By 
In a landscape where many games lean on a singular aesthetic, Fangs & Forges takes a bold step sideways. Each race in the game is brought to life by a different artist, creating a visual mosaic that reflects not only physical differences but also the way each culture perceives the world.
It is a vision that has resonated. With the Fangs & Forges Kickstarter now live and nearing its initial target, backers are rallying behind the game’s unique art direction and its refreshing approach to collaborative worldbuilding.
Building a Collective Vision
The creative process behind this work was anything but accidental. The project’s creator spent countless hours compiling lists of potential illustrators, cross-matching styles with imagined races, lizards, humans, canines, arachnids, and more. Paid trials helped refine the pool, ensuring that the final team did not just have technical skill but also an intuitive connection to their assigned race.
The choice to work with less prominent artists was intentional, designed to let the project and its contributors grow together. The result is a lineup of creators whose work both defines and expands the lore of Fangs & Forges.
The Art of Preparation
Each commission began with meticulous preparation, five-slide presentations featuring reference imagery, detailed notes, and imaginative direction down to ornaments and fabrics. Characters were not just designed, they were situated in specific regions, with landscapes and backgrounds anchoring them to the world.
At the same time, freedom was key. As artists grew familiar with their races, they suggested changes to poses, clothing, and weapons. What began as direction evolved into genuine collaboration, where artists’ instincts often pushed the world further than originally imagined.
Story in Every Stroke
The art of Fangs & Forges is more than character design, it is narrative illustration. Scenes rarely settle for static portraits or battle stances. Instead, they capture vignettes, moments of reflection, memory, or daily life that add depth to the lore.
In Reveling in the Past, for instance, the character Nisash sits at home in Crogall, incense burning as relics of her life surround her, a Rakavor skull, an altar of keepsakes, and a sword in her hand. As she touches the blade, memories flood back, victories, losses, and the pain of a tragic event. The piece is not just an image, it is a story told in both line and lore.
The Artists Behind the Races
Dasha, known for her stunning human characters including work on Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. ArtStation Portfolio
Cynthia, a master of fur painting with credits in several successful card and board games. Portfolio
Timi “The Lizard King”, celebrated for his reptilian and monster designs and well known for his unique Kickstarter projects. ArtStation
Luka, the versatile hand behind the community-beloved Arachnids and the creator of his own fantasy comic series. ArtStation | Iverrian
Built on Respect, Growing Together
Beyond the art itself lies a remarkable story of partnership. Collaboration was never just contractual, it was built on patience, trust, and mutual respect. Deadlines were flexible, credits were generously shared, and creativity was always given room to grow.
Now, with the Kickstarter edging toward its first funding milestone, that spirit of collaboration extends to the community. Backers are not just funding a game, they are investing in a collective vision where creators and supporters alike help breathe life into a living world.
Why It Matters
In Fangs & Forges, art is not merely illustration. It is the living language of the world, carrying culture, memory, and identity across every brushstroke. Each race is shaped not only by lore but by the vision of the artist who brings them to life, their distinct styles becoming an extension of how these peoples see themselves and their place in the world.
Every image tells a story, a warrior recalling past battles, a hunter standing against the wilderness, a community reflected in its landscapes and ornaments. Together, these scenes form more than a gallery. They form a collective memory of a world in motion, one that is still being written.
With every backer, the dream moves closer to reality. Support does not just fund characters or landscapes, it empowers the artists behind them, fuels new stories waiting to be told, and ensures that this world continues to evolve through many eyes and many voices. In Fangs & Forges, art is worldbuilding, and worldbuilding is a shared act of creation.
How to support the developer
You can visit he Fangs & Forges Kickstarter
Alternatively you can follow their X (Twitter) account or Discord to keep updated.
Wishlist on Steam / Try out the Demo.
