Best Pixel Art Games

Pixel art is a staple of the industry, going back to the NES era. For more than a decade, this visual style defined the gaming industry, with Nintendo and Sega’s early consoles making great use of 8-bit and 16-bit graphics to tell engaging stories and deliver addictive gameplay. Eventually, pixel graphics fell out of fashion with AAA developers as 3D visuals became the norm; however, the best pixel games on the SNES and Genesis have generally aged far better than most of the 3D projects that were considered high-tech during the ’90s.

Although major companies still delve into this art type on occasion, pixel games are nowadays primarily kept alive by the indie sector. Every week seems to produce at least a couple of projects that make use of this style, and they can sometimes threaten to blend together. That said, let’s highlight the greatest pixel graphics games on the market.

Updated November 3, 2024 by Mark Sammut: November has just gotten started, and its lineup has quite a few exciting pixel art games. Let’s go through a few standouts.

The focus is on “modern” games, so classics like
Chrono Trigger
,
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
,
Street Fighter
, and most GBA games will not be mentioned. These masterpieces have
beautiful pixel art
.

1 Core Keeper

An Addictive Sandbox Survival Game

After a run in early access, Core Keeper made its full debut on August 27, 2024, and the extra time spent in the oven was well worth it. Dropped in an underground sandbox with little initial direction, players have to get digging, gradually carving their way across an expansive world that feels endless at times. Core Keeper is a survival crafting game that uses procedural technology, meaning the focus is squarely on the gameplay loop rather than following a specific story. At a glance, Pugstorm’s project might not seem that far removed from something like Terraria, but it does eventually carve out a unique identity.

Core Keeper starts to shine when players have amassed an OK amount of resources and have set up a proper base, allowing them to focus on expanding their reach. Along with deep crafting and building, the game also has a simple but fun combat system, one that is highlighted through boss fights. However, if players want a more relaxing experience defined by exploration and crafting, they can focus on those elements.

2 Animal Well

Gorgeous & Atmospheric Metroidvania That Focuses On Puzzles

A Metroidvania with pixel art graphics and a heavy focus on puzzles over story, on paper, Animal Well sounds like the most prototypical indie project ever. And, in many ways, it delivers exactly that type of experience; however, Shared Memory reassembled a slew of well-worn pieces to create something that feels surprisingly fresh despite sharing so many similarities with other titles found on Steam. While fairly niche as an overall experience, Animal Well is arguably the perfect representative of the type of game it is trying to be. Not everyone will like it, but a lot of people will love it.

Set in a reasonably large world that is easy to navigate due to a decent map and well-placed markers, Animal Well is primarily a puzzle game, with basically every single screen challenging players to use a small but versatile assortment of tools to trigger switches and open doors. These brain-teasers get difficult quite quickly as they require some lateral thinking and the game rarely presents obvious hints. Beyond the puzzles, Animal Well is a pretty decent platformer, in the sense that the cute protagonist controls well. Finally, the visuals are fantastic, atmospheric, and periodically creepy.

3 Dave The Diver

Blends Restaurant Sim & Fishing To Create A Quirky & Lengthy Delight

Making good use of a stretch in early access, Dave the Diver transformed into a fully fleshed-out experience that was among 2023’s best games, which is saying something as that year was packed with great AAA and indie releases. While taking a few ideas from popular genres and projects, Dave the Diver combines its ingredients to create a tasty and, more importantly, unique dish. The eponymous Dave has to make sure his sushi restaurant is stocked with all sorts of fishy goodness, and he takes it upon himself to explore the Blue Hole waters in search of new menu items.

The game is split into two parts: restaurant management and deep-sea exploration. The former is a surprisingly in-depth sim with a satisfying sense of progression; meanwhile, the latter holds many surprises and its share of challenges. Individually, these elements could carry a game on their own, but together they combine to create a project with few peers in terms of quality.

4 Stardew Valley

The Standard Setter For Indie Farming Sims

The classic Stardew Valley may be one of the most beloved pixel art games of all time. In this RPG, the goal is to build a farm and restore Stardew Valley. Players can grow crops, raise animals, cook meals, go fishing (a profitable endeavor in all manner of titles, including Red Dead Online), and craft items they need. The pixel style adds to the charm of living a wholesome farm life.

Also, the main character can interact with NPCs and even start a family. It’s like living in a pixelated world. Besides that, players can complete bundles for currency or resources. The only consequence here is getting too tired, which then reduces earnings. It’s also possible to play with friends and build a farm together or share resources, so that’s a bonus.

5 Dead Cells

Challenging & Addictive 2D Soulslike Roguelike

Another popular pick, Dead Cells is a Metroidvania-style game with eye-catching animation. Its super-addictive rogue-like structure creates a challenge for players with permadeath, which means a lot of what is earned will be lost on death. This fast-paced game keeps gamers’ hearts pumping with the scare of permadeath and merciless enemies. In short, the game feels incredibly thrilling.

The goal is to cautiously escape the castle and to complete each dungeon successfully. Dead Cells isn’t so ruthless, though, since players get permanent upgrades to help them throughout their journey. Also, the nonlinear progression enables access to different paths to reach the destination. Players can go for paths that seem the most fitting for their play style.

6 Undertale

Very Replayable And Exceptionally Well-Written RPG

Many fell in love with Undertale and it’s no surprise why. The story revolves around a young child who falls into the Underground and is introduced to a world of monsters. For a game set in a deadly place, it’s quite endearing, with humor, eccentric monster personalities, and the main character’s ability to be friends with all the enemies.

However, friendship isn’t necessary. In combat, it’s possible to spare enemies or kill them, which results in different consequences. The goal of the game is to find a way back to the surface. The journey involves a handful of perplexing puzzles and unique combat through the dark and unsophisticated pixel world. Undertale is a game that will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

7 Celeste

Challenging & Emotional Platformer

Celeste is a story of self-discovery for the main character, Madeline. This narrative platformer is about helping Madeline fight her way to the top of Celeste Mountain. With arduous challenges and stimulating platforming, Celeste feels worthwhile. The 8-bit style, exploration, uniquely designed secret rooms, and progression of the game feel quite wholesome.

The controls are simple and easy to learn, but that doesn’t mean the game won’t be challenging. Players should be prepared for countless deaths while they make their way up to the summit. The deaths aren’t discouraging, urging players to maintain a trial-and-error mindset. Celeste isn’t just about platforming; the story is as engaging as the action.

8 Balatro

Clever Twist On Poker

The first few months of 2024 produced quite a few notable projects. Palworld, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Rise of the Ronin​​​​​​, just to name a handful of major releases that caught the attention of players. For the most part, these games were highly anticipated and known quantities that managed to live up to (or surpass) expectations; however, one of 2024’s biggest video game success stories came somewhat out of nowhere. Dropping onto consoles and Steam, Balatro became an overnight sensation, taking the gaming world by storm through its unique roguelike take on Poker.

Similar to other card-builders, Balatro‘s loop revolves around taking on a string of opponents while gradually building a stronger deck of cards. The core concept is tried-and-true, and Balatro adds a host of flavorful enhancements that make for a well-rounded and addictive experience. Accessible but also packed with depth and just enough randomness to keep things feeling constantly fresh, LocalThunk’s game is very difficult to put down and really nails that “one more turn” appeal.

9 Pizza Tower

Chaotic, Energetic, & Hilarious Platformer

The Wario series has had a cult following for some time thanks to the clever and engaging way it handled platforming. Like a mixture of Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros., the Wario games were much wackier and a bit more eclectic than their flagship Mushroom Kingdom cousins. Unfortunately, Nintendo hasn’t done much on the Wario front, specifically concerning the platforming releases. There has been a new Wario Ware release, but nothing to satiate the fans craving the iconic platforming gameplay.

Thankfully, there are still fans (and game designers) out there who are keeping the “style” alive, even if it’s not the same Wario they know and love. Pizza Tower is a great addition to the platformer genre, featuring some amazing art and gameplay elements that feel right at home with Wario and the Earthworm Jim series. Those craving a traditional platformer that oozes a pixelated retro style need to put this release at the top of their list.

10 Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Fun Old-School Shooter With Warhammer 40K Coat Of Paint

Warhammer 40K has a long and storied history in video games, but the franchise is not especially known for first-person shooters. Boltgun tries to remedy that by providing a budget option that harbors back to retro shooters from the ’90s. As the game wears its influences unabashedly on its sleeve, it risks feeling tired since recent years have produced more than their share of Doom and Blood throwbacks. Although perhaps not the greatest modern retro shooter, Boltgun is nevertheless an absolute blast to play.

The player is cast as a Space Marine who is assigned missions that basically boil down to “kill everything and make it flashy.” Boltgun has very little time or patience for a story, opting instead to throw players into the thick of things and keep them there for as long as possible. The game nails its movement and weapons, both of which are as empowering as they should be considering the protagonist. While there isn’t much of a narrative to speak of, Boltgun makes up for it through its environmental design.

11 Cassette Beasts

Great Creature Collector Game And An Alternative To Pokemon

Monster-collecting RPGs are not exactly impossible to find, they just seem that way since the subgenre is completely dominated by one name: Pokemon. Over the decades, Game Freak’s franchise has not only produced its share of fantastic titles but also inspired other developers to follow suit. Bytten is one such company, and the studio’s Cassette Beasts is among the most refreshing modern takes on the monster-taming formula. Utilizing a cute and detailed pixel art style that harbors back to the Nintendo DS, the RPG features a well-realized island setting that is essentially an open-world, albeit obviously presented from an isometric angle rather than in third-person.

The game does a good job of establishing its own identity through a mystery-laden plot featuring NPCs who, by and large, have only begun to piece together their situation. Cassette Beasts‘ turn-based combat goes out of its way to ensure it stands out of the crowd while still offering a fairly accessible core loop. The protagonist and their partners can transform into beasts they have recorded in their cassette players, and the human characters level up rather than the monsters (although the latter have their own progression system). These mechanics are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Cassette Beasts‘ fresh ideas.

12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Loving Tribute To TMNT & Just An All-Around Awesome Beat ‘Em Up

A beat ’em up designed by a team called Tribute Games, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge seems like an obvious throwback to yesteryear, especially since the franchise had a great run of games during the ’90s. However, this project is not that much of an old-school retreat in terms of gameplay, and the “tribute” element mostly comes through the campaign’s many, many references to TMNT‘s history. Rather than a celebration of beat ’em ups, Shredder’s Revenge is a love letter to the Turtles’ legacy, and it is fantastic.

Even before getting to the action, the graphics instantly pop off the screen with vibrant colors and impressive backdrops oozing with charm and personality. The playable heroes, foot clan, and bosses are consistently detailed, and the same can be said for their smooth animation. While very much a beat ’em up, Shredder’s Revenge might just have the smoothest combat in the genre, to the point of almost coming across like a hack and slash game at times.

13 Sheepy: A Short Adventure

A Shockingly Great Free-To-Play Pixel Game

Steam does not lack free-to-play games, and most of them are designed around multiplayer. While these titles have a lot to offer, most of them are meant to be played daily or require significant commitments from players; however, there are a couple of games that opt for different types of experience. Sheepy: A Short Adventure might not attract the same attention as something like The Finals or Apex Legends, but it serves as a fantastic example of what a free project can encompass.

A single-player project that lasts roughly an hour, the campaign guides players through an underground dystopian hellscape as an adorable protagonist gradually finds recordings and notes that shine a light on the events that led to this situation. Primarily a platformer, Sheepy sticks to the genre’s basic formula, which makes sense for such a short runtime. However, the gameplay is responsive and enjoyable, and the player’s moveset even grows throughout the story. Visually, Sheepy is shockingly gorgeous, at least for an indie title with limited funds. The pixel graphics and the overall art style appear to be inspired by Ori, which is ambitious.

14 Triangle Strategy

Square Enix’s Modern Tactical JRPG

Square Enix released quite a few new IPs in 2022, and Triangle Strategy was arguably the publisher’s strongest release of the year. A turn-based tactics game inspired by classics such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Triangle Strategy tells a mature story revolving around a war stemming from a shortage of crucial resources. Narratively, this game is dense, both thematically and in terms of characters. The same can be said for the gameplay, which takes from the genre’s classics while still forming its own style and voice.

Triangle Strategy‘s pixel graphics are nothing short of awe-inspiring. While it might not have the same budget as some more mainstream Square Enix RPGs, this game features detailed character models and stunning locations. When it comes to pixel art, few releases compare to Triangle Strategy​​​​​.

15 Papers, Please

Tensest Pixel Art Game

Papers, Please is a weird recommendation since its visuals are not exactly beautiful. However, the 2013 release left a huge mark on the indie scene, and it was arguably among the most important projects of the early 2010s. While the pixel graphics are simplistic and monotonous, they complement the gameplay and story.

Stationed at a border checkpoint between two countries that are constantly in conflict, players must decide who they let crossover or not. Along with allowing people to pass, they must also catch people who are lying or pose a threat to the nation. Telling a tense and human narrative that constantly requires difficult choices to be made, Papers, Please is an unforgettable experience with quite a bit of replay value, even if it is not necessarily fun to play in a traditional sense.

16 Octopath Traveler 2

Classic Turn-Based JRPG That Represents HD-2D At Its Best

Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler was released in 2018 and served as a throwback to old-school turn-based JRPGs, albeit with a twist. The game follows eight protagonists as they go on disconnected adventurers. While they act as party members during their companions’ stories and interact together to an extent, their stories are standalone.

Octopath Traveler 2 largely sticks to the same formula, but it does alter a handful of things along the way. Once again, the game features eight playable characters, all of whom are the protagonists of their own storylines. Players are given the freedom to pick who they want to start with as well. While the franchise’s structure is not for everyone, Octopath Traveler is undoubtedly a polished experience, both visually and mechanically. The turn-based combat adheres to the past while still incorporating modern conventions; meanwhile, the game’s pixel art is nothing short of stunning.

17 To The Moon

Story-Driven Pixel Art Game That Has Aged Well

There are approximately a billion RPG Maker games, so a project needs to be extra special to stand out from the plethora of (good) titles out there. To the Moon breaks away from its RPG roots by opting against the use of a combat system, prioritizing puzzles and story progression above everything else. Later on, To the Moon received a Unity facelift, and it looks better than ever now.

Atmospheric and heartfelt, To the Moon does what it sets out to do very well. Its pixel art hits a sweet spot between (relative) realism and dream-like fantasy.

18 Vampire Survivors

The Peak Of A (Relatively) New Genre

OK, Vampire Survivors is hardly the most visually stunning pixel art game on the market; in fact, it looks quite simplistic for the most part. However, this title gets by comfortably on its gameplay and replayability. After picking a character, players take on wave after wave of enemies, a process that rewards Survivors with new items.

Even as the screen fills with destruction and mayhem, Vampire Survivors rarely becomes frustratingly overwhelming, so death typically just fuels a new restart. The combat is deceptively deep as well, with each character requiring considerable time investment to master.

19 Unpacking

A Pixelated Trip Through The Years

As anyone familiar with the process can attest, nothing is relaxing or especially enjoyable about moving to a new place. Even if the destination is an upgrade, the act of moving is still stressful, time-consuming, and frustrating. Somehow, Unpacking transforms this headache into a therapeutic experience, one that has a subtle but impactful emotional core.

In each of the campaign’s eight levels, players must unpack the unseen protagonist’s boxes, setting them up for the next chapter of their lives. Through this procedure, Unpacking reveals information about the character’s life, personality, struggles, and ambitions. While an acquired taste, this title is one of the best pixel games of the last few years.

20 Hyper Light Drifter

A Pixelated Rush For Survival

Hyper Light Drifter is visually captivating, with its 16-bit style and vibrant colors. The main character, the Drifter, is overcome with a tormenting illness. To find a way to calm this illness, the Drifter must explore the lands of Buried Time. The game doesn’t have any words, but the environment created by the pixel art lets players interpret the story.

This game encourages players to explore its beautifully created world filled with secrets and various paths. Fighting is easy to learn, but it will take time to fully grasp. Besides, the heart-pounding battles against enemy hordes and tough bosses do feel gratifying.