Top 10 Pixel Art Styles + Prompt Formulas

Unlock Authentic Retro Aesthetics:

These 10 definitive pixel art styles define generations of digital culture, now instantly achievable with AI.

Prompt:

retexture the image attached in the following json aesthetic style: { "style": "Retro Pixel UI Icons", "resolution": "low (32x32 or 48x48)", "color_palette": [ "#F2F2F2", "#C0C0C0", "#000000", "#FFFFFF", "#0000FF", "#00FF00", "#FFFF99", "#008080" ], "outline": { "enabled": true, "color": "#000000", "thickness": "1px" }, "shading": { "method": "dithering", "colors_used": ["base color", "highlight", "shadow"], "pattern": "checkerboard or diagonal lines" }, "lighting": { "type": "flat", "source": "top-left", "highlight_color": "#FFFFFF", "shadow_color": "#808080" }, "background": { "color": "#F2F2F2", "type": "plain", "transparency": false }, "object_properties": { "style": "pixel art", "perspective": "isometric or front-facing", "animation": { "enabled": false, "frame_style": "static pixel art" } } }

Author：Ege

Prompt:
{
"styleAesthetic": {
"title": "Monochrome Pixel Mosaic",
"overallVibe": "Retro mobile-screen pixel art—clean, minimal, and slightly nostalgic",
"renderingStyle": "1-bit square-pixel grid with optional dithering to suggest tone and depth",
"viewAngle": "Orthographic front view (no perspective distortion)",
"pixelation": {
"pixelSize": 6, // width/height of each square in px (tweak per output res)
"pixelShape": "perfect square",
"gridAlignment": "uniform, no gaps",
"ditheringPattern": "Floyd–Steinberg or ordered 2×2"
},
"colorPalette": {
"pixelColor": "#000000", // foreground pixels
"backgroundColor": "#8CA17C", // muted pastel green sample; replace to recolor
"paletteType": "1-bit monochrome"
},
"lightingAndShadows": {
"pixelDropShadow": {
"enabled": true,
"offsetX": 0,
"offsetY": 1,
"blur": 2,
"opacity": 0.25
},
},
"materialsAndTextures": [
{
"type": "Matte LCD surface",
"description": "Flat display with very fine grain/noise to simulate old LCD texture",
"noiseIntensity": 0.01
}
],
"typography": {
"fontFamily": "monospaced bitmap",
"weight": "bold",
"capitalization": "uppercase",
"letterSpacing": 0,
"align": "center"
},
"postProcessing": {
"edgeSmoothing": "none (hard pixel edges preserved)",
"filmGrain": 0.01,
"overallContrast": 1.0
},
"adaptabilityHints": {
"applyToPhotographs": "posterize → 1-bit → downsample to pixel grid → apply dithering",
"applyToVectorText": "render glyphs to bitmap grid using same pixel size and drop shadow",
"safeResize": "always scale by whole-number multiples to keep squares crisp"
}
}
}

Author：Rahul Chakraborty

Prompt:

retexture the image attached based on the JSON aesthetic below { "style": "voxel 3D", "material": { "base": "hard plastic", "texture": "smooth with subtle gridlines", "finish": "semi-matte" }, "lighting": { "type": "studio lightbox", "intensity": "medium", "shadows": "sharp and short", "highlights": "mild, block edge reflections" }, "color_scheme": { "primary": ["#ffcc00", "#ff3c3c", "#000000", "#ffffff"], "accents": ["#00cfff", "#00cc00", "#ff00cc", "#666666"], "contrast": "high" }, "shapes": "voxel blocks, chunky, pixelated geometry", "composition": { "background": "plain light gray", "object_count": "single item per frame", "layout": "centered, angled slightly for 3D view" }, "rendering": { "engine": "3D voxel renderer", "resolution": "high", "detail_level": "low-poly, simplified structure" } }

Author：Ege

Here's how to create a lovely little lofi pixel-islands in #Midjourney AI.

Promt:

Isometric pixel art of a floating island in the sky, a comfy lofi pastel color palette, and a pixelated springtime sunset scene

Author：Lukas Lutz

LEGO-style 3D logos made easy! GPT-4o turns ANY brand into cute Minecraft blocks One click = instant 3D pixel art

Full

{ "prompt": { "structure": "Construct the object entirely using small, stacked 3D cubes (voxels), arranged in a fully volumetric isometric grid. Each cube must appear as a solid 3D object, with clear top, left, and right faces.", "shape_alignment": "Accurately follow the silhouette and key details of the reference image, converting its 2D structure into a voxel-based 3D form. Ensure curves, edges, and layout are maintained, but build them with layered cube depth.", "render_emphasis": "Prioritize a 3D-rendered appearance.Use lighting, shading, and volumetric depth to avoid flat illustration effects. Cubes should cast shadows and show separation between layers.", "material": "Apply a matte, toy-like texture across all surfaces. Avoid gloss and excessive contrast.", "lighting":"Directional soft lighting from the top-left to create clear, but subtle shadows between cubes. Avoid ambient-flat or evenly lit looks.", "view": "Use a true isometric perspective. At least three cube faces must be visible—top and both sides—for proper spatial cues.","background": "Transparent alpha background, no shadows on the ground, no gradients or environments.", "framing": "Center the object in a 1:1 square frame. Ensure padding so the object is fully visible without clipping.", "style_keywords": "True isometric 3D voxel art,shape-faithful, depth-enhanced, matte texture, stylized volume" }, "style": "3D voxel render with structure-faithful design and strong volumetric depth" }

Author：yapyap club

Pixelated Nighttime Vibes

Prompt

create a GIRL in a hoodie, night time, pixelated, raining, near window , listing to music , vibrant colours, rgb glow, drinking chocolate while sitting near window at night

Author：mali2012

Sunset Pixel Art

Prompt

blue sky with sunset art styling pixel art

Author：serederitz

Futuristic Digital Conflict

Prompt

create pixelated image with a futuristic, contemplative figure standing in front of a shattered digital landscape. The figure is dressed in minimalist, hood, sleek clothing, with sharp, angular features, exuding an air of intellect and cold rationality. with dark shadow in face, as if caught in a deep internal conflict. The environment around them is a mix of decaying technology, fragmented mathematical formulas, and broken circuitry, symbolizing the destruction of outdated systems. There are glowing remnants of shattered ideas and logic, floating around, representing the clash between logic and emotional chaos. The background is dark and moody, with flashes of bright neon-like colors, symbolizing a struggle between order and chaos.