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Best 2D games 2025–2026 highlight why side-scrolling and pixel-art titles remain some of the most creative and engaging experiences in modern gaming. Despite the industry’s push toward photorealism, 2D games continue to thrive with outstanding gameplay, artistic direction, and lasting replay value.
Whether you’re into challenging platformers, exploration-heavy metroidvanias, or cozy farming sims, the current gaming landscape has something special for you. Let’s dive into the essential titles you should be playing right now—and the ones worth waiting for.
Looking for AAA blockbusters instead? Check out our major game releases 2025-2026 calendar for the biggest titles coming soon.
Best 2D Games 2025–2026: What Makes These Titles Stand Out
Here’s the thing: when developers work with side-scrolling perspectives, they can’t hide behind fancy graphics. They have to nail the basics—tight controls, smart level design, and engaging mechanics. The best 2D games in 2025 feel instantly responsive, and that precision creates gameplay that stays fun for hours.
Plus, the best 2D games often age way better than 3D titles. A great pixel art style or hand-drawn animation looks timeless, while 3D games from even five years ago can look dated. Games like Stardew Valley and Terraria are still going strong because they focused on what matters: being fun to play.
The Must-Play 2D Games for 2025-2026
Hollow Knight: Silksong – Best Metroidvania 2D Game
Status: Coming 2025-2026 (we hope!)
Genre: Metroidvania
If you’re into metroidvanias, Silksong is probably already on your radar. Team Cherry’s follow-up to Hollow Knight has been “coming soon” for what feels like forever, but the wait should be worth it. This time you play as Hornet, with new moves and a completely different feel from the original.
Everything about Silksong screams quality—hand-drawn animation where every frame matters, haunting music, and that perfect mix of exploration and challenging combat. Team Cherry doesn’t rush things, and it shows. When it finally releases, this will easily be one of the best 2D games 2025 has to offer.
Why you’ll love it:
- Precise, skill-based combat
- Gorgeous hand-drawn art
- Massive interconnected world to explore
- Fair but challenging difficulty
Not ready to tackle the toughest 2D games? Check out our beginner’s guide to metroidvanias to get started.
Dead Cells – Top Roguelite 2D Game 2025
Status: Available now
Genre: Roguelite Action-Platformer
Dead Cells nailed the roguelite formula and then kept improving it for years. Even though the major DLC releases have wrapped up, this game is still the gold standard for the genre. Every run feels different thanks to the huge variety of weapons, mutations, and procedurally generated levels.
The combat is incredibly smooth—once you get the hang of it, you feel like an unstoppable force dodging and parrying through enemies. Plus, the community keeps creating mods that add even more content. If you’re looking for the best 2D games with endless replay value, Dead Cells belongs at the top of your list.
What makes it special:
- Combat that feels amazing
- Tons of weapon combinations to try
- Gets harder as you get better
- Active community still supporting it
Learn more about what makes Dead Cells so replayable in our detailed breakdown.
Stardew Valley – Best Cozy 2D Farming Game
Status: Available now (1.6 update)
Genre: Farming Simulation
Stardew Valley is the cozy game that conquered the world, and it’s still getting better. The 1.6 update added new festivals, items, secrets, and better modding support. Creator ConcernedApe keeps adding free content years after release, which is pretty amazing.
What makes Stardew special is that it lets you play however you want. Want to focus on farming? Go for it. Prefer fishing or mining? That works too. There’s no wrong way to play, and that’s refreshing.
Why it’s timeless:
- Relaxing gameplay with no pressure
- Tons of activities to choose from
- Great multiplayer support
- Endless mods for variety
New to farming sims? Our Stardew Valley beginner’s guide covers everything you need to know.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course – Best Hand-Drawn 2D Game
Status: Available now
Genre: Run-and-Gun Boss Rush
Cuphead is a work of art—literally. Every frame is hand-drawn in the style of 1930s cartoons, with a jazz soundtrack to match. The DLC, The Delicious Last Course, adds Ms. Chalice as a playable character and more brutally difficult bosses.
This game will test your patience and pattern recognition skills. Boss fights require you to learn attack patterns, dodge precisely, and strike at the right moments. It’s tough but fair, and beating a boss you’ve been stuck on feels incredible.
What sets it apart:
- Stunning hand-drawn animation
- Incredible jazz soundtrack
- Challenging but rewarding boss fights
- Truly unique art style
Struggling with Cuphead? Check out our boss fight strategy guide for tips on every encounter.
Blasphemous II – Best Dark 2D Metroidvania
Status: Available now
Genre: Metroidvania
If you’re into dark, atmospheric games, Blasphemous II delivers. The Game Kitchen created this gothic Spanish-inspired world filled with religious imagery and challenging combat. It’s not for everyone—the themes are heavy—but if that sounds appealing, you’re in for a treat.
The combat requires timing and pattern recognition (think Dark Souls in 2D), and the interconnected world rewards thorough exploration. The pixel art is gorgeous and unsettling in equal measure.
Core strengths:
- Dark, mature storytelling
- Interconnected world design
- Challenging combat
- Unique gothic art style
Explore more atmospheric metroidvania games if Blasphemous II hooks you.
Celeste – Best Precision 2D Platformer Game
Status: Available now
Genre: Precision Platformer
Celeste isn’t just a great platformer—it’s a meaningful story about mental health wrapped in incredibly tight controls. You play as Madeline climbing a mountain while dealing with anxiety and self-doubt. It sounds heavy, but the game handles these themes with real sensitivity.
The platforming is pixel-perfect. When you die (and you will, a lot), it always feels fair. The game includes assist options if you just want to experience the story, but the challenge is part of what makes it special.
What makes it essential:
- Story about mental health and perseverance
- Perfect platforming controls
- Amazing soundtrack by Lena Raine
- Tons of post-game challenges
Want to master Celeste? Our advanced platforming techniques guide will help you improve.
Terraria – Best 2D Sandbox Adventure Game
Status: Available now
Genre: Sandbox Adventure
Terraria is basically 2D Minecraft on steroids. Years after release, it’s still getting free updates, and the modding community has created an insane amount of content. You can build, explore, craft, fight bosses—there’s so much to do.
The game starts simple but gets incredibly deep. There are dozens of biomes to explore, hundreds of items to craft, and challenging boss fights that require preparation and strategy. It’s easy to sink hundreds of hours into Terraria.
Why it’s still relevant:
- Endless exploration and building
- Deep crafting system
- Regular free updates
- Massive modding community
New to Terraria? Start with our beginner’s survival guide to avoid common mistakes.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Beautiful 2D Platformer
Status: Available now
Genre: Metroidvania Platformer
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the most beautiful 2D games ever made. The hand-painted environments are stunning, and the movement feels incredibly fluid. Add in an emotional story told mostly through visuals, and you’ve got something special.
The combat and platforming both feel great, and the game balances challenge with accessibility nicely. Even years after release, it still looks and plays amazing.
Standout features:
- Breathtaking visuals
- Beautiful orchestral music
- Smooth movement and combat
- Emotional story
Discover more beautiful indie games that prioritize art direction.
Salt and Sacrifice – Best 2D Soulslike Game
Status: Available now
Genre: 2D Soulslike
If you love Dark Souls but want something 2D, Salt and Sacrifice delivers. Ska Studios brought soulslike mechanics to 2D with deep customization, tough combat, and that “finally beat it!” feeling when you down a difficult boss.
The game supports co-op, which makes the challenge more manageable if you want help. There’s also a ton of build variety, so replays feel different depending on your character build.
What works:
- Dark Souls-style combat in 2D
- Deep character builds
- Co-op support
- Atmospheric world
Interested in more challenging 2D games? Our soulslike games ranking covers the best in the genre.
Pizza Tower – Best Fast-Paced 2D Platformer
Status: Available now
Genre: Fast-Paced Platformer
Pizza Tower is pure chaos in the best way possible. It takes inspiration from old Wario Land games and cranks everything up to 11. The animation is wild and expressive, the music is fantastic, and the gameplay rewards aggressive, fast-paced play.
The game has become huge in the speedrunning community, but you don’t need to speedrun to enjoy it. Just blasting through levels at high speed and building up combos feels amazing.
Why it’s unique:
- Fast, momentum-based gameplay
- Hilarious animation
- Great soundtrack
- High skill ceiling for optimization
Best 2D Games Worth Waiting For in 2026
Hades II – Upcoming Roguelike 2D Game
Status: Early Access, full release expected 2025-2026
Genre: Roguelike Action
Supergiant Games knocked it out of the park with the first Hades, and the sequel looks just as good. You play as Melinoë this time, with new gods, new enemies, and refined combat that builds on what made the original great.
Early Access reviews are extremely positive, praising the combat, story integration, and that signature Supergiant art style. If you loved the first game, the sequel is a safe bet.
Learn about what makes Hades so addictive before jumping into the sequel.
Animal Well – Indie 2D Puzzle Metroidvania
Status: Available now, gaining popularity
Genre: Puzzle-Focused Metroidvania
Animal Well flew under the radar for some people, but word-of-mouth is spreading. It focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving instead of combat, creating a more contemplative experience. If you like figuring things out on your own without combat getting in the way, check this one out.
Little Nightmares III – 2D Horror Platformer 2025
Status: Announced for 2025
Genre: Puzzle-Platformer
Little Nightmares III keeps the series’ creepy atmosphere while adding co-op for the first time. It uses 2D perspective with 3D environments (2.5D), so it’s not strictly 2D, but it fits the spirit of this list. The previous games were excellent, so expectations are high.
How to Choose Your Next 2D Game in 2025
Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick guide based on what you’re looking for:
Want a Challenge? Try Hollow Knight: Silksong (when it releases), Celeste, Cuphead, or Salt and Sacrifice. These games will test your skills but feel incredibly rewarding when you succeed.
Want to Relax? Stardew Valley is the obvious choice here. Low-stress gameplay where you progress at your own pace and there’s no way to fail.
Love Exploration? Blasphemous II, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and Animal Well reward curiosity with hidden secrets and interconnected worlds.
Want Endless Replayability? Dead Cells, Terraria, and Hades II offer procedural generation or massive content that keeps things fresh for hundreds of hours.
Want Art You Can Appreciate? Cuphead and Ori represent 2D gaming at its most visually stunning. These games are as much about the experience as the challenge.
Looking for more recommendations? Our complete indie game guide covers hidden gems across all genres.
Why 2D Gaming Thrives in 2025-2026
The fact that 2D games are thriving in 2025 proves something important: graphics aren’t everything. The games on this list succeed because they nail the fundamentals—responsive controls, smart design, artistic vision, and respect for the player’s time.
While big-budget 3D games chase photorealism, the best 2D games remind us that creativity and craftsmanship matter more than polygon counts. Whether made by tiny indie teams or established studios, these titles share a focus on doing a few things excellently rather than doing everything adequately.
These games age gracefully too. Stardew Valley and Terraria look as good now as they did at launch because strong art direction is timeless. Compare that to 3D games from 2020 that already look dated.
The Bottom Line: Best 2D Games 2025-2026
2D gaming isn’t a throwback or a nostalgia trip—it’s a thriving part of modern gaming that offers some of the best experiences available. From challenging platformers to cozy sims, from atmospheric adventures to chaotic action games, there’s incredible variety here.
Whether you’re new to the genre or a longtime fan, these titles represent the best 2D games available in 2025 and heading into 2026. They prove that when developers focus on tight gameplay, distinctive art, and creative design, they can create experiences that rival anything from big-budget studios.
So skip the latest $70 AAA release for a moment and give some of these a shot. You might be surprised by how much fun you have with games that cost less, run on any hardware, and respect your time while delivering pure, concentrated gameplay excellence.
