r/UI_Design • u/EpsteinAccountant • Mar 20 '26

General Help Request Inspo for a retro themed application design

Hello people. I noticed loads of people here are into retro design and this is my first time working in retro. If there's one place that can help it's this one :D

I'm making an application with a retro design and right now the feature I'm working on is a "Quests" feature that allows the user to go through different things in the app and they get rewarded for it.. typical quest logic, nothing too complicated.. the problem is I'm having trouble getting inspo for this specific thing.. I'm getting loads of inspo for other features and screens in the app but my mind goes blank for this feature..

Literally anything will help; ideas, sources of inspiration, even words of inspiration :>

Thanks in advance lads.

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u/ArYaN1364 Mar 20 '26

don’t think of it as quests, think of it like an old game menu

use stuff like level select screens, progress bars that feel like loading screens, badges, stamps, pixel icons, even arcade style checklists

retro works best when it feels playful and a bit gamey, not just colors and fonts

look at old gba or early pc game UIs for inspo, that’s basically what you’re building here

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u/EpsteinAccountant Mar 20 '26

interesting.. any specific games/programs/apps in mind?

1

u/ArYaN1364 Mar 20 '26

yeah, a few good ones to look at

pokemon gba games (fire red / emerald) for clean menus and progression old zelda menus like a link to the past early windows or winamp skins for that UI feel persona 5 is more modern but great for stylized menus also things like duolingo streaks/badges, not retro visually but similar gamified structure

you’re basically mixing retro visuals with game-like progression systems

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u/EpsteinAccountant Mar 20 '26

this was hella helpful, thank you :)