Use a style reference to build an art family, then check the family
I'd use a style reference when a potion, doorway and landscape need to feel as though they belong in the same game. That is a different problem from keeping one character identical across poses, and separating the two makes the results easier to judge.
Ask the reference to do the right job
Midjourney's style-reference documentation describes carrying visual qualities such as color, texture and lighting into a generation. Start with a reference whose useful qualities you can name.
Perhaps you want muted greens, rough painted edges and warm highlights. Write those down so you can recognize a match without relying on a vague feeling that the result looks similar.
I would check the documentation for the model version in use before copying parameters from an older example. Keep the reference and relevant settings with your selected output.
Compare three assets your game needs
Choose a small family: a key, a chest and a doorway. Keep the reference stable while changing the subject. Put the candidates next to each other, then inspect them at the size they will appear in the game.
Look for shared material treatment, perspective and contrast. A matching palette alone doesn't make an asset set coherent if one object is painted softly and another has sharp photographic detail.
For a recurring character, add a separate identity check. Costume details, proportions and facial features need attention beyond the overall visual style. I'd reject a stylish result that no longer reads as the same character.
Include the finishing work in your decision
Take one candidate all the way through background cleanup, resizing and import. Inspect transparent edges against the real interface and compare its scale with existing assets.
Record how much correction the family needs. A workflow may be excellent for exploring an art direction while being less suitable for tightly constrained sprites or animation frames.
My decision would stay tied to that role. If the reference helps you find a coherent visual language, keep it in the concept process. If it also produces assets you can finish consistently, expand the production test. You don't need to declare one tool the answer to every stage of game art.
Sources & further reading
- Midjourney: style reference — accessed Sep 9, 2026
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