To color a 3D model in retro games, you’ll use palette swapping, low-bit textures, or vertex coloring—methods optimized for classic console hardware limitations.
Palette swapping reuses a base model with predefined color sets (e.g., turning a red enemy blue for variation). Low-bit textures use 8/16-bit color depths for the pixelated retro look. Vertex coloring tints each model vertex (corner) to blend colors across faces—common in N64/PS1 games where texture memory was scarce.
For tools like Blender, try Vertex Paint mode for simple vertex coloring or texture editors to reduce color depth to 8-bit. Start with small models to see how colors hold up in retro-style renders.