Best 2D Platformers on PC: New and Classic Games Worth Trying

Pixel art is back in fashion, and platformers are firmly at the forefront of this movement. These games not only impress with their retro style, but also with deep stories, unique mechanics, and engaging gameplay.

Celeste: An Emotional Journey to the Top

Celeste is a gem among pixel platformers created by Canadian studio Extremely OK Games (formerly known as Matt Makes Games). The game appeared in 2018, inspired by classic concepts and the desire to create a project that combines complex gameplay with a deep emotional story. The idea was born from a mini-project developed for a game jam, which later turned into a full-scale release.

The Vancouver-based studio took inspiration from retro games like Super Mario Bros. and Super Meat Boy to create a product that challenges the player’s skills while exploring the inner fears and doubts of the main character. Madeline, the central character, embarks on a journey to the top of the mountain, facing her own weaknesses and insecurities. Features:

1. Unique mechanics: The mid-air dash mechanic adds depth to the gameplay, making each task challenging but doable.
2. Graphics and atmosphere: The masterfully executed pixel platformer graphics are combined with a soundtrack by Lena Raine, creating a tense and touching mood.

Dead Cells: A pixel platformer with roguelike elements

Dead Cells offers a unique gaming experience created by the French studio Motion Twin in 2017. The idea for Dead Cells was born from the studio’s desire to combine dynamic combat and exploration in one project:

1. History of creation. The developers from France experimented with genres to create a product that would stand out from other games.
2. Year of release. The release took place in August 2017.
3. Sources of inspiration. Castlevania, Dark Souls and Metroid served as the basis for the game’s mechanics and style.

Players control a hero who explores procedurally generated levels, fighting enemies and collecting resources:

1. Battle mechanics. Users use a variety of weapons, including swords, bows and magical artifacts.
2. Procedural generation. Each level is unique, making each playthrough a new challenge.
3. Progression. Despite death, some resources are saved, allowing you to unlock upgrades.

Dead Cells has deep mechanics and high replayability. Pixel platformers with a story rarely reach such a level of detail.

Hollow Knight: a fairy tale in dark tones

Hollow Knight immerses you in the dark and mystical world of the kingdom of Hallownest, created by the independent studio Team Cherry from Australia. The game debuted in 2017, instantly winning the love of players and critics thanks to its sophisticated approach to gameplay and visual style. The pixel project was inspired by classic platformers such as Metroid and Castlevania, as well as the unique atmosphere of Hayao Miyazaki’s works. Features:

1. Exploration of the world. The non-linear structure allows you to choose your own path, revealing the lore through atmospheric dialogues and mysterious artifacts.
2. Battles. Participants use precise strikes, abilities and unique charms that customize the fighting style.
3. Progression. The hero gains new skills, improves his equipment and opens up previously inaccessible areas.

What makes Hollow Knight stand out?

Every corner of the Hallownest world is filled with history, mysteries and unique aesthetics. Carefully crafted graphics harmonize with a dark soundtrack, creating an atmosphere of mystery and melancholy. Pixel platformers for PC rarely achieve such a level of artistic integrity, offering fans an unforgettable gaming experience.

Stardew Valley: A Pixel Farming Platformer

Stardew Valley, created by independent developer Eric Barone (known under the pseudonym ConcernedApe), was released in 2016. The project was born out of a desire to create a game inspired by Harvest Moon, but with the addition of modern mechanics and more freedom of action. The development of the platformer took more than four years, with Eric working alone, creating everything from pixel art to the music:

1. Country of development: USA.
2. The idea: to give players the opportunity to explore rural life through building a farm, developing relationships and exploring the world.
3. Year of release: February 2016.

Gameplay and features

Users create a farm, engage in farming, fishing and communicating with villagers:

1. Variety of activities. Farming, fishing, mining and interacting with NPCs.
2. Flexibility of gameplay. The game offers freedom of action and unique development scenarios.
3. Aesthetics. Simple but expressive graphics help to relax.

The project is ideal for those looking for a calm and exciting process. Among pixel platformers in retro style, it stands out due to the ability to build your own world and influence the plot.

Terraria: a world of adventure and creativity

Terraria offers exploration of a huge open world with elements of construction and combat. The project was developed by Re-Logic studio, founded by Andrew Spinks (known under the pseudonym Redigit). The release took place in 2011, and the game quickly gained popularity due to the unique combination of platformer and sandbox elements.

The inspiration for the creation of Terraria were classic projects such as Minecraft and Metroid. They motivated the developers to combine exploration, construction and combat in one gameplay. Features:

1. Crafting. Crafting various types of weapons, including swords, crossbows, magic staffs and firearms. The building section includes houses, fortresses, farms, and decorative objects such as statues and fountains. These elements allow you to tailor the gameplay to each player’s style, creating unique worlds.
2. Exploration. The world is full of secrets, including hidden caves with unique biomes and treasures. Players can find underground treasure rooms filled with rare resources such as mithril ingots or magic crystals. Caves vary from lava lakes in deep dungeons to icy tunnels filled with frozen chests. Some of them contain artifacts that enhance the character or open access to new areas.
3. Combat. Exciting boss battles require strategy and skill. Terraria offers a variety of bosses, such as the Eye of Cthulhu, a huge flying eye that attacks with waves of minions, and Skeletron, who requires precise movement and agility to avoid the powerful attacks of his skeletal hands. The Wall of Flesh, one of the most memorable bosses, takes up the entire screen and moves straight towards the player, creating a tense atmosphere. Each boss has unique mechanics, making each fight a vivid challenge.

Terraria stands out for its huge freedom of action and deep mechanics. New pixel platformers rarely reach such a level of creativity and scale.

Conclusion: A choice for everyone

Pixel platformers continue to inspire fans of the genre with their diversity. From the emotional journeys of Celeste to the endless possibilities of Terraria, each project offers a unique experience. These games show that pixel graphics do not limit, but reveal the potential of developers and give players unforgettable impressions.

In a world where modern projects increasingly rely on realism and complex mechanics, Cuphead has emerged as a breath of fresh air. This vintage platformer instantly captured the hearts of millions, taking users back to the era of classic cartoons. A visual style inspired by 1930s animation, unique hand-drawn graphics and genuine difficulty – an unforgettable adventure for anyone who was thirsty for something new and original.

Why is Cuphead a cult retro platformer?

Cuphead is a true art form, enclosed in a video game form. Each level and character is carefully drawn by hand, which gives the project a unique individuality. Like old cartoons, Cuphead evokes a sense of nostalgia. Fighting bosses, the player finds himself in a bright world filled with a frantic rhythm and incredible challenges. The concept has become an integral part of modern culture: it is discussed, it is copied, it is used as a reference. This is a return to the roots, when every victory required skill and concentration, and losses were an important part of the gameplay.

Cuphead characters – who are they?

The scenario is filled with colorful characters, each of whom brings their own special atmosphere to the process:

1. Cuphea is the main character and the face of the game. He likes to take risks and often gets into trouble because of his thirst for adventure. Cuphead has the ability to shoot magic charges from his fingers and dodge enemy attacks. His optimism and fearlessness make him a strong ally and a reliable hero.
2. Mugman is Cuphead’s loyal brother and his partner in adventures. In co-op mode, the player can take control of Mugman to help Cuphead. Unlike his brother, Mugman is more cautious and prudent, but this does not prevent him from actively fighting enemies. He also uses magical attacks and has a similar fighting style to Cuphead, but his character brings more humor and comedy to the story.
3. King Dice is the Devil’s main assistant and the main antagonist of the game. He runs the casino and acts as a mediator between the heroes and their debts to the Devil. King Dice is extremely cunning and deceitful. His abilities include manipulating various dice and cards, making him a formidable opponent in the final levels of the game.
4. The Devil is the main villain of Cuphead. He owns the casino and makes contracts with the characters, promising them wealth in exchange for their souls. When Cuphead and Mugman lose to him, they begin a great adventure to regain their freedom. The Devil has many forms and attacks, which makes the final battle with him especially challenging and exciting.
5. Elder Kettle is an elder who acts as a mentor to Cuphead and Mugman. He teaches the brothers the basics of management and combat skills at the beginning of the game. Kettle has wisdom and experience that helps the heroes cope with their tasks. He also provides players with useful advice and reminds them to be careful. Cala
6. Maria is one of the most memorable bosses. She is a mermaid inspired by classic cartoon characters who attacks Cuphead and Mugman in a sea location. She can turn into stone, summon electric eels, and use a variety of magical attacks. Cala Maria is a symbol of the difficulty and epicness that sets Cuphead apart from other platformers.
7. Baroness Von Bon Bon is the ruler of the Candy Kingdom. Her battle takes place against the backdrop of a huge candy castle, and she uses various sweets in battle that attack the player. She is incredibly emotional and easily upset, which makes the fight with her very chaotic and unpredictable.
8. Grim Matchstick is a fire-breathing dragon who lives in the clouds. His attacks include shooting fireballs and summoning small fire creatures. Grim is a reference to the classic dragons from old cartoons, and his fight is one of the most difficult in the game, requiring the player to react quickly and move precisely.

The History of Cuphead — From Idea to Cultural Phenomenon

The creation of Cuphead began with the dream of two brothers, Chad and Jared Moldenauer. They wanted to create a project that would look and feel like a classic 1930s cartoon. To realize this dream, the developers decided to take radical measures: they mortgaged their houses to get enough funds for work. This desire for perfection paid off — hand-drawn graphics became the hallmark of the concept, attracting both gamers and animation lovers. Each character and background was created by hand, frame by frame, which became a real challenge for a small team.

Boss fights and gameplay: a test of nerves

Boss battles are a test of endurance. Each boss fight in Cuphead is a unique test, requiring knowledge of patterns and reaction speed. There is no place for chance: every move and attack must be carefully calculated. The rune and gun format adds dynamics: users must not only attack, but also avoid numerous threats. Boss fights like the Devil, Captain Brinjbord, and more offer a variety of mechanics and force you to adapt to the enemy’s individual style.

Incredible Soundtrack: Sound that Brings You to Life

One of the most impressive aspects of Cuphead is its incredible soundtrack, composed by Christopher Maddigan. During the battle with each boss, rhythmic beats and energetic melodies accompany every step, pushing you forward.

Co-op mode – is it easier together?

Co-op in Cuphead is not only an opportunity to share the joy of victory, but also a test of friendship. In the game, two participants can take control of brothers Cuphead and Mugman and go through levels and boss fights together. But don’t think that it becomes easier in co-op! Often, the partner’s actions can lead to chaos on the screen, and instead of help, additional difficulties arise. This adds fun moments and unexpected turns, making the process even more exciting.

Challenges and rewards: why Cuphead’s difficulty is so appealing

The high difficulty is what makes Cuphead unique. Every mistake is punished instantly, and the player is forced to start the level from the very beginning. It reminds us of the golden age of retro games, when every victory really meant something. Using the PADS methodology, we can say that Cuphead constantly keeps the hero on the edge: the problem is difficult bosses, the agitation is the frustration of numerous failures, the solution is honing skills and learning patterns, and the reward is an indescribable feeling of triumph. Success here does not come for free, it requires effort, but this is what makes victories so sweet and memorable.

From retro to modern culture

Cuphead has become a phenomenon that combines the best of platformers of the past with modern technology. It has proven that work, passion and a unique approach can create a product that will not only become popular, but also influence the entire industry. Experience for yourself what it means to be a part of this amazing world and feel the atmosphere of cartoons of the last century, plunging into a sea of ​​crazy adventures and uncompromising battles.