The last game I finished in 2018 was the visually stunning Shape of the World. At the time, I knew I’d taken more screenshots of it than I had of any game in recent memory. This morning I checked how many I’d taken and the number surprised even me: 365! YOW!

In trying to narrow down how many I wanted to share, I did pass after pass and am still around 30 images. Get ready for the beefiest selection and the most fantastically colorful screenshots I’ve shared yet!

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Never before have I marveled at the ever-changing color palettes of a game. Every single color palette had me saying WOW out loud. This cotton candy introduction made me excited for what was to come.

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Those little worm friends made me smile.

Also, those pastels are gorgeous.

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Between the changing palettes and changes in elevation, every view was a picture. The pale foliage against the dark trees was striking.

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The light and shadows were used to great effect.

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When I was able to get in the water it provided even more unique imagery. This color palette!

Also, get ready for me to gush about color palettes for a while.

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The pale hanging foliage and the bright purple rocks were gorgeous. The water was just a bonus.

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That dude in the background really enjoyed bouncing my sh*t around. He was so cute, I just wanted to hug him.

He REALLY didn’t want to hug me.

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I am consistently a sucker for water in games, and the shoreline in Shape of the World was no exception. The colors only enhanced the experience.

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The aesthetics here. OH MAN.

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Yet another palette where I said WOW out loud. It’s a bit difficult to tell in this screenshot, but there were delightful air squid who were floating around and following me.

I liked them a lot.

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A cascading stream in fantastical colors? Yes, please.

Also, there’s my anti-hug friend, again.

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Not since Mary Blair have I seen color palettes so dreamy. Stu Maxwell is a genius of color.

This is so gorgeous I want to eat it.

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Not only is the palette here entirely in my wheelhouse, but those polygonal leaves look amazing to me.

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I mean, just look at them! WOW.

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These tones and hues and shapes…AAAAAAAAA!!! They are almost so beautiful I can’t take it.

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This moment took my breath away. That lava-like waterfall was stunning. I mean, to be fair, the entire game was stunning. I’ve never said WOW so much out loud as I have playing Shape of the World.

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On top of this hill I discovered some Dratini-like creatures and followed them for a bit. I didn’t get a hug, but I think if we’d known each other better, they might have warmed up to me.

Also, COLORS.

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This one doesn’t translate quite as well due to the rain, but those Blood Dragon colors made me want to paint an entire wall that way. MMM.

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This was one of my favorite color palettes in the game (though I genuinely think that about most of them so…) and I just wandered around to take it all in. The landscape glowed.

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My floating hermit crab friend seemed to enjoy my company and bobbed around after me in this cave.

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I am a HUUUGE sucker for underwater caverns and this was breathtaking.

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These turtles floated through the air and were often growing glowing mushrooms.

I was entranced by them.

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This color scheme was dangerous and exciting. The glowing red with the white and dark browns was absolutely stunning. So stunning, I could barely weed down several screenshots of this particular area.

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I know the rain doesn’t translate particularly well here, but it was an encompassing scene. The colors, the lights, the rain.

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I wish I could create anything even half as gorgeous as these colors and environments.

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YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM

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I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: these color palettes are unreal, every one. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone in games put together even a handful of color palettes as amazing as Stu Maxwell’s from Shape of the World. His eye for color is unparalleled.

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I have no doubt I will print some of these out to look at on a regular basis. Shape of the World is a gorgeous game, and a magical experience. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys color, music, or games. Or, you know, anyone else.

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What game have you taken the most screenshots of?

I know it’s bitterly cold out there for so many people today. If you are one of them, please take extreme care and stay warm. And please be safe out there. Cheers.