Thunderhead: A churning thunderhead drops rain and two staggered lightning strikes that light the cloud, flash the screen and throw bouncing sparks.

Thunderhead

A churning thunderhead drops rain and two staggered lightning strikes that light the cloud, flash the screen and throw bouncing sparks.

Thunderhead is an HD effect that loops seamlessly every 2 seconds, drawn on a 512 by 512 canvas. It is built from 17 particle emitters and 2 lightning bolts. Most layers blend additively, so it glows on dark backgrounds.

Free download with a transparent background, cropped to the effect, 60 frames at 30 fps. Use it in commercial games, no credit needed.

OPEN IN THE STUDIO

Change the colours, timing or size, or export for Unity, Godot 4, GameMaker, Phaser, PixiJS and Aseprite.

DETAILS

Length
2 seconds, seamless loop
Canvas
512 x 512, HD
Layers
17 emitters and 2 lightning bolts
Blend
Mostly additive (glows)
Colours
pale bluebluedeep bluewhite
Sprites
Kenney Particle Pack by Kenney (CC0), Kenney Smoke Particles by Kenney (CC0)
Tags
lightning, storm, thunder, weather, hazard, rain

USING IT IN YOUR GAME

Phaser, PixiJS
Take the PNG sheet: it comes with a TexturePacker JSON atlas that both load directly.
Unity
Import the PNG sheet as a Sprite with Mode set to Multiple and slice it, or open the effect in the studio for a ready-made grid.
Godot 4, GameMaker, Aseprite
Open it in the studio and pick your engine in Export: it writes the files that engine imports.
Web and chat
The GIF plays anywhere; the APNG keeps soft edges on any background.
Blend mode
This effect is made of light. For the same glow in your game, draw the sprite with additive blending, or export it on black from the studio for additive shaders.

MORE Elemental

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