TLC - My Top 9 best-looking 2D sidescroller games ever made (in my opinion!)

I missed making these sort of lists this past year. So while I'm taking a break from full-on reviews,

It's time to have a look at....

TLC #08: My Top 9 best-looking 2D sidescroller games ever made (in my opinion!)

I've always been a huge fan of 2D sidescroller games. A genre that had been mostly forgotten and replaced by 3D platformers when the Nintendo 64 and the PSX popped up on the gaming scene. And for a while it seemed sidescrollers were all but gone from the medium...

But with this retro nostalgia in full force and thanks to the indie gaming scenes as well as gaming finally coming up to terms with modern remasters/remakes and other re-releases and compilations, 2D art is finally back and here to stay as an acceptable alternative aesthetics of its own for video games. 

This list here won't feature every great sidescroller game ever made. There's far too many games not counting all sorts of genre that use 2D art. Instead this is simply my own favorite picks, the games I consider the best-looking ones ever made - again. And since I'm mostly a platformer game fan, that's the genre I'm mostly focusing on.

Also, I didn't want to go for the usual contenders. For one big reason. As much as I adore pixel art and retro classics such as the Sonic or Mario games, I've always been more partial to games that try something different or better yet, those that tried to mimic 2D illustrations. 

But allow me to give a special shoutout to the many games that almost made the list. A special mention for a few of my own favorites that aren't necessary the best looking 2D games but come pretty damn' close in my eyes. Such as the absolutely gorgeous cartoony Yoshi Island on the SNES. Sega's Monster World IV which I never really got to experience much. And many of Treasure games back in the day. And WayForward Technologies' own Shantae series which I feel always comes close but is just short of looking perfect in my eyes. A lot of 16-bit era Infograme titles, which were often adaptations of French comics or cartoons. And a cult favorite of mine which has a great art style but not the best animations, Aero the Acro-bat 2, which looks gorgeous but is really rough around the edges. The Tiny Toons SNES and Mega Drive games were also quite spectacular. And let's not forget the great Rocket Knight games.

Without further ado, these are the best-looking 2D sidescroller games ever made, in my own humble opinion.

Here's my list:

#09 Donkey Kong Country/Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest/Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Original release date: 1994/1995/1996
Developed by Rare
Published by Nintendo
Released on SNES, GBC and GBA

Those games were amazing back in the day. And they still are, even though the Wii and Wii U received updated sequels with Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

I still adore the really odd CGi-animated cartoon look these classic games had. Which inspired a full on television series back in the day.

Unlike any other game out there to this day, despite inspiring a lot of pale imitations.

And these will be the only non-2D-ysh entries in this list.

#08 Rayman/Rayman 1/Rayman Gold/Rayman Forever/Rayman Advance
Original release date: 1995
Developed by Ubisoft
Published by Ubisoft
Released on Sega Saturn, PSX, PC, Atari Jaguar, GBC, GBA and countless other ports

I still consider the original Rayman one of the most beautiful games ever made, which says a lot for the titles I still have below.

Gorgeous. Colorful. Well-animated. And always fun and challenging.

It's one of the most perfect platformers from that generation!

#07 Astal 
Original release date: 1995
Developed by Sega
Published by Sega
Released on Sega Saturn

A very underrated 32-bit era platformer with some of the best looking most gorgeous animations and stages I've seen!

With a really great unique atmosphere!

#06 A Boy and His Blob (2009)
Original release date: 2009
Developed by WayForward Technologies
Published by Majesco Entertainment
Released on Wii, then ported on Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita & PC

A list of gorgeous 2D games had to feature some of WayForward titles.

This reimagination of the classic NES games is such a unique gorgeous game! It's like playing an actual animated film!

Very pleasant, very underrated game.

#05 Earthworm Jim/Earthworm Jim 2
Original release date: 1994/1995
Developed by Shiny Entertainment
Published by Playmates Interactive Entertainment/Virgin Interactive 
Released on Sega Mega Drive, Sega CD, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo, GBA, PC, Wii, etc.

I can't honestly put one episode before of the other, but contain equally amazing and hilarious visuals.

The original game was so unique, beautiful and perfectly animated, while the second is simply crazier and even more outlandish!

Some of the best looking graphics to this day, in my opinion. Specially with the unique approach to platforms and the platforms you usually walk over in these types of games.

#04 Super Tempo
Original release date: 1998
Developed by Red Company
Published by Sega
Released on Sega Saturn

The original Tempo on the 32x is a pretty impressive game already for the Sega Mega Drive, but its fairly obscure sequel on the Sega Saturn is something else!

Super Tempo is a really crazy stunning Japanese game, that has all the energy of a crazy adventure anime, with none of the filler animation! It's definitively a Japanese title, with some of the craziest ideas I've seen in forever, but it warrants a look into at least once!

And it's pretty close to Rayman's colorful world in my eyes. Slightly more impressive towards the second half.

#03 Wario Land: Shake It!
Original release date: 2008
Developed by Good-Feel
Published by Nintendo
Released on Wii

Easily the most overlooked entry in the entire Wario Land series. This Wii episode is absolutely gorgeous!

For me, it's easily the best looking Nintendo game ever made and my personal favorite. Yeah, above any other Mario, Zelda or Metroid! I just adore this game!

Funky beats. Gorgeous art style. A really unique experience.

I kinda wish the New Mario Bros. games were closer to this, personally speaking.

#02 Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame
Original release date: 2010
Developed by WayForward Technologies
Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Released on Wii and Nintendo DS

One last WayForward game.

A strange choice, I'm sure you will think. But for me this is easily the best looking 2D game I've every played.

I must say I also adore the cartoon that inspired this game.

And this game just feels like living actual episodes of the show! Which you can couch co-op play with your friends or family!

It was one of the best experiences I've had in a really long while, and really reminded me of the good ol' 16-bit days.

And it's just a stunning interactive cartoon!

#01 Rayman Origins/Rayman Legends
Original release date: 2011/2013
Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier
Published by Ubisoft
Released on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita, PC, Wii U & 3DS

I thought a really long while which of the two games I preferred over the other. And while Legends basically contains all of Rayman Origins' levels, I still sort of prefer Origins' aesthatics and art style. Sure, Legends is a bit shiner with more special effects and animations, but I like Origins' simplicity.

See what I'm talking about here?

Anyways, I know it's kinda cheating having both the original Rayman and the last two sequels in this same list, but I do consider these the best-looking 2D sidescrollers ever made. And that's how I titled this list in the first place!

These last Rayman games are simply outstanding, lovely made, perfectly animated. Gorgeous. Really fun. And hilarious!

Anyways, that's it for "My Top 9 best-looking 2D sidescroller games ever made (in my opinion!)".

Of course it's a pretty personal list with probably choices you wouldn't have made. I do believe most lists are to some degree.  

You agree you disagree? Write down what games you would have chosen and tell me why in the comments section, I'll be sure to have a look!

See you next time for another Top List Countdown!