Custom 8-Bit Pixel Art Game Assets by Jude Buffum

Jude Buffum creates production-ready pixel art for games, including character sprite sheets, enemies, environments, title screens, UI, and frame-by-frame animations.

Past projects include collaborations with Sony, Adult Swim, Samuel Adams, Coach and Taco Bell.

Character Design and Sprite Sheets

Pixel art characters are the foundation of any 8-bit game, and Jude specializes in building them from the ground up. From hero designs to full sprite sheets, each character is crafted with personality, clarity, and motion in mind. Whether it’s expressive characters for Adult Swim or a snowboarding dinosaur for Coach, Jude’s sprite work ensures every pixel feels alive.

Animated pixel art portrait of Chubbie from Hot Streets, face only, on a yellow background.

Animated pixel art walk cycle of Chubbie from Hot Streets, shown front, back, left, and right, on a yellow background.

Animated pixel art portrait of Branski from Hot Streets, face only, on a muted purple background.

Animated pixel art walk cycle of Branski from Hot Streets, shown front, back, left, and right, on a muted purple background.

Animated pixel art portrait of French from Hot Streets, face only, on a dark green background.

Animated pixel art walk cycle of French from Hot Streets, shown front, back, left, and right, on a dark green background.

Animated pixel art portrait of Jen from Hot Streets, face only, on a red background.

Animated pixel art walk cycle of Jen from Hot Streets, shown front, back, left, and right, on a red background.

Environments and Backgrounds

From scrolling landscapes to richly detailed interiors, environments set the stage for gameplay. Jude’s pixel art backgrounds and tilesets create worlds that feel immersive while remaining readable at a glance. Projects like this mobile game for Samuel Adams’ Octoberfest, a snowboarding adventure for Coach, and an arcade game for Taco Bell all showcase how environments can carry brand identity while still feeling like authentic retro game levels.

8-bit pixel art pub exterior for Samuel Adams Octoberfest Stein Hoist Challenge.

8-bit pixel art pub interior for Samuel Adams Octoberfest video game.

Parallax-scrolling city level for branded snowboarding game for Coach, built in three layers: rolling snow hills in front, detailed street scene in the middle, distant skyline in back, all moving at different speeds to create depth.

Pixel art illustration of a Taco Bell exterior and interior, in the style of an 8-bit side scroller video game

Bosses and Enemies

Memorable bosses and enemies are what give games their challenge and identity. Jude creates pixel art villains that balance clarity of design with a sense of scale and impact. His work includes oversized boss sprites, attack animations, and unique enemy designs, like these custom bosses developed for HubSpot’s promotional game. These assets don’t just look retro, they feel like they belong in a classic cartridge.

Pixel art boss, light blue robotic bull with gold horns and a round muzzle, on sandy ground with a gray junkyard background, the name “BULLHORN” and a segmented health bar in the top right.

Pixel art robot shaped like a blue mailbox on tank treads with two red flags and angry eyes, shown on a white background.

Title Screens and UI

Nothing sets the mood like a great title screen. Jude’s expertise in 8-bit typography means every logo, menu, and HUD or UI element echos the golden age of gaming while meeting modern usability needs. His work ranges from polished start screens with custom typography to energy bars, timers, and item icons… all built from scratch to complement gameplay and keep players engaged.

Pixel art title screen with large 8-bit type that reads Hot Streets Chubbie in Troubie and small type that says Adult Swim, three small character portraits, and a big red dog angrily baring teeth.

8-bit pixel art video game title screen for HubSpot Journey to Find the Power of G.

8-bit pixel art game animation for Liquidnet with character running from rising lava.

8-bit pixel art player select screen from Taco Bell’s The Waiting Game arcade

Game-ready Animations

Beyond static art, Jude delivers frame-by-frame animations that make pixel games come alive. Characters jump, attack, and celebrate; enemies flash and explode; environments react to player actions. These subtle movements capture the charm of retro animation cycles while being optimized for modern engines. Branded projects like these for Adult Swim and HubSpot highlight how animation can turn a promotion into a true gaming experience.