Discover the Top 7 Must Play Pixel Art Games for a Lifetime Experience

Pixel art games have a special magic that brings back memories of the good old days of gaming. Even though graphics have gotten way fancier, lots of folks still love the simple, cool look of 16 or 18-bit visuals. In a time when games look super real, these pixel art games stand out.

They mix cool art with fun stuff to do, making players of all ages get hooked. Developers who are great at Pixel Art make worlds that feel both familiar and awesome, inviting players to go on cool adventures full of pixel guns.

7 Best Pixel Art Games You Should Play

We’re checking out 7 of the coolest Pixel Art games you can find on Steam right now. Get ready to dive into pixelated worlds, where every little square has a story and every character is like a piece of art. Let’s jump in and discover the pixelated magic waiting for us in the gaming world!

7. Voidigo

Starting things off with an exciting game, Voidigo is a roguelike shooter where you spawn in a vibrant pixel world and have to fight off some really powerful bosses. The idea is that the world is overtaken by corruption and you are going to defeat some powerful enemies using basically whatever means necessary. The game allows you to choose between a lot of different weapons and you can also use jumping, dodging, and other power-ups to outsmart your enemies. Another cool element of the game is that the bosses aren’t always programmed to just fight you all the time. 

If you’re beating them badly, they might start hiding and lurking, then turn around and hunt you. It opens up many choices during battles and shakes things up. In general, these features make it among the most enjoyable pixel art games you should try on Steam.

6. Crawl

This is one of the other pixel art games that follows a PvP Dungeon Crawler approach. The twist is that the Dungeon Crawler and all the enemies and traps in the dungeons are player-controlled. Crawl can be played with up to four players in local co-op and whenever someone who is controlling a monster kills the crawler, they become the crawler next and have to survive against traps and monsters. 

The dungeons, traps, and enemies are all randomly generated from a huge selection of variables which makes the game a lot more fun since you won’t know what to expect with each match. It is a fun co-op Pixel Art game that can keep you and your friends thoroughly entertained. PvP and co-op combination with Dungeon surrounding make this among the most incredible pixel art games on Steam.

5. Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress is a passion project that started in 2003 and has been growing ever since. The idea here is that you spawn in a randomly generated pixel world where everything from personalities, cultures, and societies are randomised, and you have to manage everything. The game is now available on Steam and has a very positive rating. All sorts of crazy things happen in the game where you battle dragons, prevent your people from starving, and manage other aspects of society. 

The combat mechanics in the game are very well thought out and include aspects like pain, poison, nausea, and different damage based on where you strike the enemy. Also, the developer has improved the new player experience by introducing meaningful tutorials and guides. 

This game is such a staple and the dedicated player group that plays this game, they love it, and it’s one of the most impressive games and feats ever, really not even just pixel art games. So if you’re looking for a game that can become a hobby and you want a world to dive into with basically infinite possibilities, Dwarf Fortress is worth looking into.

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4. Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami released ten years ago today.

Celebrations forthcoming. pic.twitter.com/fvDfwNCqeN

— Hotline Miami (@HotlineMiami) October 23, 2022

Hotline Miami is an essential gaming experience if you want to get experience in pixel art games. It boasts mesmerising Pixel Art, refined gameplay mechanics, and visceral combat.

You play as an anti-hero fighting an underground organisation. The game has impressive action and delivers on the power and gore fantasy. The game introduces larger, more challenging levels while maintaining its top-down shooter mechanics. Improved lock-on targeting and diverse character motivations add depth. Although some levels feel imposing, unlockable hard mode and a map editor extend replayability. 

With confident style and engaging storytelling, Hotline Miami delivers a balanced mix of new and familiar thrills for fans making it one of the best pixel art games for every game lover.

3. Dead Cells

Next up is Dead Cells. This is the 2D Souls-like on the list of Pixel Art games that borrows the best elements from all-time classics like Metroid and Castlevania games. The game has you exploring a vibrant Pixel Art-style castle and many other locations around it. Dead Cells has a permadeath system adding even more attention to the game. 

You can also choose from a wide variety of weapons, about 140, each providing a unique playstyle. Additionally, you can unlock special abilities and secret passages across the map to quickly travel between levels and areas. This often allows you to bypass some of the unwanted heat along the way. 

Chances are you are probably gonna die a lot starting out but as you keep learning the combat and the flow of the game, each hurdle starts to become less and less challenging and before long you start chaining every weapon and power in your arsenal and flying through areas. Honestly, that’s when the game truly hits you and you start appreciating its mechanics and excellent design. 

2. Noita

Coming in at number two is Noita, a roguelite where you venture through a pixelated world where every pixel reacts to your actions by burning, freezing, crumbling, eroding, and many other things. 

Every spell you cast here is going to cause a reaction. Having reactive pixels is unique but the developers didn’t stop there and added a procedurally generated world that evolves into something new every time you visit the game. 

The combat primarily focuses on magic spells and the custom combos you can create with them. Noita is truly impressive. It’s an excellent game for anyone even remotely interested in roguelites and dungeon crawlers. If you’re looking for a top-notch rogue-like with high-quality magic elements, it’s a must-play among pixel art games.

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1. Terraria

At number one, we have Terraria. Terraria is one of the massive sandbox adventure Pixel Art games where players are free to choose whatever path they want and play the game however they want. 

The developers of the game love it so much they keep adding more and more content and value to it. You will explore different techniques and options in the game that add the fun parts and do not let you get bored. Some people prefer to build new stuff while others are interested in exploring new areas, and Terraria manages to provide a healthy balance between all of these different playstyles. 

Terraria also features a randomly generated world, elevating the game to another level as no two players will experience it in the same way. This creates a unique and truly unforgettable experience for players. What makes the game great goes beyond just the bosses; there’s also the building, exploration, and diverse experiences you encounter every time you play.