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Pixel artis 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, thebest pixel gameson 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 gamesare nowadays primarily kept alive by theindie 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. That said, let’s highlight the greatest pixel graphics games on the market.
The focus is on “modern” games, so classics likeChrono Trigger,Castlevania: Symphony of the Night,Street Fighter, and most GBA games will not be mentioned. These masterpieces havebeautiful pixel art.
Updated August 07, 2025 by Mark Sammut:2025 has been pretty great so far, even ifpixel graphics gameshave not particularly stolen the limelight. However, quite a few exciting projects are aiming to debut by the end of the year; consequently, the section dedicated to upcoming pixel art games has been expanded. Also, a two-part game series has been added, one that contains “milk” in the titles.
AMetroidvania with pixel art graphics and a heavy focus on puzzles over story, on paper,Animal Wellsounds 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 Wellis 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 Wellis primarily a puzzle game, with basically every single screen challenging players to use a small but versatileassortment of toolsto 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 Wellis a pretty decent platformer, in the sense that the cute protagonist controls well. Finally, the visuals are fantastic, atmospheric, and periodically creepy.
Making good use of a stretch in early access,Dave the Divertransformed 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 Divercombines 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 managementand 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.
The classicStardew Valleymay be one of the mostbeloved 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, includingRed 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.
Another popular pick,Dead Cellsis a Metroidvania-style game with eye-catching animation. Itssuper-addictive rogue-like structurecreates 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 Cellsisn’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.
Many fell in love withUndertaleand 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.Undertaleis a game that will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Celesteis 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,Celestefeels 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.Celesteisn’t just about platforming; the story is as engaging as the action.
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, andRise 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 of2024’s biggest video game success storiescame somewhat out of nowhere. Dropping onto consoles and Steam,Balatrobecame an overnight sensation, taking the gaming world by storm through its unique roguelike take onPoker.
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, andBalatroadds 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.
TheWarioseries has had a cult following for some time thanks to the clever and engaging way it handled platforming. Like a mixture ofSonic the HedgehogandSuper Mario Bros., theWariogameswere 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 newWario Warerelease, 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 sameWariothey 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 withWarioand theEarthworm Jimseries. Those craving a traditional platformer that oozes a pixelated retro style need to put this release at the top of their list.
A beat ‘em up designed by a team called Tribute Games,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revengeseems 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 toTMNT’s history. Rather than a celebration of beat ‘em ups,Shredder’s Revengeis 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 Revengemight just have the smoothest combat in the genre, to the point of almost coming across like a hack and slash game at times.
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 commitment from players; however, there are a couple of games that opt for different types of experience.Sheepy: A Short Adventuremight not attract the same attention as something likeThe FinalsorApex 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,Sheepysticks 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,Sheepyis shockingly gorgeous, at least for an indie title with limited funds.
