Entertainment
The 10 Greatest Side-Scrolling Games of All Time, Ranked
Video games are one of the most popular mediums in the world nowadays, thanks to their increasing quality and the wider demographic that they reach. As titles continue to evolve, AAA blockbusters like Elden Ring and Red Dead Redemption 2 push gaming further. However, not everyone prefers hyperrealistic 3D graphics, instead opting for a more nostalgic 2D setting.
2D games aren’t just about nostalgia; they have a certain style of gameplay that just resonates with some players, which is why this list will rank the ten greatest side-scrolling video games of all time. Based on aspects such as design, gameplay, visuals, narrative, originality, entertainment value, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these ten games are the best of the best. Side-scrolling games need continuous motion, meaning games like Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. are not eligible.
10
‘Streets of Rage 4’ (2020)
Side-scrolling games aren’t simply platformers, and they certainly are not just older games, and the proof lies with Streets of Rage 4, a modern arcade beat em up. A new crime syndicate has taken over Wood Oak City, and the children of the leader keep their rule in check. But old and new fighters unite to take down these usurpers and free the city from their tyrannical control.
Reviving old franchises of 16-bit arcade games is a tough challenge because they usually lack the soul of the original. However, Streets of Rage 4 is the rare exception that perfectly captured the aesthetic and soul of ’80s arcade beatdown games with revamped graphics and a modern feel. Further bolstered by smooth animation, fluid combat, and incredible gameplay, Streets of Rage 4 is the prime example of how to revive a franchise.
9
‘Cuphead’ (2017)
2D side-scrolling video games can be deceptively difficult, and if players still don’t believe that, then they should play Cuphead. The titular character has more than a couple of debts, but he and his brother, Mugman, make a deal with the devil in order to clear them. Now, Cuphead and Mugman must travel around the world and force the money out of other debtors of the devil to collect their soul contracts.
Cuphead is one of the most visually stunning video games of all time, creating a retro aesthetic that captures old-school animation perfectly. It does this by hand-drawing everything in painstaking detail, enhancing the style and vibe of this game. However, Cuphead is also considered one of the most challenging video games with its blend of unforgiving platforming and shooting gameplay.
8
‘Katana ZERO’ (2019)
Fans might think most of the games on this list feature older titles, but it actually consists mostly of modern video games, such as Katana ZERO. Subject Zero is an amnesiac assassin who takes up any contract that comes to him in a grimy neon-lit metropolis. He relies on a time-manipulating drug called Chronos for his powers, but when he stumbles upon a conspiracy behind it, he must uncover its origins.
For fans who want a modern side-scrolling game with exhilarating gameplay and flashy mechanics, Katana ZERO is the game for them. The blend of puzzles and action creates a distinct sense of gameplay that includes bullet-time, time-stopping, and high-stakes battles that turn into a rhythm of swordplay choreography that feels like a symphony of fluid combat. Not to mention, Katana ZERO also boasts an impressive narrative, meaning it can engage the player in multiple ways.
7
‘Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze’ (2014)
Nintendo is no stranger to 2D side-scrolling games, and they have a few titles on this list, starting with one of their modern titles, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. When the Snowmads invade Donkey Kong Island and blast DK and friends far away, the group must travel back to their home and take it back before the Viking-like animals get too comfortable.
The Donkey Kong Country franchise is critically acclaimed, but the newest game proves to be better than its predecessors because of its revamped platforming gameplay and tight level design. The Wii U has many great games, but the failure of the console means players didn’t get to experience the masterpiece that was Tropical Freeze. Simply satisfying to play, the level design is among the best of all time, making the side-scrolling platforming the best it has been.
6
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ (1992)
There are a lot of renowned side-scrolling franchises, but one of the most popular is Sonic the Hedgehog, and his best video game is arguably Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Dr. Robotnik is after the Chaos Emeralds again, this time wanting to use them to power his new weapon, the Death Egg. Luckily, Sonic and Tails are here to stop him.
The original was great, but Sonic the Hedgehog 2 refined everything that it did, establishing itself as one of the most influential 2D side-scrolling games. It is momentum-based platforming at its best, creating a sense of movement unheard of for its time. Fast-paced, exhilarating, and non-stop action defines Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and its revolutionary movement.
5
‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)
Metroidvanias originated as side-scrollers, and they are still the best in this format, as proven by Hollow Knight. When the bug-like warrior, armored with nothing but a needle, learns that the world of Hallownest has been taken over by a plague that infects its residents, they must fight through it to learn the source of the infection and cure it before it takes over everyone.
Hollow Knight is the pinnacle of modern Metroidvania, thanks to its original narrative, fluid platforming, difficult bosses, and smooth, yet exciting combat. Outside of its gameplay, Hollow Knight is also fully hand-drawn, giving the world a greater aesthetic and enhancing the art and atmospheric vibe of it. All of this comes together to make it one of the best modern fantasy video games.
4
‘Inside’ (2016)
Side-scrolling games come in many shapes and forms, but most of them include some form of platforming or combat. However, Inside is a rare exception, as it follows an unnamed child wandering around a scientific experimentation facility looking for a way out. Unfortunately, the only way out is deeper into it, and the further gamers progress, the darker horrors they experience and uncover.
Players only walk forward in Inside, but it creates such a compelling experience through the pacing, mystery, and moments that spice up simple walking mechanics. It is a pure masterpiece that is regarded for its design, specifically using lighting to both teach and navigate players as well as add to the tense and eerie vibe. Inside is a quiet, yet cinematic game that dazzles with its environmental storytelling and incredible progression.
3
‘Super Metroid’ (1994)
As mentioned earlier, the Metroidvania genre is inherently side-scrolling, and the most definitive game in the genre is Super Metroid. After Ridley steals a Metroid Larva, Samus Aran follows him to a planet known as Zebes. However, this isolated planet holds more than a hiding space pirate; it holds plenty of monsters and unknown mysteries that she will have to fight through.
There are many fantastic side-scrolling Metroidvania games, but Super Metroid is the most essential and defining game, even becoming a sci-fi video game blueprint of the genre. While atmospheric, the heart and prestige of Super Metroid lie in the way it teaches players and its progression design, flawlessly pacing the gameplay to keep it flowing and the players engaged.
2
‘Terraria’ (2011)
If fans are tired of jumping, shooting, or slashing, but still want to play a side-scrolling video game, then they should take a break and relax with Terraria. Gamers are put into a procedurally generated world with nothing but basic tools, but with them, they can explore, mine, and create massive settlements. But the bigger the town, the bigger the threats that want to destroy it.
Terraria can be relaxing, but it also provides tense combat where players need to battle Eldritch horrors. This blend of vibes has drawn so many fans to it, and when adding the addictive gameplay loop to the formula, Terraria is easily a side-scrolling masterpiece. There is no better 2D sandbox game than this acclaimed 2011 title, and making it a side-scroller is even more difficult.
1
‘Super Mario World’ (1990)
As this list previously said, Nintendo has some of the best side-scroller games, and most of them are from Mario. Super Mario World follows Mario on vacation in Dinosaur Land, but when Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, the brave plumber and his brother, Luigi, team up with Yoshi to travel across the kingdom and rescue her.
Super Mario Bros. is more legendary, iconic, and influential, but Super Mario World is 2D Mario at its peak, perfecting the formula. Shifting away from solely linear progression, it redefined 2D platformers with its level design, adding a vertical layer and rewarding curiosity and exploration. From the art to the design to the levels, progression, and reinvented gameplay, Super Mario World became a 1990s video game masterpiece and the best side-scrolling title.
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