Pixel Games: What Are They and Why You Should Play Them
Pixel games are a genre of video games that utilize retro-style graphics consisting of simple, blocky pixels. These games often evoke a sense of nostalgia for classic arcade and console games from the 1980s and 90s, while also offering unique gameplay experiences that modern gamers can enjoy.
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In this article, we will explore the history, benefits, challenges, and examples of pixel games on Steam, one of the most popular platforms for digital games. We will also give you some tips on how to play pixel games and have fun with them.
The History of Pixel Games
Pixel art as it is known today largely originates from the golden age of arcade video games, with games such as Space Invaders (1978) and Pac-Man (1980), and 8-bit consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (1983) and Master System (1985). These systems had limited hardware capabilities, such as low screen resolution, color palette, memory, and processing power, which forced developers to use pixels as the only building block for their graphics.
Despite these limitations, or perhaps because of them, pixel art became a distinctive and expressive aesthetic that captured the imagination of players around the world. Games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Final Fantasy, Mega Man, Castlevania, Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, and many others became cultural icons and influenced generations of gamers and developers.
However, as technology advanced, pixel art was gradually replaced by more realistic and detailed graphics, such as 3D models, textures, lighting, and shadows. By the late 90s and early 2000s, pixel art was seen as outdated and obsolete by many mainstream game publishers and consumers, who preferred the latest graphical innovations and trends.
The Pixel Art Renaissance
Despite the decline of pixel art in the mainstream gaming industry, there were still some developers and artists who appreciated and experimented with the style. Some of them were indie developers, who had more creative freedom and less budget constraints than their AAA counterparts. They used pixel art as a way to express their artistic vision, to create games that were inspired by their childhood favorites, or to challenge themselves with the technical and aesthetic limitations of the medium.
One of the most influential indie games that sparked the pixel art renaissance was Cave Story (2004), a Metroidvania-style game that was developed by a single person, Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya. The game featured charming and colorful pixel art graphics, a captivating story, memorable characters, and engaging gameplay. It was widely praised by critics and players alike, and inspired many other indie developers to create their own pixel art games.
Some of the most notable examples of modern pixel art games are:
Celeste (2018), a platformer game that follows the journey of a young woman named Madeline as she climbs a mysterious mountain. The game features beautiful and varied pixel art environments, challenging and rewarding gameplay, and a touching story about overcoming anxiety and depression.
Stardew Valley (2016), a farming simulation game that allows the player to create their own farm, explore the countryside, befriend the villagers, and pursue romance. The game features charming and detailed pixel art graphics, relaxing and addictive gameplay, and a rich and immersive world.
Shovel Knight (2014), a retro-style game that pays homage to classic NES games such as Mega Man, Castlevania, and DuckTales. The game features vibrant and polished pixel art graphics, fun and fast-paced gameplay, and a catchy chiptune soundtrack.
The Benefits of Pixel Games
Pixel games are not just a nostalgic throwback to the past, but also a valid and valuable form of artistic expression that can offer many benefits to players. Some of these benefits are:
Immersion: Pixel games can create immersive worlds that draw the player in with their simplicity and elegance. Pixel art can convey emotions, moods, atmospheres, and stories with minimal details, leaving room for the player's imagination to fill in the gaps. Pixel games can also use techniques such as parallax scrolling, dynamic lighting, particle effects, and color grading to enhance their visuals and create depth and realism.
Expression: Pixel games can showcase the creativity and personality of their developers and artists. Pixel art can be used to create unique and original styles that reflect the vision and message of the game. Pixel games can also experiment with different genres, themes, mechanics, and influences to create diverse and innovative experiences.
Nostalgia: Pixel games can evoke a sense of nostalgia for players who grew up with classic arcade and console games. Pixel art can recreate the look and feel of these games, while also adding modern touches and improvements. Pixel games can also introduce new players to the history and culture of gaming, and inspire them to explore more retro games.
The Challenges of Pixel Games
Pixel games are not without their challenges, both for developers and players. Pixel art is a demanding and complex form of art that requires skill, creativity, and attention to detail. Some of the challenges that pixel games face are:
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Resolution: Pixel games have to deal with the issue of resolution, which is the number of pixels that fit on a screen. Pixel games often have low resolutions, which can make them look blurry or pixelated on modern displays. Pixel games have to find ways to scale their graphics without losing quality or clarity, such as using filters, shaders, or vector graphics.
Animation: Pixel games have to create smooth and realistic animations with limited frames and pixels. Pixel games have to use techniques such as easing, tweening, and dithering to create fluid and natural movements. Pixel games also have to balance the amount of animation with the performance and memory of the system.
Design: Pixel games have to design their graphics with care and precision, as every pixel counts. Pixel games have to use colors, shapes, patterns, and contrasts to create appealing and readable graphics. Pixel games also have to avoid common pitfalls such as banding, aliasing, jaggies, and moiré patterns.
The Best Pixel Games on Steam
Steam is one of the most popular platforms for digital games, with over 50,000 titles available for purchase and download. Steam offers a wide variety of pixel games, from indie gems to AAA hits. Here are some of the best pixel games on Steam that you should check out:
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
If you are a fan of fighting games, you will love this collection that includes 12 iconic titles from the Street Fighter franchise with pixel art graphics. You can play as your favorite characters such as Ryu, Chun-Li, Ken, Guile, and more, and compete against other players online or offline. You can also enjoy the history and evolution of the series with galleries, soundtracks, and trivia.
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
If you are looking for a fast-paced and challenging action platformer, you will enjoy this collection that features six games from the Mega Man Zero and ZX series. You can play as Zero, a legendary hero who wields a sword and a gun, or as ZX, a human who can transform into different biometal forms. You can also customize your gameplay with various modes, filters, and options.
Owlboy
If you are looking for an adventure game with a heartwarming story and a beautiful world, you will love Owlboy. You can play as Otus, a mute owl boy who explores a vibrant world with his friends. You can fly freely in the sky, switch between different characters with unique abilities, and fight against pirates and monsters. You can also admire the stunning pixel art graphics that took over 10 years to create. The Last Night
If you are looking for a cyberpunk game with a stunning cinematic style, you will be amazed by The Last Night. You can play as Charlie, a low-life hacker who gets involved in a conspiracy that threatens his life and the fate of the world. You can explore a dystopian city with rich and diverse environments, interact with various characters and factions, and make choices that affect the outcome of the story. You can also marvel at the blend of 3D graphics and pixel art textures that create a unique and immersive atmosphere.
Replaced
If you are looking for a sci-fi game with an eclectic and dynamic style, you will be impressed by Replaced. You can play as R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body who tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. You can fight, sneak, and parkour your way through a gritty and violent city, where every decision matters and every action has consequences. You can also enjoy the mix of parallax camera, high-resolution pixel art, and stunning visual effects that create a striking and original look.
Other games (briefly mention 18 more games)
Here are some other pixel games on Steam that you should check out:
Undertale: A role-playing game that lets you choose whether to fight or befriend the monsters you encounter in an underground world.
Stardew Valley: A farming simulation game that allows you to create your own farm, explore the countryside, befriend the villagers, and pursue romance.
Shovel Knight: A retro-style game that pays homage to classic NES games such as Mega Man, Castlevania, and DuckTales.
Dead Cells: A roguelike game that combines action platforming with permadeath and procedural generation.
Celeste: A platformer game that follows the journey of a young woman named Madeline as she climbs a mysterious mountain.
Hyper Light Drifter: An action game that features a mysterious hero who travels across a ruined world in search of a cure for his illness.
Terraria: A sandbox game that lets you explore, build, craft, and fight in a 2D world with endless possibilities.
Hollow Knight: A Metroidvania game that follows the adventure of a knight who explores a vast and dark kingdom infested by insects.
Hotline Miami: A top-down shooter game that features brutal violence, neon colors, and an 80s-inspired soundtrack.
Enter the Gungeon: A bullet hell game that features a band of misfits who try to shoot their way through a dungeon full of guns.
Katana Zero: A neo-noir game that features a samurai assassin who can manipulate time and slash his enemies with style.
Blasphemous: A dark fantasy game that features a penitent warrior who seeks to free his land from a curse of eternal suffering.
Octopath Traveler: A JRPG game that features eight characters who embark on their own quests in a pixel art world with 3D effects.
CrossCode: A sci-fi game that features a mute girl who tries to regain her memory in a virtual MMORPG world.
Children of Morta: A roguelike game that features a family of heroes who fight against an ancient evil that threatens their home.
Moonlighter: A fantasy game that features a shopkeeper who dreams of becoming a hero and explores dungeons at night.
Kingdom Two Crowns: A strategy game that features a monarch who builds and defends his kingdom from invaders.
Eastward: An adventure game that features a miner and a girl who travel across a post-apocalyptic world full of secrets and dangers.
Tips for Playing Pixel Games
Pixel games can be a lot of fun, but they can also be frustrating or confusing if you are not used to them. Here are some tips on how to enjoy pixel games to the fullest:
Choose a game that suits your taste and mood: Pixel games come in various genres, themes, and difficulty levels, so pick one that matches your preferences and expectations. Do you want a relaxing and casual game, or a challenging and intense game? Do you want a humorous and quirky game, or a serious and dramatic game? Do you want a short and simple game, or a long and complex game? There is a pixel game for everyone, so browse through the Steam store and find your perfect match.
Appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship behind each pixel: Pixel art is not just a retro style, but a form of expression that requires talent and dedication. Pay attention to the details, colors, animations, and effects that make each game unique. You can also learn more about the development process and the inspiration behind each game by reading interviews, reviews, or blogs from the creators.
Embrace the challenge and the nostalgia: Pixel games can be hard, but also rewarding and satisfying. Don't be afraid to fail and try again, or to seek help from guides or other players. You can also enjoy the nostalgia factor that comes with playing games that remind you of your childhood or introduce you to new classics. You can also share your experiences and opinions with other pixel game fans on forums, social media, or online communities.
Conclusion
Pixel games are a genre of video games that use retro-style graphics consisting of simple, blocky pixels. They have a long and rich history that spans from the golden age of arcade video games to the modern era of indie games. They offer many benefits to players, such as immersion, expression, and nostalgia. They also pose many challenges to developers and artists, such as resolution, animation, and design.
Steam is one of the best platforms to find and play pixel games, as it offers a wide variety of titles that showcase the diversity and quality of the genre. Whether you are looking for a fighting game, an action platformer, an adventure game, a cyberpunk game, a sci-fi game, or any other type of game, you will find a pixel game that suits your taste and mood.
If you are interested in pixel games, we encourage you to try out some of the games we mentioned in this article, or to explore the Steam store for more options. You will not regret it!
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about pixel games. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about pixel games:
What is pixel art?: Pixel art is a form of digital art that uses pixels as the basic unit of graphics. Pixels are small squares of color that are arranged on a grid to create images.
How do I make pixel art?: To make pixel art, you need a software program that allows you to draw pixels on a canvas. There are many programs available for different platforms and devices, such as Aseprite, Pyxel Edit, Piskel, Pixel Studio, GIMP, Photoshop, etc. You can also use online tools or apps that let you create pixel art on your browser or phone.
What are some examples of pixel art styles?: Pixel art styles vary depending on the resolution, color palette, shading technique, level of detail, and overall aesthetic of the images. Some common pixel art styles are: 8-bit style (low resolution and limited colors), 16-bit style (higher resolution and more colors), isometric style (3D perspective with angled view), pixel-perfect style (no anti-aliasing or smoothing), dithering style (using patterns of pixels to create gradients), etc.
What are some tips for improving my pixel art skills?: Some tips for improving your pixel art skills are: study the works of other pixel artists and learn from their techniques; practice drawing basic shapes, objects, characters, and scenes; use references and guides to help you with proportions, anatomy, perspective, etc.; experiment with different tools, settings, filters, effects, etc.; get feedback and critique from other pixel artists or communities; have fun and enjoy the process!
Where can I find more information about pixel games?: You can find more information about pixel games by visiting websites such as Pixel Joint (a pixel art community), Pixel Prospector (a resource for indie game developers), Retro Gamer (a magazine for retro gaming enthusiasts ), or Steam (a platform for digital games). You can also watch videos, podcasts, or streams about pixel games on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, or Spotify. You can also join online forums, groups, or communities that are dedicated to pixel games, such as Reddit, Discord, or Facebook.
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