Pixel Art Academy: Learn Mode
Release date: Aug 5, 2024
Developers: Matej 'Retro' Jan
Publishers: Retronator
Genres: Simulation, Animation & Modeling, Design & Illustration, Education, Game Development, Early Access
Categories: Single-player, Family Sharing
Supported languages: English

Pixel Art Academy is an educational game for learning how to draw. In Learn Mode, you jump straight into the game's interactive tutorials for the fastest way of becoming a pixel artist. After you learn the rules behind pixel art lines, test your skills by drawing fan art and unleash your creativity with designing and illustrating your own pinball machine. Please note that during Early Access the game does not cover all areas of art yet! The game's content is organized around the 7 elements of art: line, shape, form, space, value, color, and texture. The current version only covers lines with about 2–3 hours of gameplay for a minimal playthrough (more if you complete all the challenges and put extra effort into game projects). The other 6 elements are planned to be developed during Early Access. Features An immersive user interface with a cozy, relaxing atmosphere. Carefully designed interactive tutorials teach how to use drawing tools, followed by intermediate lessons covering pixel art fundamentals with a focus on line art and jaggies. Put theory into practice with drawing challenges where you copy other indie game sprites or draw fan art from reference. Design video game sprites as you customize the game Snake and create your very own pinball machine. Of course, you get to play the games as well! Get in the groove with more than 6 hours of background music to accompany your drawing sessions. Future development Please keep in mind that the game is designed, drawn, and coded by a single person—me! I also have to run the business side of things, do marketing, and organize collaborations with other artists, all of which take time. Expect slow, but steady progress. I have been working on the bigger Pixel Art Academy universe for 9 years now and I don't intend to stop any time soon. I also keep a completely transparent development process. Visit my YouTube channel for frequent devlogs or catch me anywhere on the internet to chat about current progress. 

Press reviews: “Pixel Art Academy is really something else. Originally created as an RPG-style experience that allows you to learn as you play, the upcoming Learn Mode strips it back to a beautifully crafted course in pixel art skills. Essential.” Debug Magazine “Learning anything, be it an art, a craft or a new language, can be overwhelming for anyone, but Pixel Art Academy: Learn Mode has managed to make that process very relaxing and satisfying.” The Art of Gaming “It is clear that the developer has thoroughly understood the theory and is a very good pixel artist, but it is also clear that he knows how to convey his knowledge very well, with concrete examples and detailed but not tedious explanations.” ErreKGamer