The Best 8 Pixel Art Games of all Time

For those not familiar with this genre, pixel art games are those that utilize the traditional and simple pixel-based graphics that first came to prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s. Some of the best-known games that used this type of digital art included Pac-Man and Space Invaders.

Despite the advances in graphics and digital art, pixel art seems to retain much of its original appeal amongst gamers, especially those who recall playing games of this style in their youth. Several gaming companies have embraced this and released titles recently that look as though they could have been made 25-30 years ago.

As well as gamers have embraced retro-looking games on home PCs and consoles, we are also seeing a huge revival in the sale of pre-built arcade machines, with companies releasing original and refurbished arcade games, some of which have as many as 1300 classic titles on them. These have proved hugely popular in bars, sports clubs, and pubs, as well as homes. 

So we thought now was an appropriate time to look back at some of the best pixel art games of all time.

1. Super Mario Bros

There is some truth in the saying that the old ones are the best and the Super Mario Bros are probably the best-known plumbers on the planet! Launched in 1985, the original game allowed you to be either Mario or Luigi and featured other characters such as Princess Toadstool and Koopa. To complete a level, you needed to get from left to right across the screen, jumping over pits and enemies. The controls were amazingly simple and the soundtrack iconic. In terms of gameplay, it is great fun but also decidedly tricky to complete.

2. FEZ

FEZ is a puzzle-platform game from Polytron. It is rather unusual as it actually switches between 2D and 3D as part of the game. The ultimate aim of the game is to turn the entire universe gold. The brilliant puzzles, superb atmosphere, and sweet graphics, together with the brilliant gameplay make this a classic of its type.

3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Released over 20 years ago by Konami, the Castlevania games are enduringly popular and Symphony of the Night is considered the high point of the series. The player takes on the role of a descendent of Dracula who is able to transform into a wolf, bat, or even an ethereal mist. There are over a hundred different enemies, bad bosses, and ghastly creatures. The gameplay is superb, there are some awesome magic spells and the music is outstanding too. 

4. Street Fighter III

Street Fighter 3 is the third installment of the legendary Capcom fighting game was first released as an arcade game back in 1997. This iteration controversially discarded many of the previous characters and introduced a whole new swathe of fighters and bosses. The gameplay included several new abilities and features such as dash, retreat, leap attacks, the ‘parry’, and the special Super Arts. The graphics were extremely good for the time and the soundtrack was a mixture of drum and bass, jazz, hip hop, and house/techno.

5. Celeste

Released in early 2018, by Matt Makes Games Inc., Celeste has already amassed a huge fan base. It is a single-player adventure that has a great cast of characters and a touching underlying narrative. There are over 700 screens of platforming challenges and a selection of N-side chapters to unlock. Every death is a lesson and the mountain is full of mysteries and danger. The controls are simple and easy to learn but there are numerous layers to master. The audio track consists of live piano and catchy synth beats.

6. Shovel Knight

Released in 2014, Shovel Knight (from Yacht Club Games) is already regarded as a classic. It manages to combine elements of some of the classics such as Mega Man (bosses and levels), Mario 3 (world map), and Duck Tales (combat) into one distinct personality. The gameplay is fluid and responsive, the difficulty is medium/high (similar to Mega Man 2) and it is always easy on the eye (and the ear).

7. Terraria

Initially released in 2011, Terraria is a 2D sandbox game, featuring digging, crafting and combat. Upon release, it was immediately likened to a 2D Minecraft but it has amassed its own significant following. It is jam-packed with fascinating places to discover, from floating islands through to huge multi-level dungeons. Gameplay is rewarding and the payback is satisfying. Terraria offers hundreds of hours of rewarding exploration.

8. Dead Cells

Another 2018 release, Dead Cells is surely one of the best dungeon-crawlers ever released. Developed and published by Motion Twin, the game is set on an island overrun by the undead. The animations and visual effects are superb and each level has its own distinct feel and design as well as unique foes and puzzles. The sound effects are excellent at distinguishing between, for example, the different types of hits during combat. The gameplay is phenomenal and the game overall is challenging but never impossible.