menus using Unity3D and other tools enable us to develop effective, engaging interfaces that simplify player acquisition and increase player retention.

2. UX design, creation of interface elements

Arionis Games developers design the player's behavioral logic, develop a screen map, hierarchy, and interaction flow. They develop the user journey from the moment the game launches to performing key actions—opening the map, adjusting settings, selecting inventory, etc.

The main task at this stage is to ensure convenience for gamers, taking into account the genre and features of the project, so that the location and purpose of all game menu elements are intuitive and convenient.

3. Development of visual concepts

Designers create the graphic design of a game's interface, choosing a style that matches the concept, genre, and audience preferences. This work includes the design of buttons, panels, icons, HUD elements, animations, and visual feedback on player actions. UI designers also consider the visual hierarchy (ensuring that primary elements are immediately noticeable, with secondary elements highlighted when needed).

4. Interactive prototyping

Next comes the stage of creating interface prototypes and mockups, which are necessary for navigation testing. Static and interactive elements help evaluate menu behavior and usability, prevent logical errors, and ensure the effectiveness of flowcharts. Even while working with prototypes and interface mockups, you can conduct initial UX tests and gather feedback from the target audience to refine the product.

5. Integration into the engine

At this stage, Arionis Games specialists integrate the UI with gameplay. Interfaces can be created for games in Unreal Engine and Unity. All rendered elements are integrated into the engine and connected to gameplay events and logic. Designers configure 2D or 3D animation, click reactions, and optional visual and audio feedback.

6. Testing and refinement

At the final stage of GUI/UI design development, we conduct UX testing, collect feedback, and refine the product if necessary. We evaluate accessibility, user experience, and interaction logic.

Tools for developing and designing game interfaces

We use a wide range of technologies to develop and design the game's GUI/UI interface.

• Graphic editors – Figma, Sketch, Affinity Designer, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator.
• UX design – Miro/FigJam, Hotjar, UXCam, Axure/Balsamiq.
• Game engines and UI frameworks – Unity (UI Toolkit, Canvas UI, TextMeshPro), Unreal Engine (UMG, Blueprints, C++).
• Working with assets and UI elements – Spine or DragonBones, Lottie/Bodymovin, TexturePacker.
• Version control and collaboration systems – Git+GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket, Zeplin/Avocode.
• Testing and analytics – PlaytestCloud, Lookback, Maze, Firebase/GameAnalytics/Unity Analytics.

We can create graphical interfaces using Java, Python, C#, and C++. The choice of programming languages and other tools depends on the specific tasks, target platform, and project specifics.

Where to order GUI/UI interface design for games

The Arionis Games team develops game menus that not only create visual appeal but also provide a strategic advantage for the product. This combination ensures user convenience, attracts, retains attention, and attracts repeat players.

Our game GUI/UI design specialists have years of experience implementing projects for a wide range of platforms (from mobile and web to VR and AR titles). The team's strengths include professional expertise, high qualifications, and an understanding of the needs of different audiences, genre specifics, and current trends in their respective niches.

We understand the specifics of working with various engines and tools, developing GUI/UI designs for games that take into account the technical features of target platforms, adapting menu functionality to the specific gameplay and concept of a specific title. We implement each project using a clear, transparent pipeline: from thorough analysis and UX design to full integration into the gaming environment.

Our goal isn't just a pretty picture; we create GUI/UI interface designs that enhance gameplay and target audience satisfaction. If you need to implement such a project from scratch or want to improve an existing one, submit a request. We'll analyze your requirements, propose optimal solutions, and provide a timeline and budget estimate.

Included in the GUI/UI design service for game interfaces

Arionis Games offers custom UI design for games from scratch. This service includes the following:

• Formation of UX/UI concepts and user scenarios; application of visual effects;
• design and in-depth analysis of the logic and ergonomics of the user experience with the product;
• creation of prototypes and layouts of the user interface, UI-kit and documentation;
• development – production;
• modeling and adaptation of UI animation for target platforms and devices;
• testing of UI/UX elements, including ready-made ones (not developed by us – we are ready to join in at any stage of your project);
• integration into the engine and subsequent support (by agreement).