Use PERFECT ICONS for your game!
Plan Your Icons: Making Your Game Menu Stand Out
Before downloading icons, make a list of every feature in your UI that needs visual representation. Think creatively—what symbols do you associate with each feature? For example:
- Quick Match: Symbolize speed—a stopwatch or a rabbit.
- Career: Think of progression—ladders, steps, or a briefcase.
Write down every menu item and brainstorm what image could best represent it.
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Finding High-Quality Icons
For prominent menu options, use bold, attractive icons. Multiple sites offer free icons, but Google Fonts (formerly Material Icons) is a standout source. Here’s why:
- Massive selection
- Varied styles (outlined, filled, rounded, sharp, two-tone)
- Open source and free for commercial use
For smaller UI elements like chat, friends, or quit buttons, avoid complex images that may become unreadable at small sizes. Stick with minimal, recognizable symbols.
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Downloading and Preparing Icons
Choose icons using Google Fonts:
- Visit fonts.google.com/icons.
- Search using descriptive keywords (e.g., "chat," "conversation," or "bubble").
- Choose your style—rounded icons offer a softer look.
- Set density to x2 for higher resolution.
- Change color to white for easy in-Unity color adjustments.
- Download each icon as PNG.
🛈 Tip: SVG format allows for perfect scaling, but Unity support for SVG is limited as of now. Check for updated compatibility if you're reading this in the future!
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Importing Icons into Unity
- Drag and drop your downloaded PNG icons into the "Graphics" folder in your Unity Assets.
- For each menu box, add a UI Image component and assign your chosen icon as the source.
- Adjust the text position and size, keeping things visually balanced.
For repeated structures (like multiple menu options), simply duplicate your UI object and swap out the icon and label.
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Advanced Button Formatting
Combine your icon and text neatly in Unity:
- For each button, add an Image as a child next to your Text element.
- Assign the white PNG icon and set its color via Unity’s UI color options.
- Use the Horizontal Layout Group component on the button to automatically align your text and icon.
- In the Inspector, add "Horizontal Layout Group."
- Enable "Control Child Size" for width/height.
- Adjust spacing for a perfect look.
Now, your icons and button labels stay aligned even if text changes!
Final Tips
- Organize your icons in your project just like any other assets.
- Consistent color and style make your UI look polished.
- Always preview on the device or screen size your players will use.
By following these steps, your game’s UI will look more professional and be easier for players to navigate!
