The Most Beautiful 2D Games

Summary

• 2D games like Ender Lillies show beauty isn’t about polygons, but style, atmosphere, and visual storytelling.
• Eastward’s detailed 16-bit visuals and storytelling make every frame worth admiring in its post-apocalyptic world.
• Trine 5 seamlessly integrates stunning visuals into gameplay, using rich environments in puzzle-solving mechanics.

There’s something undeniably magical about 2D games. They don’t need hyper-realistic lighting engines or million-dollar motion capture to leave players awestruck. Instead, they paint their worlds with hand-drawn artistry, mesmerizing animation, and colors that seem to glow right off the screen. Some of them tell their stories through hauntingly beautiful landscapes, while others make every frame feel like a moving painting. These games prove that beauty in gaming isn’t just about polygons and textures—it’s about style, atmosphere, and pure visual storytelling.

From gothic dreamscapes to watercolor wonderlands, these are the most breathtakingly beautiful 2D games that refuse to be anything less than a work of art.

8

Ender Lillies: Quietus Of The Knights

A Melancholic Dream Drenched In Rain

Rain never stops falling in Ender Lilies, and somehow, that only makes its world more beautiful. This melancholic Metroidvania drapes itself in somber colors, from the washed-out ruins of Land’s End to the eerie glow of decayed castles. Every backdrop looks like it was painted with a brush dipped in sorrow, yet it’s impossible to look away.

The game’s animation is as fluid as water, making every dodge, attack, and spectral summon feel like a haunting dance. And while many games use darkness to amplify tension, Ender Lilies plays with light just as effectively. Faint, flickering candles and soft moonlight cut through the gloom, illuminating Lily, the silent protagonist, as she navigates a land consumed by the Blight. It’s a world that feels lost, but in its ruins, there’s an undeniable beauty—one that lingers long after the credits roll.

7

Eastward

A Pixelated Road Trip Through The End Of The World

Pixel art has never looked quite like this. Eastward takes the classic charm of 16-bit visuals and dials it up to a level of detail that feels almost unreal. Every street, every neon-lit shop, and every cluttered kitchen is brimming with tiny, thoughtful details—steaming food on tables, flickering lights, and posters peeling off the walls. It’s the kind of world that feels alive, even when it’s slowly crumbling.

However, Eastward isn’t just visually stunning—it knows how to use its art to tell a story. The contrast between the underground dystopia and the vibrant overworld reinforces its themes of hope and discovery. Whether players are exploring a bustling city or a desolate wasteland, the game ensures that every frame is worth stopping to admire.

6

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy

A Fairytale Come to Life

If a fantasy painting could move, it would probably look like Trine 5. The series has always been known for its painterly visuals, but this installment takes things even further, crafting environments so rich in detail they feel like they belong in an art gallery. From shimmering enchanted forests to towering castles bathed in golden light, every level is a masterclass in color and atmosphere.

However, what makes Trine 5 even more stunning is how seamlessly its beauty integrates with gameplay. The lush backgrounds aren’t just there to be admired; they’re woven into the game’s intricate puzzle-platforming mechanics. Rope bridges sway, reflections shimmer in crystal-clear water, and magical energy crackles through the air as the three heroes—Amadeus, Pontius, and Zoya—work together to solve the latest mechanical menace threatening their world.

5

Octopath Traveler

A Living Storybook With Eight Distinct Tales

Square Enix calls it “HD-2D,” but Octopath Traveler is something else entirely—a game that looks like a nostalgic dream wrapped in modern technology. With its pixel-perfect character sprites set against breathtakingly detailed 3D dioramas, the game bridges the gap between old-school RPGs and modern cinematic beauty. The lighting alone is a marvel, casting warm glows on cobblestone streets, flickering torches illuminating eerie dungeons, and ethereal reflections dancing on the ocean’s surface.

Octopath Traveler doesn’t just rely on visual spectacle. Its art direction is deeply tied to its storytelling. Each of its eight protagonists brings a different journey, and the world shifts around them accordingly. From the sun-drenched deserts of the Sunlands to the snow-laden peaks of the Frostlands, every region carries its own atmosphere, making exploration a visual delight as much as an adventure.

4

Hollow Knight

A Hollow World Overflowing With Beauty

There’s no reason an underground kingdom of bugs should look this good, yet Hollow Knight somehow makes every inch of Hallownest feel breathtaking. The game’s hand-drawn art is the definition of striking—minimalist yet packed with character, eerie yet strangely inviting. It builds its beauty through contrast: dark, foreboding tunnels suddenly opening into glowing fungal groves, bioluminescent caverns, or the delicate petals of the Queen’s Gardens.

What makes Hollow Knight even more visually impressive is its use of subtle animation. Dust drifts in forgotten chambers, rain patters in distant cities, and distant shadows scurry across cavern walls. Every movement, no matter how small, adds to the illusion of a living, breathing world. It’s a world that feels abandoned yet refuses to be forgotten.

3

Ori And The Will Of The Wisps

A Hand-Painted Symphony Of Light And Shadow

There aren’t many games that feel like pure magic, but Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of them. Every frame is a moving painting, with environments that seem to glow from within. Lush jungles burst with bioluminescence, frigid wastelands shimmer with icy blues, and golden fields sway in the wind. It’s a masterclass in lighting, with every flicker and glimmer adding to its dreamlike aesthetic.

However, Ori isn’t just pretty—it’s deeply emotional. Its expressive animation and breathtaking cinematics make every moment feel alive, whether it’s a quiet moment of reflection or a desperate race against the odds. The game’s visuals are storytelling tools that breathe life into a journey that’s as heartbreaking as it is beautiful.

2

GRIS

A Watercolor Painting In Motion

GRIS doesn’t just have a stunning art style—it is its art style. The entire game is built around its shifting colors, beginning in a world drained of vibrancy before gradually restoring hues with each step forward. Soft, delicate watercolors blend into surreal landscapes, and every frame looks like something that belongs in a gallery.

The game’s minimalism only enhances its beauty. There’s no dialogue, no UI clutter—just breathtaking visuals and a stunning soundtrack that makes every jump, every transformation, and every moment feel weightless. It’s not just a game; it’s an experience that washes over players like a dream.

1

Cuphead

A Love Letter To 1930s Animation

There’s nothing else quite like Cuphead. From its hand-drawn animation to its grainy film filter, every inch of the game is a tribute to classic 1930s cartoons. The rubber hose animation, the rich watercolor backgrounds, and the jazz-infused aesthetic make it feel like a lost relic from another era.

Yet Cuphead’s art style isn’t just for show—it’s deeply intertwined with its relentless, fast-paced gameplay. The exaggerated expressions of its bosses make every fight feel like a theatrical performance, while the vibrant color palette ensures that even the most chaotic game moments remain visually clear. It’s a game that wears its artistry on its sleeve, turning every level into a piece of living, breathing animation history.