Art Within Art
Even the most beautifully animated games can fall short when faced with the stunning, fluid visuals that only hand-drawn animation can achieve. When a game has hand-drawn animation, you really feel like someone’s heart and soul has been put into the project, and it allows for a hyper-specific aesthetic unable to be copied by the Blender fanatics.
1. Jotun
This action-adventure game came out for PC’s back in September 2015. It has a hand-drawn, frame-by-frame art style and has a high focus on exploration, puzzle solving, and a little bit of combat. The game was, of course, praised for its art style, as well as its soundtrack, but did received some criticism for other gameplay elements.
2. The Banner Saga
This role-playing game was first played out for PC’s in 2014, but made its way to PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch in the subsequent years. It’s heavily inspired by Norse mythology, and the interactive element allows you to change the ending of the game, depending on what you pick.
W. G. Collingwood (1854-1932) on Wikimedia
3. Hollow Knight
This platformer came out in 2017 and has been well-loved among gamers for its gorgeous art style and difficult gameplay. The game is set in a fallen kingdom known as Hallownest, where your character (known as The Knight) must battle against several bosses, as well as the god Radiance.
4. Skullgirls
This 2D fighting game was originally published for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but has made its way to countless platforms since its 2012 release. Each character in this game is incredibly unique, with fun fighting mechanics, voice lines, and special attacks.
The Conmunity - Pop Culture Geek from Los Angeles, CA, USA on Wikimedia
5. Wario Land: Shake It
This platformer first came out in 2008 for the wonderful Wii, solidifying it as the sixth Wario-focused game in the series. In this game, you follow Wario as he enters an alternate dimension, attempting to find something called the “bottomless coin sack,” which will, of course, make him rich.
6. Don’t Starve
This survival game was available on PC’s, PlayStation, Xbox, and even as a mobile game. It first came out for PC’s in 2013, and it was heavily influenced by survival games like Minecraft. In this game, you control Wilson, a scientist who has woken up in a parallel world. Your objective is simple: keep Wilson alive.
7. Cuphead
This 2017 indie game is well-loved for its homage to the classic cartoon style, inspired in particular by rubber hose animation and surrealism. The game first came out for Windows and Xbox One, but eventually made its way to other platforms due to its overwhelming success.
8. Spiritfarer
This indie game came out in 2020 on just about every platform you can think of. Featuring slow-paced gameplay, gorgeous animation styles, and a deep emotional story, you follow the character, Stella, as she ferries souls to the afterlife. The game is essentially a management sim, but with a much more touching plot.
9. Gris
This platform-adventure game was released on Mac, Switch, and Windows in 2018. It follows a young girl named Gris as you physically take her through the different stages of grief. The game’s simple design, matched with bold color choices, makes this game a visual masterpiece.
10. Night In The Woods
This adventure game was published in 2017, in which you follow the life of a young woman named Mae, as she returns to her hometown after dropping out of college. The game beautifully captures that quiet, small-town feel, and received plenty of praise for its soundtrack, story, dialogue, and character development.
11. Omori
This 2020 RPG has you following a teenage boy named Sunny and his alter ego Omori. The game has a very simple pencil-like design, but features a unique battle system, alternative endings, and touches on some pretty heavy mental health and psychological horror concepts.
12. Mark Of The Ninja
This side-scroller came out in 2012 for Microsoft and Xbox 360. In it, you follow a ninja who is trying to fit into an ever-evolving world. The game was highly praised for its gameplay, and visual and audio atmosphere—particularly the cutscenes. In-game scenes are rendered in a comforting and well-loved Saturday-morning cartoon style.
13. Ori And The Blind Forest
This platform-adventure game was first released in 2015 for Windows and Xbox One. You follow a small spirit by the name of Ori, who must solve puzzles while traveling through the forest. The game was heavily inspired by The Lion King, The Iron Giant, Rayman, and Metroid, and it received critical acclaim for gameplay, art, story, score, and design.
14. Bye Sweet Carole
This platformer game mixes adventure and horror into a gorgeous turn-of-the-century story. Following a girl named Lana Benton who goes to find her missing friend Carole, she tumbles into an Alice in Wonderland-esque world, discovering that the central kingdom is being ruined by a monster, Mr. Kyn.
Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash
15. Dishonored
This 2012 action-adventure game is set in the fictional world of Dunwall. You follow Corvo Attano, bodyguard to an Empress who faces an untimely death. You must escape from those who believe you to be the murderer and join a resistance group that is fighting to reclaim Dunwall.
16. Sundered
This Metroidvania side-scroller was released in 2017 for PC’s and PlayStation 4, and makes great use of Lovecraftian or Eldritch horror elements. You follow a woman named Eshe, who must fight her way across a desert wasteland.
Addison Emery Verrill on Wikimedia
17. Nine Sols
Released in 2024, this action-adventure game is a gorgeous blend of something called “Taopunk,” an aesthetic that mixes elements of Taoism and cyberpunk. It beautifully melds western sci-fi with eastern mythology, and follows main character Yi, who must defeat Nine Sols to return the world to how it was, before an infection spreads across the planet.
18. Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
This simple crafting and management simulator has you brewing potions, inventing recipes, and saving the members of your town. It will be released on PC and Switch in 2021, and has a beautiful Middle Ages-inspired art style.
Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash
19. Absolum
This game was released in October 2025 on Windows, Switch, and PlayStation. It’s known as a beat’em up video game, situated within a side-scroller. In it, you can choose several different characters, who all have their own combat styles and abilities.
Nemesia Production on Unsplash
20. 12 Is Better Than 6
This top-down shooter game is situated within North America’s wild west during the 19th century. You play as an escaped slave named Juan, who has lost his memory. He’s being actively pursued by bandits and bounty hunters as he tries to make his way to the United States.
