8bit and 16bit pixel art have charm and a classy aesthetic that most games can’t come near. While some modern pixel art games will make players feel nostalgic because of their retro style, some expand on what pixel art can be in new ways. Pixel art proved time and time again that a realistic-looking game isn’t necessary to convey messages, stories, atmosphere, and emotions.
Pixel art is what defined video games in their early days, but it’s still prevalent in games created in recent years. Here is a list of games fans of pixel art must play.
Update by Chris Littlechild, December 10, 2020: The pixel art style has an enduring appeal. Sometimes, gamers of a certain age feel a nostalgic pull towards titles that resemble the classic games they grew up with. Other times, younger players are drawn to quick-fire, pick-up-and-play arcade games, which often utilize this aesthetic (retro indie games are everywhere and will continue to be).
Regardless of the reason, pixel art titles remain popular among developers, publishers, and gamers. As such, there’s always room to appreciate a few more excellent examples of this art style. From the grimly beautiful Blasphemous to the incredibly accomplished Octopath Traveler, the expanded scope of this piece now offers more fantastic pixel art games a moment in the limelight!
15 Blasphemous
The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous is a grim and gothic Metroidvania experience set in the fictional land of Custodia. The protagonist, known only as The Penitent One, is the final survivor of the Brotherhood of the Silent Sorrow, battling to piece together the truth of the ‘The Miracle.’
Blasphemous is known for its lovingly crafted and macabre world, its ghastly and twisted enemy and boss design (many of these creatures would be right at home in any horror game), and its sophisticated pixel art. These are no simplistic ‘retro inspired’ visuals.
14 Moonlighter
Moonlighter is like playing 2 different games. This roguelike RPG is a story about a shopkeeper named Will who dreams about being a hero in his village of Rynoka. With portals in his town leading to different realms, Will gets a chance to show his bravery.
The game is split into 2 parts. During the day, the protagonist manages their shop, communicates with villagers for special requests and crafts new items. Players can price their items and interact with customers as well. At night, it’s time to enter the dungeons and wield a weapon against enemies for valuable loot. The game cycles between the shop and the dungeons. Other parts of Rynoka come in handy too. With any extra cash, players can visit local shops to upgrade weapons to suit their play style.
13 Octopath Traveler
For many, Square Enix is known solely as the creators of the ever-popular Final Fantasy franchise. In truth, the company has brought gamers a wide array of beloved franchises besides, such as Parasite Eve and Bushido Blade. Another of their bigger titles of more recent years was Octopath Traveler.
While this RPG bears a resemblance to the older Final Fantasy titles, Its pixel art (like that of Blasphemous) employs a variety of advanced visual techniques. Not only that, but its combination of interesting combat mechanics (the Break system is incredibly satisfying to pull off) and the way the eight core characters’ plots interweave make this an interesting and meaty title for any fan of pixel art visuals to pick up.
12 Killer Queen Black
While a lot of pixel art titles take a pure platforming approach (the market has become sadly saturated with such), Killer Queen Black takes a competitive, team-based approach on the concept. The title, a refined version of the original Killer Queen, sees two teams of four battle it out on a variety of stages.
One player controls the hive’s Queen, while others take the role of Drones or Warriors. It’s fast and frantic fun, with three different methods of winning a match: Military Victory (kill the opposing Queen three times), Economic Victory (one team’s Drones fill all of their slots with gathered berries) or Snail Victory (a Drone rides the Snail God on the stage all the way to their team’s goal line). The need to manage resources, keep an eye on the opponents’ moves, and co-operate with team-members simultaneously makes the action much more hectic and tactical than it may appear at first.
11 Skelly Seleste
Skelly Seleste is another title that takes the quickfire arcade approach. It’s a highscore-hunting romp through the underworld as a Heavenly Keeper, a skeletal warrior that seeks to beat back the demonic hordes. To do this, players are armed only with a simple gun and axe.
Those accustomed to the likes of The Binding Of Isaac will know what to expect here: rooms full of waves of foes and randomly-selected power-ups to pick from between said waves. With mods offering dungeon crawling, simple arena battle survival modes, and even a card game akin to Final Fantasy VIII’s brilliant Triple Triad (into which players sunk hours on end trying to acquire the best cards), there’s a lot of fun to be had with this bite-sized package.
10 Coffee Talk
The official website for Coffee Talk cites “90s anime, classic pixel art adventure games, and the chill imageries often associated with lo-fi chillhop music” as inspirations for its visual style. All of this will be super apparent to anyone who has spent time with the popular title.
Coffee Talk is a fascinating visual novel, set in an alternate take on contemporary Seattle. Fantastic creatures like orcs live alongside humankind and, of course, share coffee shops. Which is where the player comes in. The goal of the game is to satisfy these often-mythological patrons while learning more about them and their lives. Over the course of play, a variety of thought-provoking and utterly engrossing tales will be told.
9 Owlboy
Owlboy is a sincere story about Otus, a boy who is also an owl. His life takes a turn when pirates appear, but that’s just the beginning. Otus can fly anywhere he wants, but that doesn’t mean this beautiful and very creative platformer/adventure title will be any easier. In this game, progressing through dungeons requires puzzle solving and fighting enemies that obstruct the path.
In order to fight, Otus carries his friends to target enemies or creatively uses his undemanding abilities. It’s heartwarming seeing his friends become his strength. Owlboy‘s imaginative story and unique playstyle make the game all the more compelling. The jaw-dropping, detailed pixel art is the best part of this game. From the background to the foreground, it’s incredibly well designed.
8 Katana ZERO
Katana ZERO‘s retro, neon art paired with synth music creates an exhilarating atmosphere that complements the game’s fast-paced nature. The protagonist is Zero, an assassin that is under a drug called Chronos that grants him a way to manipulate time. Abilities such as dodging, slowing time, and reflecting bullets take time to master. Mastering these skills is important, since each level must be completed flawlessly.
A feature that stands out in Katana ZERO is that Zero dies after taking a single hit. When Zero dies, his precognition rewinds back to the start of the mission. This gives gamers another chance to fix their mistake and to complete the entire task without dying. The story may not be as captivating as some, but the few hours of combat are enjoyable.
7 Baba Is You
Baba Is You uses pixel art in a distinctive and simplistic way. The main character is a white, four-legged creature striving to get past all obstacles. Puzzles happen to be a crucial part of many pixel art games, but Baba Is You makes puzzles the only mechanic allowing the player to move forward in the game.
The only way to get through the game is to manipulate the rules, which are playable objects in the game, and find the solution. It seems simple enough, but its simplicity is misleading. The puzzles become challenging and push players to contemplate. Not to mention, the pixel art is adorable.
6 Stardew Valley
The classic Stardew Valley may be one of the most popular pixel art games of recent times. 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
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. The game 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.
4 Undertale
Many fell in love with Undertale and it’s no surprise why. The story revolves around a young child that 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.
3 Hyper Light Drifter
Hyper Light Drifter is visually captivating, with its 16bit 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 exploration of 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.
2 The Messenger
The Messenger is an action platformer about a ninja who must travel through dangerous lands to deliver a scroll that will save his clan. The game uses pixel art in an exciting way. It starts as an 8-bit adventure, but as the story delves into time travel, it turns the game into 16-bit. The Messenger truly captures the spirit of classic retro games.
Although it starts off with basic controls, new abilities can be unlocked to fight off villains and to make platforming a bit easier. Collectibles, called the Time Shards, allow for character upgrades as well. Even though the situation is dire, the game still holds a great sense of humor which makes it more entertaining.
1 Celeste
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, unique 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. The game isn’t just about platforming; the story is as engaging as much as the action.
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