For guide writers, clan leaders and gaming creators, typography is part of explaining a recommendation. It helps readers distinguish a priority from an alternative, a general rule from a special case, and current advice from an older version. A clear build card should support a decision before it tries to look like a game poster.
Put the recommendation in context before decorating it
Start with the game, mode and purpose of the guide. A character’s role in a boss encounter may differ from its role in competitive play. A recommendation for a developed account may be unrealistic for a beginner. State the assumptions that matter rather than expecting a portrait and a tier letter to explain them.
Write the core advice in plain text first. Identify the primary choice, the reason for it and the condition under which it changes. Then assign a visual role to each. The main recommendation can be prominent, while an exception stays nearby in readable supporting text.
Make the version part of the card
Include a reviewed date or relevant patch identifier on the graphic itself, and explain its scope in the accompanying guide. Shared images can become separated from their original page. A timestamp does not prove that advice is correct, but it gives readers a way to judge whether it belongs to the version they are playing.
Avoid a vague “updated” badge that never changes. Keep a short revision note when a recommendation changes, especially if a previous image is already circulating. The update should tell readers what changed rather than merely replace the artwork.
Give labels and explanations different jobs
Use a compact hierarchy: guide title, section or role, recommendation, explanation and caveat. Choose a readable family for the working text, with a distinct weight for headings. An expressive display face can add character to a short title, but it should not make skill names or equipment labels harder to identify.
| Guide element | Useful treatment | Mistake to avoid |
| Tier letter | Large label with a written definition | Colour alone communicates the tier |
| Character name | Consistent, readable text beside the portrait | A portrait is the only identifier |
| Stat priority | Ordered text with a clear direction | An unexplained sequence of symbols |
| Alternative build | Separate label explaining when to use it | Two builds presented as one mandatory setup |
| Version note | Readable date or patch near the title | An update date hidden outside the shared image |
Test names with similar characters and numbers: capital I, lowercase l, numeral 1, capital O and zero. Check punctuation in percentages, cooldowns and upgrade levels. Use the game’s terminology consistently, and define shortened labels when newcomers may not recognise them.
Reduce the amount of information before reducing the type
A common mistake is squeezing an entire guide into one landscape image. Split the material by mode, role or decision instead. Keep the overview brief, then offer a readable explanation below it or in separate cards. A player should not need repeated zooming just to identify the entries.
When a stat priority has exceptions, say what triggers them. For example, a fictional note might explain that a survivability requirement comes before additional damage. The design should keep that qualifier attached to the recommendation. Moving it into tiny footer text can reverse the practical meaning of the card.
Test the guide where players will read it
Review the exported image on a phone at normal size, through the channel where it will be shared. Check cropped edges, compressed lettering and text over busy backgrounds. A large desktop preview can conceal problems that become obvious in a chat attachment or a narrow browser column.
Microsoft’s Xbox Accessibility Guideline 101 notes that “there are also situational circumstances that can make text hard to read.” Its examples include small mobile screens and viewing from a distance. The guidance concerns game interfaces, but the same practical reading constraints are relevant when creating companion guides.
Microsoft uses Grounded menu text and Gears 5 subtitles as examples in that guidance. These are real examples of text serving different in-game tasks. A fan guide is a different format, so use them as a reminder to consider the reader’s situation rather than as a template to copy or a claim that a graphic is fully accessible.
| Publishing format | What to check | Useful adjustment |
| Tier-list image | Names at normal phone size | Split dense lists into smaller sections |
| Written build guide | Heading order and scannable explanations | Use structured headings and short paragraphs |
| Video overlay | Reading time and moving background | Shorten text and place it on a calm area |
| Shared build card | Context after separation from the article | Include mode, assumptions and version |
| Translated guide | Longer names and required characters | Allow wrapping and verify font coverage |
Keep an accessible text version alongside the image
Publish the character names, rankings and essential explanations as text where possible. Readers can then search the guide, copy a name and use tools that work with text. A small caption that merely says “tier list” does not convey the rankings contained in the picture.
Pair tier colours with letters or words, and make labels readable against their background. An outline may help some text stand out, but heavy effects can also obscure small letterforms. Try a plain background area before adding more glow, texture or shadows.
What custom font projects can teach guide creators
Alibaba’s published font case describes a customised TT Interphases solution adapted to the platform’s identity and technical requirements; it lists Alibaba B2B Sans and TT Interphases Pro. The relevant lesson is to define requirements before choosing a visual style. For a guide creator, those might be long names, compact labels and consistent figures, rather than a marketplace’s needs.
Photoroom provides another real example: a customised TT Interphases Pro, named TT Photoroom, became part of the photo-editing app’s identity. These projects show fonts adapted for particular digital brands. They do not demonstrate that those custom files are available for gaming graphics or that either project improved gameplay.
Check font licensing for the actual publishing format
A tier-list image, a live website, a video and a game executable are different outputs. List what you intend to publish before choosing a licence. Include any editor or collaborator who will install the font or receive editable files.
When evaluating families at typetype.org, test real guide content and describe the planned outputs in the licensing enquiry. A creator producing static cards and narrated videos may need a different scope from a developer embedding the font inside a game.
The foundry’s guidance separates Desktop, Webfont, Video & Broadcasting and Videogames uses. Its App category also includes mobile-device games, so developers should clarify the appropriate scope for their release. The trial terms state that evaluation use “is not intended for commercial use.” Read the applicable agreement and confirm any unclear arrangement before publication.
Do not assume that a font extracted from a game can be redistributed with a fan template. Font permissions also do not grant permission to reuse character art, logos or other game assets; those have separate terms. Keep the relevant permissions and approved files with the project so a future collaborator knows what may be shared.
Run one final reader test
Ask someone unfamiliar with the layout to identify the mode, locate a character and explain the first upgrade priority. Record where they hesitate. This tests the presentation; the game advice itself still needs knowledgeable review. A perfectly readable card can contain a mistaken recommendation.
- Verify names, numbers and recommendations against the reviewed guide.
- Check that tier definitions and scope are visible.
- Read the final export on a phone without enlarging it first.
- Confirm the date, source location and available text explanation.
- Retain the editable master and remove obsolete versions from the working folder.
Keep a stable template so future updates are straightforward. Change the content and version information deliberately, then review the export again. A new name or a longer explanation can break a layout that worked for the previous update.
FAQ
What is the best font for a gaming tier list
Choose by the content rather than by a “gaming” label. Test names, numbers, punctuation and small labels at the final size. A readable working family with clear weights is usually more useful than a decorative face applied everywhere. Reserve expressive lettering for brief headings.
Should a tier list use only images of characters
Include readable names wherever space allows. Portraits can be unfamiliar to new players and may change between skins or versions. If the overview cannot fit the names clearly, provide smaller sections or a searchable text list beside it.
How many fonts should a build card use
One family with regular and bold styles is a practical starting point. A second face can distinguish the title, but each additional font should have a purpose. Keep recurring labels consistent across cards so readers learn where to find information.
Can the same design work for an article and a video
The identity can stay consistent, but the layout should adapt. Article readers can pause and scan, while a video overlay has limited display time and may compete with motion. Use less text in the overlay and place the full explanation in an appropriate companion format.
Does buying a font let me embed it in a game
Not automatically. Embedding in game software may require permissions different from creating static graphics. Explain the platform, distribution and collaboration workflow to the supplier, and check the applicable agreement. Do not infer embedding rights from a desktop purchase.
Build the guide around the player’s next decision. Make the context visible, keep the working text readable and preserve a clear update trail. The visual style can still feel distinctive, but the player should leave understanding the recommendation and its limits.
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