Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How is the art for 2.5D Metroidvania games like Hollow Knight, Silksong, and Twilight Monk created? In this deep-dive, legendary game artist and creator Trent Kaniuga breaks down the entire creative process behind designing the visual style, concept art, and environments for a 2.5D side-scrolling adventure.
From Unreal Engine workflows to hand-painted concept design, Trent reveals the artistic secrets that bring a Metroidvania world to life — including composition, lighting, color theory, and how to balance 2D art with 3D assets.
Whether you’re a game developer, concept artist, or simply a fan of indie game aesthetics, this video is packed with insight, tips, and inspiration from a veteran artist who has worked on World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and his own game universe, Twilight Monk.
👉 What You’ll Learn:
How to design cohesive art direction for a 2.5D Metroidvania
Creating hand-painted textures and environments in Unreal Engine
Blending 2D and 3D elements for stylized worlds
Lighting and color theory for atmospheric storytelling
Behind-the-scenes look at the art of Twilight Monk
🎨 About Trent Kaniuga:
Trent is a veteran game artist and creator with decades of experience in AAA and indie development. He’s best known for his work on Twilight Monk, World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and Overwatch. His tutorials and insights are invaluable for anyone passionate about game art and design.
🔔 Subscribe for more tutorials and artist insights:
youtube.com/@TrentKaniuga
How is the art for 2.5D Metroidvania games like Hollow Knight, Silksong, and Twilight Monk created? In this deep-dive, legendary game artist and creator Trent Kaniuga breaks down the entire creative process behind designing the visual style, concept art, and environments for a 2.5D side-scrolling adventure.
From Unreal Engine workflows to hand-painted concept design, Trent reveals the artistic secrets that bring a Metroidvania world to life — including composition, lighting, color theory, and how to balance 2D art with 3D assets.
Whether you’re a game developer, concept artist, or simply a fan of indie game aesthetics, this video is packed with insight, tips, and inspiration from a veteran artist who has worked on World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and his own game universe, Twilight Monk.
👉 What You’ll Learn:
How to design cohesive art direction for a 2.5D Metroidvania
Creating hand-painted textures and environments in Unreal Engine
Blending 2D and 3D elements for stylized worlds
Lighting and color theory for atmospheric storytelling
Behind-the-scenes look at the art of Twilight Monk
🎨 About Trent Kaniuga:
Trent is a veteran game artist and creator with decades of experience in AAA and indie development. He’s best known for his work on Twilight Monk, World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and Overwatch. His tutorials and insights are invaluable for anyone passionate about game art and design.
🔔 Subscribe for more tutorials and artist insights:
youtube.com/@TrentKaniuga
