These games released between 1995 and 2019 are beautiful, especially for their innovative 2D and their exceptional artistic direction. We share some beautiful 2D games.
At a time when we give a lot of importance to graphics and especially their photorealism, it is good to remember that it is not enough that a game is realistic to be good. The 2D games that we will address in this list are magnificent and primordial, for their universe, their singularity or their influence on the world of video games.
The beautiful 2D games
Hollow knight
Hollow Knight is a real favorite. Not only are its graphics beautiful, but they also serve a poetic story and universe that has made and will capsize a lot of players. A second installment of the game is already planned, and according to the images already unveiled for this sequel, we can expect even more beautiful from Team Cherry. Patience!
Cuphead
With its retro style and ultra colorful universe, Cuphead surprised a lot of players when it was released in September 2017. Thanks to its design inspired by the cartoons of the 30s, it proposes a style little approached by recent video games. The backgrounds are beautiful, the animations of the characters extremely detailed, all to make it one of the most beautiful 2D games ever.
Ori and the blind forest
This is certainly one of the most beautiful exclusives from which the Xbox One has benefited. Ori & The Blind Forest offers 2D graphics very licked, where the least detail is important, where the games of lights continue to amaze the player. With the arrival of Cuphead on Switch, we can hope that the exclusivity Xbox One Ori stops: potentially, this magnificent game could join the catalog of the Nintendo console …
Yoshi’s Island
Despite his age (released in 1995 on Super NES, 24 years old in 2019), Yoshi’s Island has not aged. With his handmade style, it has allowed Nintendo to surprise everyone, at a time when CG graphics (like Donkey Kong Country) seemed to be the future. Cute and at the same time perfectly detailed, Yoshi’s Island is an example of 2D that will never get old.
Rayman
The very first Rayman, released in 1995 on Jaguar (and later on PS1 and Windows), is still a slap of beauty in 2D today, despite the years. This is one of the games that allowed it’s genius creator Michel Ancel and Ubisoft to make a name for themselves in the videogame world and for good reason. Beautiful, he still has not taken a ride 24 years later. It is one of the best beautiful 2D games.
