Spirits of Nera

I led the creative and art direction for the Spirits of Nera. From the start, spirits were designed to be the heart of the game, central to the narrative, player motivation, and core progression loop. Nera is a primordial world shaped by elemental magic, so I explored ways to embody each element through animal forms to create strong visual appeal and instantly readable identities. These designs helped ground the magic of the world while giving each spirit a distinct personality and presence. The Elder Spirits were core to the overall loop, where players needed to awaken them in each of the various biomes to progress. Alongside the Elder and Elemental Spirits, we introduced Guide Spirits, more humanoid caretakers who act as companions and teachers at your home base. They guide players through crafting recipes, weapons, and powerful tools, and are fundamental to how players progress through the game. Designing these characters was a joy, especially finding the right balance between the spirit fantasy and our seafaring themes. I’m incredibly proud of where we landed visually with such a small team, and I’m grateful to my art team for all their incredible work!
https://www.artstation.com/waterproofjedi
https://www.kyleyoungblom.com/
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