Pixel Art

The development of technology is steadily moving forward, and very soon the picture in games will be the same (and perhaps even better!) compared to what our eyes see. And despite this, pixel games are still popular! In this article, you will learn everything you can (or almost everything) about pixel art games, and even how you can create them.

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Pixel art games and why it’s still popular

Initially, this genre of games appeared in the 80-90s due to the technical limitations of consoles, which physically could not master the more detailed graphics. But technology did not stand still, and the graphics in games went from 8-bit men to ultra-realistic projects, like Red Dead Redemption 2 with its almost movie-like graphics, or NextGen patch for The Witcher 3 which brought graphics to a whole new level. But, in this article, we will talk about pixel video games.

Briefly about video game pixel art

Pixel art video games are games in the style of pixel art, the main feature of which is that the artist works with the image at the pixel level: manually arranges them, paints them, adds shadows, and so on. Even though such games are a niche area, this does not prevent such games from being distributed in millions of copies and regularly getting into various journalistic collections.

In the most modern history, the term “pixel game art” became widespread at the dawn of the 2010s, when the indie scene arose and began to actively develop - communities of independent developers appeared. Now, graphics specially stylized for hits of 8 and 16-bit consoles are called simply “pixel art”.

The main reasons for the popularity of such games include the nostalgia of gamers who found those same pixel games of the 80s and 90s, and the soulfulness and “warmth” of the picture, which cannot be achieved with detailed 3D graphics. At the same time, even those who have not physically caught the era of the popularity of pixel games can feel an incomprehensible feeling of nostalgia, and some simply like this old-school style. Now you can get addicted to history with a regular phone, you don’t even have to look for a super old game console!

One of the probable reasons for the popularity of this genre is great attention to details from the developers. An interesting fact is that pixel video game artists have formed their own “code of honor and rules”. For example, in addition to working with images at the pixel level, they only use a limited set of colors (usually a palette of 16 or 32 colors) and no lining. Also, the thickness of the lines should not exceed one pixel, and if it does, then at the bending points the pixels are connected to each other diagonally. But these are not exactly “strict and absolute” rules, each and every developer chooses whether to follow them or not.

Pixelated game characters

In a separate paragraph, it is worth taking out pixelated game characters. Perhaps the first thing that comes to your mind is Mario or Sonic on the SEGA console. Well, you're right - these are great examples of pixelated characters, but it's not limited to just that.

It is more than possible to create fairly detailed pixelated video game characters. An example is Loop Hero, a 2021 game. During the dialogues between the characters, you can notice their high level of detail, and even though it all looks outdated, the detail is still at a fairly high level.

In general, the quality of the character depends on the specific developer, his skills, and the limitations in which he puts himself. Therefore, on the one hand, we can single out The Final Station (2016) with its extremely meager rendering of characters and a bias towards very old projects of the 90s. On the other hand, we can highlight, for example, Songs of Conquest (2022), where with the help of pixels they were able to show an incredibly colorful fantasy world and create a game that can compete with the legendary Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

Pixel games – still a way to go!

Despite their venerable age and niche position, pixel graphics games are still very popular, and projects are regularly released that manage to get their share of popularity. Let's talk about these games and the most famous projects released recently. We will also consider the process of creating such games, perhaps some of you have been dreaming about this for a long time.

Pixel RPG games

To begin with, it should be clarified - we will not consider old projects that were pixelated due to technological limitations, also we will not highlight one single best pixel art game, because it’s quite impossible. We will consider exactly those projects that were deliberately created using pixel art. The most popular RPGs of this genre include:

Balrum (2016). This pixel RPG game mixes old-fashioned mechanics with modern features from some MMORPGs, meaning building your own house, survival, gardening, and an extensive crafting system, thanks to which you can create literally any item. The game also features a turn-based combat system, taming animals, and completing quests.
Stardew Valley. Peaceful RPG pixel art farming simulator. Having inherited a farm in the Stardew Valley, you should go there, save money, improve the farm, engage in cattle breeding, and so on. However, this is not all that you can get: the game also has a huge number of quests, riddles, easter eggs, and inconspicuous features. The game also has a fantasy component, the ability to start a family, and the player's actions directly affect the events and attitudes of other residents.
Ragnarok Online. Yes, MMOs are also created in this style! Moreover, the project is one of the oldest - this MMO has existed since 2003, and is still actively developing. The game has nice graphics (by pixel standards), lore and storyline, an extensive leveling system, guild wars, and so on - in general, it’s quite an ordinary MMO, but in a pixel style.

2D pixel games

In the style of 2D, there are also a large number of games here, and some of them turned out to be really cool:

Terraria. Hardcore pixel art video game-sandbox with building, crafting and side view. The game has a huge number of things that can be crafted, magic and even huge (and sometimes very scary) bosses. Also, try Minecraft!
Broforce. A game in the style of old-school shooters with a side view. The game turned out to be very driving, juicy, and beautiful. Do not forget to tell a friend about it, because the game has a co-op!
Shovel Knight is another pixel indie game on our list. But this time about a knight. With a shovel. Very unexpected, isn't it? This pixel RPG game has a story, elements of hardcore, and pretty good humor.

There are still a large number of other 2D projects, most of which are platformers. Not everyone likes this genre due to its hardcore nature, but maybe you will find something that will remind you of your childhood or allow you to touch the history when game dev was just emerging.

Pixel indie games

This genre is extremely popular among indie developers. This is due to simplicity - creating video games in pixels is much easier than 3D, and resources - it is quite possible to create a pixel game alone while creating a high-quality 3D game alone is almost impossible. Popular pixelated indie games include:

Undertale. The game looks too old school even by the standards of the genre. But this was a conscious decision of the developers - such minimalism helps to catch the player unprepared and surprise him with certain events. The game is also quite philosophical - very mature topics are regularly raised in it.
Slain! This pixel video game successfully combines pixel art and heavy metal album art and is a 2D hack-and-slash platformer in the dark fantasy style. The game was not met warmly in 2016 due to rather boring gameplay, trial-and-error levels, and unresponsive controls. Since then, the developers have corrected the most severe flaws and now the game is quite good.
Blasphemous. Another dark fantasy game with a complicated plot, mysticism, and Castlevania as a source of inspiration.

Pixel games for PC

Advantage of pixels video games - they have a huge degree of cross-platform. And they can go to PC (for all existing systems), consoles, and even phones. Consider some of the best pixelated games on PC:

Papers, Please. Is it possible to create a border checkpoint worker simulator game and make it VERY interesting? As it turned out - yes, it is! The game was developed by one person and boasts a difficulty curve (the further you go, the harder the game gets), a compelling storyline (yes, it's possible!), and quite unique graphics and music. In general, the project turned out to be extremely unusual.

Hotline Miami. 2D Top Down action game, which at one time became an information bomb. What is the essence of the game? Just kill everyone you see with extremely energetic music in the background. All this is accompanied by juicy and colorful level design.

Unlighted. An adventure game in an interesting indie Metroidvania genre (Metroid + Castlevania). Your goal is survival and the fight against smart machines that seek to destroy humanity. The game also has a timer that needs to be kept refreshed otherwise you will lose. The timer is refreshed by performing various actions within the game.

Best pixel android games

Since pixel games are usually extremely undemanding to the device, they are quite easy to create or port to Android. The most popular pixel games on Android include:

Exiled Kingdoms. You suddenly received an inheritance from a wealthy relative, you just need to go on a short trip and pick it up, it would seem, what could go wrong? Trust us – A LOT of things can go wrong! And this old-school pixelated RPG will convince you of this. The game has several classes, a huge number of quests and a long storyline, hardcore and complete freedom of action will provide you with many hours of fun.

Super WorldBox. Have you ever wanted to feel like the Lord God, commanding the fate of millions? In this indie pixel game, you will have such an opportunity! Well, unfortunately, millions of destinies will not be given to you, but you can watch the peaceful development of the kingdoms, and help (or hinder) them. And if you get bored - just throw off an atomic bomb, or a meteorite, or a huge crab that shoots lasers ... in general, there are enough opportunities in this game.

Warspear Online. Another online pixel project. In general, this 3D pixels game doesn't really stand out from the other MMOs, except for the interesting style and graphics. But pixel lovers will definitely like it.

Of course, not all popular releases appeared on the lists. Nobody forbids you to look for something yourself, perhaps you will find a game that you fall in love with, despite the not-very-realistic graphics.

Bonus chapters! What to know about making a pixel game

If you're thinking about making your first game, don't rush into Unreal Engine. Creating a game on this engine (and similar ones) is extremely difficult without the necessary experience, a lot of money, and a team. It's much more logical to start with something simpler, for example - 2D pixelated games.

Some programs for making the best pixel art games

First of all, think about creating pixel PC games. It is much simpler and requires much fewer resources. After all, a large number of pixel games in the lists above were created by single developers or very small enthusiastic studios.

Your first 3D pixel art games may not bring you millions of profits and hundreds of thousands of fans. But you will gain valuable experience that will allow you to get everything you want in the future. And if you approach the creation with love and diligence, then your first game will be loved as well!An example of this is Papers, Please! created by just one person.

And here is a list of programs that you can use:

Microsoft Paint. It may sound ridiculous, but on the other hand, this program has tools that are important for pixel art, and besides, it is free.
Piskel. Free online editor, a great choice for a beginner, just like the option above.
GraphicsGale. A free application mainly used for pixel art.
Aseprite. The most popular pixel art creation and animation software is an excellent choice for more advanced users, perfect for pixel RPG creation. The program isn’t free though.
Photoshop. The most expensive solution. For pixel art, Photoshop is too extensive, but it has a huge number of tools that can come in handy. And if you have been using it for a long time and are used to it, then you should not look for something else in general.

If you're starting with pure enthusiasm, then try free programs first and try to do something simple. Perhaps some kind of platformer will allow you to gain experience in creating better games, perhaps you will even be able to gather a team of like-minded people around you. And after that, it will be possible to move on to trying to create the first 3D game.

Publishing your 3D pixel art game

Have you mastered the process of making pixel games and ready to move further? We congratulate you! Or are you just making plans? Do not despair, everything great in this world was once someone's idea.

And you can distribute your first game for free. This will obviously not bring you money, but you will gain experience and possibly attract some attention to yourself. For distribution, you can choose platforms such as Steam, AppStore, Google Play Market, or even Telegram.

It is enough to create a group in the messenger and share your game with those who wish, look for like-minded people to create something on a larger scale, and so on. The main thing in this matter is not to rush. It is extremely difficult to create one game and wake up famous in the morning, but maybe soon will be acknowledged as a creator of some of the best pixel RPG games?