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A lot of people enjoy playing 2D games because they remind them of their childhoods. Here are Steam’s best 2D games. Want to find good 2D games for PC on Steam? We’ve made a list of the best 2D games on Steam that are worth your time, so you don’t have to look any further. The Steam Store can annoying to look through because the tags they use are often too vague.
Check out this list of the best 2D PC games on Steam to make sure you find exactly what you want. Two-dimensional games have a style and look all their own, which you might call retro or throwback. In the 2D game Orbit XL, players try to get to the center of orbit while avoiding obstacles and changing their speed.
Best 2D Games on Steam Comparison Table
| Game | Genre | Mode | Price | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guilty Gear Strive | Fighting | Single player, Multiplayer | $59.99 | Download Now |
| Super Meat Boy | Platformer | Single player | $14.99 | Download Now |
| Baba Is You | Puzzle | Single player | $15.00 | Download Now |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Platformer | Single player | $29.99 | Download Now |
| Darkest Dungeon | RPG | Single player | $24.99 | Download Now |
| Streets of Rage 4 | Beat ’em up | Single player, Multiplayer | $24.99 | Download Now |
| Mr. Egg: Adventure | Platformer | Single player | $4.99 | Download Now |
| Neon Circle | Arcade | Single player | $2.99 | Download Now |
Guilty Gear Strive
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 2.0 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i7 @ 3.0 GHz |
| Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 20 GB available space | Storage: 20 GB available space |
This game is fairly new, but it has already gotten great reviews and was even nominated for a game award in 2021. But it is lucky to be in the 2D category because its graphics are a mix of 2D and 3D. Still, this game is a lot of fun to play and feels just like the ones that came before it.
It’s also a little easier for people who have never played a Guilty Gear game before. The controls are easy to learn, and the graphics are just gorgeous. If you like fighting games, you should give this one a try. It is one of the best 2D Games on Steam that you can download.
The Good
- Character designs are very detailed and the graphics are beautiful.
- Excellent and interesting ways to fight
- A lot of different characters to play as
- A good story mode with a lot to do
The Bad
- Sometimes it takes a long time for people to meet online.
- New players don’t get as much out of the tutorial as they could.
Super Meat Boy
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows XP | OS: Windows 7 |
| Processor: Intel Pentium 4 @ 3.0 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i3 @ 3.0 GHz |
| Memory: 1 GB RAM | Memory: 2 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 7600 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 500 MB available space | Storage: 500 MB available space |
Many people think that Super Meat Boy was the game that started the indie revolution. It gave a lot of people who wanted to make games but didn’t have much more than an idea and a dream the inspiration and confidence they needed to get started.
It’s not clear if that’s really the case or not. Either way, it’s pretty good and manages to be both easy and hard at the same time. At first glance, it might not look very hard, it can take a lot of tries to finish a stage in Super Meat Boy because of how the many deadly obstacles are placed.
The Good
- Gameplay that is hard and fun
- A story that is fun and funny
- Controls and mechanics that work well
- Great level design with a wide range of challenges
The Bad
- Some players might find the level of difficulty too hard.
- Some people might be less interested in the game because it doesn’t have a story mode.
Baba Is You
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i3 @ 3.0 GHz |
| Memory: 2 GB RAM | Memory: 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 200 MB available space | Storage: 200 MB available space |
Since it came out in 2019, gamers have loved Baba Is You. It’s an abstract puzzle game in which you move blocks around to get around obstacles. The catch? The blocks are the rules. You can change the rules of the game by switching them around.
Baba Is You has more than 200 levels, and each one will keep you interested. The many awards it has won over the years, such as Excellence in Design and the Nuovo Award at the Independent Games Festival and the IndieCade Europe Choice Award.
The Good
- Gameplay mechanics that are new and different
- A great puzzle for people who like to solve problems
- Level design is great, and there are different levels of difficulty.
- The ability to make levels and change them
The Bad
- Some players may have a hard time getting used to the game.
- Some people might not like the simple graphics and sounds.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 10 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.3GHz | Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K @ 3.5GHz |
| Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 20 GB available space | Storage: 20 GB available space |
Ori is a creative game with fun, addicting gameplay that keeps getting better the more you play. You care about the main character’s safety because of how he looks and how dangerous the world is. Even though Ori, the little spirit, has already faced a lot of problems in the last game, his adventures aren’t over yet.
Now, Ori needs to help Kun, the little owl, and find out what his fate is. In this new adventure, it will take more than courage to reunite a family, fix a broken country, and find out what Ori’s ultimate goal is. The game play doesn’t let you down. Ori will explore a huge world full of new friends and enemies that come to life through stunning hand-painted art.
The Good
- Graphics and environments that are beautiful and draw you in
- Storyline that is both interesting and sad
- Great platforming mechanics with a wide range of skills and abilities
- Great music and sound design
The Bad
- Some people might find the platforming challenges hard and sometimes frustrating.
Darkest Dungeon
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.0 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 3.0 GHz |
| Memory: 2 GB RAM | Memory: 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 440 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 2 GB available space | Storage: 2 GB available space |
Darkest Dungeon was a big hit, and now there is a follow-up game. This is a hard, turn-based, Gothic role-playing game about how long journeys can be hard on your emotions because you have to deal with Lovecraftian situations.
Lead a group of flawed heroes through corrupted forests, abandoned labyrinths, forgotten crypts, and more by recruiting, training, and equipping them. You will fight against enemies you can’t even imagine, as well as stress, hunger, illness, and more and more darkness.
The Good
- Gameplay that is different and hard, with strategic battles
- Lovecraftian-inspired elements add to a deep and immersive atmosphere.
- Character classes and ways to change them are different.
- The mechanics of “permadeath” add a level of tension and decision-making to the game.
The Bad
- New players have to learn a lot.Can be unforgiving and punishing, which could make some players angry
Streets of Rage 4
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 3.3 GHz |
| Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 8 GB available space | Storage: 10 GB available space |
Streets of Rage 4 is a love letter to fans of the series, which is one of the best things about it. It takes what was good about the originals and makes them more modern for a new audience. The graphics are beautiful, the game is fun to play, and the music is awesome.
There’s no better way to get more points than to pick up an enemy and throw them at another one. Streets of Rage 4 shows that side-scrolling Beat ’em Ups are still fun. The characters feel very different from each other, attacks feel great when they hit, and the controls are tight and the hand-drawn graphics are beautiful.
The Good
- The game is a classic beat-em-up, but the graphics and gameplay have been updated.
- Co-op multiplayer for up to 4 players for a fun and chaotic time
- Characters you can play as, each with their own moves and skills
- The music is reminiscent of the first Streets of Rage games and has a retro feel.
The Bad
- After the main campaign is over, there isn’t much else to do.
- Some people may find the level of difficulty too high.
Mr. Egg: Adventure
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core i3 @ 2.0 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 2.5 GHz |
| Memory: 2 GB RAM | Memory: 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 |
| DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 500 MB available space | Storage |
Mr.Egg: Adventure is a beautiful side-scrolling 2D game with 16-bit graphics. In the game, players take control of Mr.EGG, a white egg-like character who has a sword and can beat enemies by throwing egg shells at them. This is one of the Best 2D Games on Steam.
Like Super Mario Odyssey, Mr. Egg: Adventure lets players use coins they find in the levels to change how the main character looks. The only thing that stands out about this game is how easy it is to play. This game should get attention because it’s cheap and the enemies look cool.
The Good
- A cute egg character gives the game a unique and endearing way to play.
- Hand-drawn pictures that are cute and full of color.
- Fun and hard platforming levels with different enemies and obstacles
- All ages will enjoy this story because it is funny and not too serious.
The Bad
- The game can only be played a few times because it can be finished quickly.
- Players who want tough challenges may not like simple mechanics and gameplay.
Neon Circle
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 | OS: Windows 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 2.0 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i7 @ 2.8 GHz |
| Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 2 GB available space | Storage: 4 GB available space |
The next game is Neon Circle, a unique 2D platformer that is based on geometric shapes. This game is a strange mix of Pac-Man and pinball, and it has a feel of the 1980s. The game is described on Steam with a short caption that says, “Rotate, think, wait, jump, and rotate the screen.” This is pretty much what the players do.
The main character of the game is a Neon Circle that can roll around and change into a square to stop. Neon Circle is a unique take on the side scroller genre. To move forward, players will have to move the levels. It is one of the best 2D Games on Steam that you can download.
The Good
- Looks that are stylish and futuristic, with a neon theme.
- As players move through a maze of rotating circles, the game is different and challenging.
- Different levels and puzzles that test your reflexes and ability to plan ahead
- Electronic music that is catchy and makes the game more immersive.
The Bad
- Some players may find the level of difficulty to be too hard.
- The game is repetitive because the main mechanic is turning circles.
- Once all the levels are done, you can’t play them again. It may require good timing and coordination, which not all players will like.
FAQs
2D games don’t have three-dimensional geometry. Instead, they use flat graphics called sprites. They are drawn flat on the screen, and the camera (called an orthographic camera) has no sense of depth.
The Tetris Company says that 520 million copies of the game have been sold, which puts it at the top of the list of all-time best-sellers. Tetris may be the most timeless video game ever made.
Two-dimensional games are easier to play on any device, while three-dimensional games need special hardware to show a three-dimensional space in real time. Open-world 3D games let you go anywhere and do almost anything you want.
Not much separates them. It has 2d meshes. How fast an object is drawn depends mostly on what parts it has. In general, though, 2D objects are faster because they don’t need meshes, just sprites.