Flip Through - The Art of Journey
- The Artbook Collector
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
October 10th 2025
Another artbook preview has been added to The Artbook Collector YouTube this week, with a look at The Art of Journey!
thatgamecompany and Bluecanvas partnered to release a look at early art behind the critically acclaimed hit in this 2012 hardcover release. Across 188 pages it shares sketches, 3D models, full colour concepts, and insights from author and art director of the game, Matt Nava. Bluecanvas sadly no longer exist as a publisher and the book has become harder to come by too, but you can check out a preview in the video below.
The Art of Journey gives readers a look at the designs for the unnamed figure you control, offering an interesting look at the early ideas the developers had for the game. It also includes art for the creatures, environments, and sequences for Journey too, covering all aspects of the visual design that helped make it special.
An interesting feature on release was the augmented reality Daqri app that allowed owners of the book to use their phone camera on select pages to see 3D models of the designs above the pages. It was a unique idea that brought the art to life.
Journey, developed by thatgamecompany, is an adventure game that has players control a robed figure traversing a vast desert to make their ascent up a glowing mountain. In the game the player collects mysterious symbols that lengthen the magical scarf of the figure, which is used to extend the time you can float while traversing the ruins in the desert. Journey has a multiplayer component too, which allows other players to join you anonymously, with communication only happening by sounds you can make. The visuals, music, and environmental storytelling help make the release an artistic experience, as well as a video game. Journey received critical acclaim when released in 2012 on PlayStation 3 and is considered of the consoles best titles. It was later ported to PS4 in 2015 and Windows in 2019.
If you like the preview above, check out the rest of the YouTube channel for more artbooks, including rare gems, new releases, and books still available to add to your own collection.
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