adminThe Game Maker’s Sketchbook 2026 selections bring together visual work from across the games industry, from character concepts and environments to maps, illustrations and storyboards. The fifth annual showcase features art connected to games including Pragmata, Borderlands 4, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Monument Valley 3.
Supported by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), Iam8bit and Fortyseven Communications, the project highlights the creative work behind interactive entertainment. A jury of game artists, curators and professionals from fields including animation, film and fine art reviewed the entries.
Where to see the Game Maker’s Sketchbook 2026 selections
The selected works are available in the online gallery and are scheduled to be exhibited at Summer Game Fest: Play Days in Los Angeles, California, from June 6 to June 8. Prints can be pre-ordered from the Iam8bit store until June 25. Purchases support non-profit initiatives led by Day of the Devs and the AIAS Foundation.
AIAS president Meggan Scavio said the showcase recognizes the artists whose images and visual identities shape how players experience games. She also thanked the jury and supporters, noting that the print program helps fund charitable initiatives for creators and game-art communities.
Below is the complete list of entries provided for this year’s showcase. The category and project names are useful guides when browsing the gallery, while artist and studio details identify the teams behind each work.
Character Art
Character Art: Corvus
- Game: Ballgame
- Artists: Finn Sywester, Milton Monroe, Juan Soler Huete, Alex Schleifer
- Developer: Human Computer
- Publisher: Human Computer
Enemy Design
- Game: Mistfall Hunter
- Artists: Dehong Yu, Jialei Wang
- Developer: Bellring Games
- Publisher: Skystone Games
Thresher Hat Explorations
- Game: Borderlands 4
- Artist: Cameron Witt, concept artist
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Publisher: 2K Games
Image credit: Human Computer
Curiosities
All In-Game Moments Illustrations
- Game: In Their Shoes
- Artists: Claudia Molinari, Linda Francesca Amodeo, Nicolò Marchetti
- Developer: We Are Muesli
- Publisher: We Are Muesli
Death Rites of Gerald Parker
- Game: Ambrosia Sky: Act One
- Artists: Adam Volker, art director and illustrator; Vash Taylor, illustrator
- Developer: Soft Rains
- Publisher: Soft Rains
Image credit: Soft Rains
Cipher Zero OST Album Cover
- Game: Cipher Zero
- Artist: Annie E, illustrator
- Developer: Zapdot
- Publisher: Zapdot
Environment Art
Skull Bridge
- Game: Keeper
- Artist: Lee Petty
- Developer: Double Fine Productions
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
A Day In The Life Of Muziris
- Game: All Will Rise
- Artist: Yuvraj Jha
- Developer: Speculative Agency
- Publisher: Speculative Agency
Environment Art
- Game: Absolum
- Artist: Manu Tanon-Tchi
- Developers: DotEmu, Guard Crush Games, Supamonks
- Publisher: DotEmu
Image credit: Double Fine Productions
Iconography
To Be Played/Completed Pre-Scene Title Cards
- Game: In Their Shoes
- Artists: Claudia Molinari, Linda Francesca Amodeo
- Developer: We Are Muesli
- Publisher: We Are Muesli
Kuttenberg Map
- Game: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- Artist: Barbora Kotoul
- Developer: Warhorse Studios
- Publisher: Deep Silver
Chapter Select
- Game: Monument Valley 3
- Artists: Monument Valley 3 development team
- Developer: Ustwo Games
- Publisher: Ustwo Games
Impact
Emma x Slippers Key Art
- Game: In Their Shoes
- Artists: Claudia Molinari, Linda Francesca Amodeo
- Developer: We Are Muesli
- Publisher: We Are Muesli
Landship Construction Key Art
- Game: Trailblazers: Into the March
- Artist: Adrien Cantone
- Developer: Strangers
- Publisher: Joystick Ventures
Image credit: Strangers
Computational Exchange
- Game: Risk of Rain 2: Alloyed Collective
- Artists: Sean Cruz, concept artist; Murphy Michaels, art director; Claire Bian, lead
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Publisher: 2K Games
Storyboard
Rock and Roll Intro Storyboards
- Game: Borderlands 4
- Artist: Erik Doescher, storyboard artist
- Developer: Gearbox Software
- Publisher: 2K Games
Launch Trailer Storyboards
- Game: TetherGeist
- Artist: Noah Allen
- Developer: Out of Space, O. & Co. Games
- Publisher: Out of Space, O. & Co. Games
First Contact Storyboard
- Game: Pragmata
- Artists: Capcom Pragmata team
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
Image credit: Capcom
What the selections highlight
The Game Maker’s Sketchbook 2026 selections span several parts of game development, including visual design for characters, worlds, interface elements and story sequences. For readers exploring the gallery, checking the category alongside the game title can help explain how each artwork contributes to a game’s setting, identity or storytelling.
