We collected a bunch of tutorials here https://de.pinterest.com/konspiracygames/graphics-tutorials/ that might help.

Also any tips/strategies you may have for a beginner like me to keep in mind when designing worlds like this.

Hi. Some things I would've liked to read when I was in your position:

- If you haven't ever tried to make graphics for a game then please have realistic expectations of yourself, on these first tries. I don't mean this in a condescending way: you're looking at pro games and wanting to do the same. It's like competing with a famous chef with cooking -- like, right now, if you had to join a competition on cooking, would you stand out? With graphics it's no different, it's a skill.

- Try to use other resources than just game screens as reference. They are the final product, someone else's vision, and they have gone through research to get there.
It's more valuable for you to understand other references and work on applying that to your graphics. An example is concept art: if you look at a piece of concept art, can you make pixel art in the same style? You're looking to use a similar palette, shape language \ designs, textures etc. to those of the concept(s).

- Working with a low resolution (pixel art) is not a way to skip learning how to draw and paint. In fact each pixel matters that much more, you need to understand what you're doing. You should be able to draw\paint something in high resolution as well as adapting that to a lower resolution (image taken from that "So you want to become a pixel artist" tutorial).

I hope you do well, good luck.

The top image was pixel art but the bottom zenonia picture I think is hand painted tiles. If you look at the trees and the ground tiles there is no pixelation at all and too many blended colors are used to be pixel art. There is some good looking pixel art out there so its getting harder and harder to tell these days.

I like what they did with the overworld of super mario 3D world for wii u myself. You can run around freely but you can still join levels. The colors they use are very soothing to the eyes.

I like what they did with the overworld of super mario 3D world for wii u myself.