PICO-8, Endesga 32 & Friends: Retro Palettes Explained

Q: What is the PICO-8 palette?

The 16 fixed colors of the PICO-8 fantasy console — a deliberately constrained set that has become shorthand for modern indie pixel art. Its distinctive teal-pink-peach combinations are instantly recognizable in games like Celeste Classic.

Q: What is Endesga 32 used for?

Endesga 32 is a 32-color palette by artist Endesga, prized for hue-shifted color ramps — colors change hue as they brighten, giving saturated, professional-looking shading. Many consider it the gold standard for game sprite work, and it flatters organic subjects like people and nature.

Q: Why use a fixed palette instead of the photo's own colors?

Constraint is the style. A photo's millions of colors average into muddiness at pixel scale; a curated 8-64 color palette forces bold, deliberate choices — that's what makes pixel art look like art rather than a shrunken photo.

Pixel artists don't pick colors freely — they pick a palette and live inside it. The famous ones have names, histories and devoted followings. PixelPic ships the real things, so here's what you're choosing between.

The artist palettes

PICO-8 — the indie signature

Sixteen fixed colors from the PICO-8 “fantasy console,” whose constraints birthed a generation of indie games (Celeste began here). Teal seas, pink accents, peach skin tones. Instantly recognizable. Use it for: anything you want to look like a beloved indie game; portraits take on real charm.

16 colors · hex values via Lospec

#000000
#1D2B53
#7E2553
#008751
#AB5236
#5F574F
#C2C3C7
#FFF1E8
#FF004D
#FFA300
#FFEC27
#00E436
#29ADFF
#83769C
#FF77A8
#FFCCAA

Endesga 32 — the sprite-work standard

Artist Endesga's 32-color set, famous for hue-shifted ramps: colors shift hue as they brighten instead of just getting lighter, which is what makes shading look alive. Widely considered the gold standard for modern game sprites. Use it for: organic subjects (people, pets, landscapes) where you want vibrancy with polish.

32 colors · palette by ENDESGA · hex values via Lospec

#BE4A2F
#D77643
#EAD4AA
#E4A672
#B86F50
#733E39
#3E2731
#A22633
#E43B44
#F77622
#FEAE34
#FEE761
#63C74D
#3E8948
#265C42
#193C3E
#124E89
#0099DB
#2CE8F5
#FFFFFF
#C0CBDC
#8B9BB4
#5A6988
#3A4466
#262B44
#181425
#FF0044
#68386C
#B55088
#F6757A
#E8B796
#C28569

SLSO8 — eight colors of mood

Just eight colors running from deep indigo to warm cream. The tiny count forces dramatic, poster-like results with heavy atmosphere. Use it for: sunsets, silhouettes, moody portraits, images that live on contrast.

8 colors · palette by Luis Miguel Maldonado · hex values via Lospec

#0D2B45
#203C56
#544E68
#8D697A
#D08159
#FFAA5E
#FFD4A3
#FFECD6

AAP-64 — the big box of crayons

Sixty-four colors by AdigunPolack, the roomiest palette here, with nuanced skin tones, greens and sky gradients while staying unmistakably pixel art. Use it for: detailed scenes and group photos where smaller palettes flatten too much.

64 colors · palette by Adigun A. Polack · hex values via Lospec

#060608
#141013
#3B1725
#73172D
#B4202A
#DF3E23
#FA6A0A
#F9A31B
#FFD541
#FFFC40
#D6F264
#9CDB43
#59C135
#14A02E
#1A7A3E
#24523B
#122020
#143464
#285CC4
#249FDE
#20D6C7
#A6FCDB
#FFFFFF
#FEF3C0
#FAD6B8
#F5A097
#E86A73
#BC4A9B
#793A80
#403353
#242234
#221C1A
#322B28
#71413B
#BB7547
#DBA463
#F4D29C
#DAE0EA
#B3B9D1
#8B93AF
#6D758D
#4A5462
#333941
#422433
#5B3138
#8E5252
#BA756A
#E9B5A3
#E3E6FF
#B9BFFB
#849BE4
#588DBE
#477D85
#23674E
#328464
#5DAF8D
#92DCBA
#CDF7E2
#E4D2AA
#C7B08B
#A08662
#796755
#5A4E44
#423934

Fantasy 24 — storybook tones

Twenty-four colors tuned for a softer, painterly, RPG-flavored feel. Use it for: nature, cottages, golden-hour shots, anything that should feel like a quest location.

24 colors · hex values via Lospec

#1F240A
#39571C
#A58C27
#EFAC28
#EFD8A1
#AB5C1C
#183F39
#EF692F
#EFB775
#A56243
#773421
#724113
#2A1D0D
#392A1C
#684C3C
#927E6A
#276468
#EF3A0C
#45230D
#3C9F9C
#9B1A0A
#36170C
#550F0A
#300F0A

The era palettes

Alongside the artist sets, PixelPic includes era styles (8-Bit Classic, Retro Handheld, Home Computer, Retro Arcade, Retro OS) that channel specific hardware generations rather than specific artists. The 8-bit guide maps each to its era.

And the two wildcards

AI Reimagine is the default: the AI chooses colors to suit your specific photo. Best first run, and the right pick when you don't want to think about palettes at all.
Original keeps your photo's own colors. Least “arty,” most faithful.

The palette tour: run one photo through PICO-8, Endesga 32 and SLSO8 back to back, and every version is saved in the project for side-by-side comparison. Nothing teaches palette taste faster, and it costs three taps.

Try the legendary palettes on your photos

PICO-8, Endesga 32, SLSO8, AAP-64 and more: the real palettes, one tap each. Free to try.

Download on the App Store

FAQ

What is the PICO-8 palette?

The 16 fixed colors of the PICO-8 fantasy console, modern indie pixel art's signature look.

What is Endesga 32 used for?

Professional sprite work — its hue-shifted ramps make shading look alive, and it is strong on people and nature. All 32 hex values are listed above; the palette is by ENDESGA.

Why use a fixed palette instead of the photo's own colors?

Constraint is the style: curated colors force bold choices, which is what separates pixel art from a shrunken photo.