There is no objective way to rank a platformer’s beauty. This list brings together ten games whose art stands out for different reasons: painterly worlds, expressive animation, distinctive pixel work, carefully composed atmosphere, or lively environmental design. It includes traditional platformers alongside puzzle-platformers, a narrative-driven game, and a Metroidvania; each entry earns its place through a specific visual strength, not a score.
What makes a 2D platformer beautiful?
Beauty here means more than detailed backgrounds. A platformer’s visuals also shape how movement feels and how a world reads: animation can make a character feel alive, color can set a mood, and clear silhouettes can keep a demanding jump legible. The games below take notably different approaches, so the order is not a definitive ranking.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Super Retro Platformer Collection - For Nintendo Switch | $48.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cuphead - Nintendo Switch | $31.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Messenger - Nintendo Switch | $26.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Ten 2D platformers with memorable art
1. Ori and the Blind Forest — luminous, hand-painted fantasy
Ori and the Blind Forest pairs hand-painted artwork with carefully animated characters to create a world that feels soft-edged and alive. Its visual appeal comes from the contrast between the small, expressive protagonist and environments that feel expansive and atmospheric. The game’s official page also lists awards for visual style and art direction, making it a particularly strong choice for players drawn to painterly fantasy imagery. Moon Studios’ official game page.
2. Hollow Knight — shadow, line, and atmosphere
Where Ori glows, Hollow Knight draws you into a quieter, darker world. Team Cherry describes its art as vivid and moody, built with traditional 2D hand-drawn animation, distinctive areas, and memorable creatures. That approach gives the game’s interconnected underground setting a strong illustrated identity: its visual details reward attention without making every space feel bright or busy. It is also an action-adventure Metroidvania, not a purely linear platformer. Team Cherry’s official page.
#1 Best Overall
- Game 1: Commander Keen in Keen Dreams: Definitive Edition
- Game 2: Macbat 64: Journey of a Nice Chap
- Game 3: Regina & Mac
- Game 4: Toree 3D
3. Celeste — retro-style pixel presentation with variety
Celeste uses a hand-crafted, retro-styled presentation to frame Madeline’s climb. Its appeal is less about painterly spectacle than about a readable visual language suited to precise movement. The game’s many screens and challenge rooms introduce variation while keeping attention on the next jump, dash, or landing. Nintendo describes it as a hand-crafted platformer; PlayStation emphasizes its challenging, narrative-led journey. Nintendo’s game listing and PlayStation’s game page.
4. Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition — animated storybook energy
Rayman Legends makes its worlds feel like illustrations in motion. Nintendo highlights the captivating paintings associated with the game’s worlds, a fitting description of its bright, playful presentation. The appeal is in the combination of expressive characters and changing set-piece environments: the scenery feels designed to entertain as well as provide a route through the level. Nintendo’s game listing.
5. Ori and the Will of the Wisps — a vast, exotic world
Ori and the Will of the Wisps returns to the series’ expressive visual world, but its official description emphasizes an adventure across a vast, exotic setting. That makes it a natural pick for players who want the emotional storytelling and composed presentation associated with Ori, with a new journey through varied environments. The official Ori site also documents digital and physical Nintendo Switch editions; that information does not establish current stock or retailer availability. Nintendo’s game listing, the official Ori site, and its Switch-edition information.
Rank #2
- Experience the classic run and gun action with a pal in 2-player local co-op
- Includes the “Delicious Last Course” expansion filled with new bosses and brand-new character Ms. Chalice
- Includes exclusive “Cuphead Funnies” comic collector cards & vintage-inspired “Cuphead Club Membership”, and a hand-drawn reversible coversheet
6. INSIDE — minimalist, unsettling composition
INSIDE uses restraint rather than bright color to make an impression. Its dark, moody art style, ambient soundtrack, and unsettling atmosphere are central to its identity, according to Nintendo’s description. The limited, oppressive mood makes it a compelling alternative to more saturated platformers, especially for players who prefer visual storytelling and tension over a cheerful palette. It is best understood as a narrative-driven platformer rather than a conventional jump-focused adventure. Nintendo’s game listing.
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Hoa takes a softer route, presenting a gentle puzzle-platforming adventure through hand-painted art and natural-world ambience. PlayStation describes its scenes as hand-rendered, which suits the game’s quieter, nature-led appeal. Choose it for a calm storybook feeling rather than high-contrast action or a demanding visual spectacle. PlayStation’s game page.
8. Dead Cells — kinetic pixel-art action
Dead Cells brings a forceful, animated pixel-art look to a platforming action hybrid. Its visual case rests on the contrast between compact pixel detail and fast combat: enemies, attacks, and movement need to register quickly as the player moves through each area. It is a fit for players who like their platforming visuals energetic and game-readable rather than painterly. Nintendo includes it in its platformer selection. Nintendo’s game listing.
Rank #3
- Includes the Picnic Panic DLC!
- Dynamic, acrobatic gameplay and ultra tight controls worthy of an epic ninja adventure.
- Character upgrades, new abilities, hidden levels, and branching paths to discover.
- Meticulously designed 8-bit and 16-bit sprites, animations, and backgrounds in the spirit of the classics.
- Original soundtrack by renowned chiptune composer Rainbowdragoneyes, handmade using Famitracker.
9. Blasphemous 2 — ornate, dark fantasy imagery
Blasphemous 2 offers a more severe, ornate visual mood than the colorful storybook entries. Its inclusion broadens the list toward dark fantasy and action-platforming; it is not an example of a purely traditional side-scrolling platformer. Nintendo includes it among its platformer selections, but the listing alone does not establish a specific art technique, so the case for it is its distinctive dark-fantasy presentation rather than a claim about how the art was made. Nintendo’s game listing.
10. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze — colorful environmental variety
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze rounds out the list as a colorful, environment-led platformer. The appeal of a game like this is the way each setting gives the action a different visual frame, while the characters remain easy to follow through movement. Nintendo includes it in its selection of platformers, making it a useful pick for players who prefer vivid, classic side-scrolling adventure to introspective atmosphere. Nintendo’s game listing.
Which visual style should you choose?
| What you want | Try | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Painterly, luminous fantasy | Ori and the Blind Forest | Hand-painted artwork and expressive animation. |
| Shadowy illustrated world-building | Hollow Knight | Traditional 2D hand-drawn detail and moody areas. |
| Clear retro-style visuals for precise movement | Celeste | A hand-crafted presentation built around a challenging climb. |
| Bright, animated storybook worlds | Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition | Worlds associated with captivating paintings and lively set pieces. |
| Minimalist tension | INSIDE | A dark, atmospheric visual style supports narrative tension. |
| Gentle nature scenes | Hoa | Hand-painted art and natural-world ambience. |
| Fast, kinetic action | Dead Cells | Pixel-art presentation suited to quick movement and combat. |
Why the list includes different kinds of platformers
“2D platformer” covers more than one structure. Celeste centers on a climb and precision challenges; Hoa is a puzzle-platformer; INSIDE is narrative-driven; and Hollow Knight is an interconnected action-adventure Metroidvania. These games all make movement through a two-dimensional world central to play, but their pacing and exploration differ. If you want a more traditional level-by-level platformer, start with Rayman Legends or Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze; for broad exploration, look to Hollow Knight.
How to find the right one for you
- For visual warmth: start with Ori or Hoa.
- For a darker mood: choose Hollow Knight or INSIDE.
- For precise, demanding movement: try Celeste.
- For playful spectacle: pick Rayman Legends.
- For exploration or action-platforming: consider Hollow Knight or Dead Cells, keeping their hybrid structures in mind.
Platform availability and editions vary. Check the current store listing for your region and preferred system before buying; a documented physical Switch edition is not proof of present stock.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
