2020 was a bad year for many things, but despite all of its trials and tribulations, it was an amazing year for 2D side scrollers. From crawling through dungeons to soaring through the sky, a few new titles added their names to gamers’ lists of must-plays this past year.
While PC is normally the champion of side-scrolling adventures, 2020 offered a level playing field for gamers to enjoy these style games on the full array of platforms from PlayStation to Xbox and Nintendo Switch alike—alongside their PC counterpart this time.
10 Shing!
A co-op beat ’em up game, Shing! is a classic-feeling arcade adventure with a modern flair as a band of wisecracking warriors travels the land. This game can be played solo or with 4-player local and online co-op.
While receiving (mostly) positive reviews, the major complaints are that the self-proclaimed intuitive controls are quite difficult to adjust to. The most common praises are that the game offers a fantastic campaign with delightful slices of humor mixed in. The game is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
9 Foregone
An action-packed platformer with stunning backdrops, Foregone is a game full of big threats and an even bigger arsenal. This is a Metroidvania-style game that allows the player to fight against an all-corrupting evil while uncovering secrets left in the past.
A frequent complaint, this game can occasionally feel a bit lack-lustered, hovering just on the edge of being a memorable, deep game. On the other hand, the graphics have been praised enough to warrant a playthrough alone. Players can find Foregone onNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game comes to Steam in March 2021.
8 Vigil: The Longest Night
Soulsborne meets Metroidvania in a Lovecraftian dream state known as Vigil: The Longest Night. This game clearly pays tribute to games it was inspired by while offering fresh storylines, solid controls, and striking visuals. Find an end to the longest night and the beasts within while going toe to toe with truly horrifying and challenging boss battles.
Occasionally, the side-quests and NPC involvement can be off-putting, but any fans of the Soulsborne genre could easily look past these details for a brand new, yet familiar, 2D experience. Vigil is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
7 Spelunky 2
The sequel to a game so many grew to love, players take control of Ana, the daughter of the protagonist from the original game. Spelunky 2 has gathered a lot of love from reviewers for the same reasons the original garnered so many fans, and now it offers online multiplayer modes. With levels changing via procedural generation, each death leads to a new challenge while the player finds Ana’s missing parents.
While it can be challenging to find opposition to this game, the difficulty level can be too difficult for some. Overall, this game is universally acclaimed and highly recommended for those who fell in love with Spelunky and newcomers alike. This fan-favorite side scroller is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The Nintendo Switch version is slated for release in the summer of 2021.
6 Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest, dive into a rich story to discover Ori’s destiny while helping the broken along the way. An absolute must-play in a whimsical and outrageously beautiful setting, this game is truly a masterpiece.
The graphics are heart-warming, the story is tear-jerking, and it’s all encased in smooth gameplay fans can melt hours into. Fans rave about the original score, perfectly crafted world, and complex story. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
5 Streets Of Rage 4
A continuation of Sega’s Streets of Rage series, this beat ’em up arcade-style game is where classic meets futuristic. With an absolute banger of a soundtrack and the ability to play local multiplayer with up to four friends, this game is the formula for a fantastic Friday night.
The hand-drawn visuals and various options for gameplay stages are also among the highlights of this game. The complaints registered against the game are that instead of a nod to the old-style, Streets of Rage 4 can feel stuck in decades past. Try the game out on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
4 Creaks
Creaks is an adventure puzzle game straight out of a storybook with an art-style comparable to those in A Series of Unfortunate Events. The dark and cryptic environment along with the perfectly fitting sounds are certainly the strong suits of the game.
Gamers who came out as something less-than-fans raise that this is all the game offers. But by and large, if there is a fan of puzzle games and fantastical adventures, this is certainly the game to recommend. Try it out on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
3 Carrion
Body gore, reverse horror, and revenge are all that players find in Carrion. The player assumes control of an amorphous creature that has escaped from its prison and is determined to be free. The goal quickly turns from escape to retribution as the player destroys and consumes all the humans who imprisoned them there.
The upsides are the exhilarating carnage and strategy required to play while simultaneously offering little to no replayability. Join the carrion beast on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.
2 Record Of Lodoss War: Deedlit In Wonder Labyrinth
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is an early access game that is absolutely Metrovanian at its core. Although it is early on, the reviews have been outstandingly and overwhelmingly positive. The pixel art style and continuous platforming with classic weaponry ooze nostalgia with modern gameplay.
For gamers who like a challenge and thrive in classic action-exploration games, it doesn’t get any purer than this as a modern classic. At this time, the game is only available on PC.
1 Neversong
Formerly titled, Once Upon a Coma, Neversong is a terrifically unique side-scrolling psychological adventure game. Hollow Knight in visuals and Limbo in gameplay, along with just the right splash of Little Nightmares, this stunning game has a storyline that is up to par with its own visuals. The hauntingly beautiful piano music can make the player feel at peace or cripplingly alone at its will.
Neversong has platforming, puzzles, adventure, lore, and mystery all wrapped up into one. Help Peet find his lost girlfriend, solve the problem of the zombie-parents, and bring the child-ruled town back to normal to heal the broken hearts of lost kids everywhere.Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
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