Top 25 Best Upcoming Pixel Art Games of 2021, 2022 and Beyond

2021 looks likely to bring us plenty of amazing-looking pixel art games for PC, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, and more. Here are the top 25 new upcoming pixel art games expected out in 2021, 2022 and beyond we're most looking forward to playing.
-
#IndieGames #BestIndieGames #GetIndieGaming
-
SUPPORT AND FOLLOW US:
- Subscribe for More: kzbin.info...
- Twitter: / getindiegaming .
- Instagram: / getindiegaming
- Epic Store Partner Code: GetIndieGaming
- New Access Point Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/46m3lQH...
-
Top 25 New Pixel Art Games of 2021 and 2022
00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - 25: Garden Story: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
01:03 - 24: Overloop: store.steampowered.com/app/72...
01:40 - 23: Hell is Others: store.steampowered.com/app/96...
02:00 - 22: No Place for Bravery: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
02:31 - 21: Toodee and Topdee: store.steampowered.com/app/13...
03:08 - 20: Kaze and the Wild Masks: store.steampowered.com/app/82...
03:42 - 19: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion: store.steampowered.com/app/12...
04:10 - 18: Bushiden: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
04:46 - 17: Backbone: store.steampowered.com/app/86...
05:26 - 16: Lunark: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
06:07 - 15: Death Trash: store.steampowered.com/app/94...
06:38 - 14: Jack Move: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
07:02 - 13: Radio the Universe: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
07:27 - 12: Gestalt Steam and Cinder: store.steampowered.com/ageche...
08:03 - 11: Cleo - A Pirate’s Tale: store.steampowered.com/app/13...
08:43 - 10: Smelter: store.steampowered.com/app/10...
09:12 - 9: Chinatown Detective Agency: store.steampowered.com/app/11...
09:52 - 8: Chained Echoes: store.steampowered.com/app/12...
10:34 - 7: Eldest Souls: store.steampowered.com/app/11...
11:13 - 6: Flynn Son of Crimson: store.steampowered.com/app/73...
11:50 - 5: Nykra: store.steampowered.com/app/86...
12:13 - 4: Mighty Goose: store.steampowered.com/app/12...
12:49 - 3: Narita Boy: store.steampowered.com/app/10... Nintendo Switch Digital Code: amzn.to/2W0xt3S (affiliate link)
13:32 - 2: Cloud Jumper: store.steampowered.com/app/15...
14:02 - 1: Eastward: store.steampowered.com/app/97...

[@GetIndieGaming]

We’re so close to that magical 100k Silver Play Button which is sooooo amazing! Many thanks for the continued support - cheers all!

[@aimenzaied]

Congrats on 100K !

[@edengrayce8999]

And it's done ! Congrats you guys deserve it, keep up the amazing work. Thank you a lot for everything you've made so far ! Glad you didn't stop

[@titanofsolitude6377]

Now I wanna play ALL of them

[@MarcosMagnani]

Hello there, can you talk about my game? Trap Japan, is in my channel, I need help to share it

[@leenathomas2039]

Agreed

[@codinginflow]

No matter how photorealistic game graphics get these days, I find pixel art games just more beautiful

[@shamzy460]

I wasn't a fan of 2d games but the more I tried playing it I just found it beautiful

[@karamsabbagh7465]

Me too

[@michaelcorrigan6577]

For real!

[@Endzeitstille]

oh yeah

[@jeffreymclean3358]

Agreed!!!

[@Exarian]

It occurs to me that a lot of pixel-art games aren't even trying to emulate older eras of game visuals anymore, they're just exploring the inherent aesthetic qualities of pixel graphics at this point.

[@tanavast7337]

What's the problem with this? We don't need to emulate the old style of pixel graphics. And honestly, with exception of a few games, these types of pixel styles are just better imo.

[@sulblazer]

@@tanavast7337 There's nothing wrong with exploring pixel art. I think you took Exarian's comment the wrong way.

[@garethwynn01]

@@tanavast7337 I think the point he was making is that it's an artistic form being chosen on it's own merits rather than for retro / nostalgia purposes.

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@tanavast7337 What are you even saying?

[@craftmaster1725]

yeah, I think that adding light isn't necessary. without light it will make the game better and can reduce cost.

[@HE360]

I'm an indie developer and it's very cool coming in and seeing games that other people made. It is very inspiring for me.

[@cliftondavidpowell]

How much does it cost to make an indie game?

[@mrgod5139]

Just do not become a copycat ok 😉

[@tiellimilin6622]

Thank you so much for existing 😇

[@Marzaries]

@@cliftondavidpowell Time.

[@Tethloach1]

@@mrgod5139 That is a very good point but a very thin line. copying = uninspired 1 to 1 ratio of what someone else did. Being inspired is taking different elements from others and improving upon them. No one is truly original yet every is a bit unique. I guess it all comes down to how you improve something or add to it or make it different.

[@Lorenzo12089]

Eastward was definitely one of the best games I've ever played in my life. It first surprised me when I found out that its not just an adventure /exploration game but it's an action game as well with amazing storytelling, great characters and music. Loved it 10/10. Highly Recommended.

[@SL_Beast]

dude fr I'm lovin it so far

[@patricia1789]

Definitely going to pick up Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, looks so cute and with cheeky humor.

[@quen3742]

I really like the fact that you made timestamps and chapters for each game! It’s a great way to look at each thumbnails and click on ones I find interesting! Thank you so much and keep up the good work

[@siddeshgmysore2298]

waiting for Backbone, Eastward and Narita Boy since 2 years and boy is it gonna be fun!

[@GetIndieGaming]

The Narita Boy demo will be free to play for a few days via the Steam Festival of Gaming which starts on the 3rd.

[@siddeshgmysore2298]

@@GetIndieGaming Yeah I'm so excited fot it!! 😎🥳🔥 Thanks for the headsup👍

[@skeletankmcgraw7343]

So why is Narita Boy so hyped? This is literally the first time I have ever even heard of it, and what I saw really didn't jump out to me as anything "special".

[@masterkeef133]

@@siddeshgmysore2298 dont know if youve seen, but its out on steam already

[@siddeshgmysore2298]

@@masterkeef133 yeah! Thnx, also Backward is releasing on June 8 🥳

[@TheHarracane]

I'm currently working on my own indie game using pixel art. I've always been an artist and it's looking really good. It's also just so cool to see the indie community growing and that more people are becoming inspired to make their own great video games

[@karrie3768]

So am I! That's really cool, it's always nice to hear about other people's games. Makes you feel like part of a community.

[@persianprince12]

Thanks for featuring Narita Boy! I love the retro/vapourwave aesthetic of the game. Also, Chained Echoes is confirmed a 2022 game now.

[@kaguyaotsutsuki5977]

I would like to see more pixel art games without violence, some life simulator.

[@jackiebrown8152]

roots of pacha ;)

[@handa9981]

Stardew valley then

[@anikab8419]

Kynseed looks really good as well!

[@Tethloach1]

I think games that focus on story and puzzle solving and unique strategy that has replay value are great. The depth of the story, the replay value make me keep playing. Games are technically interactive stories, the greater the story the more time I can invest into playing it or if it has a lot of replay value. In the early 2000s people took risk making all kinds of games which were a lot of fun, and then mid 2000s companies started to play it safe and every game was copying others making the market saturated with clones, and now some people are making creative games worth playing. Usually if a game has played out it's concepts for the most part older gamers will have a hard time getting into it, but newer players will last for bit and have the same issue. This happens with pokemon, hopefully they will add significant changes to bring back older players.

[@xTheReapersSpawn]

life simulator is about to patch in violence.

[@Aveen3]

You have the same cadence as Steve Priestly from my childhood videogame review series "Movies Games and Videos". I am not sure if you ever grew up with them as well, but the similarity is remarkable. Thank you for bringing my back my memories and kudos to your work. They are edited and done perfectly.

[@frogman1]

backbone looks SO GOOD. it also sounds amazing. that song in the trailer..... OH MAN.

[@moarab936]

I can see a lot of beautifull indie goodness comming our way in 2021. Especially looking forward to playing Flynn son of crimson.

[@ablur5129]

Eastward looks amazing, still looking really forward to Son of crimson and many more on this list like Bushiden and Narita boy

[@D0NTHEMAN]

It's out! Play it

[@ablur5129]

@@D0NTHEMAN Already bought! Finna play soon!

[@TheKharymusic]

I've been waiting for eastward so long I feared the devs gave up on it. Glad to hear it's still on the way.

[@wozman23]

Glad to see Toodee and Topdee getting some love. It and Narita Boy are two of my most anticipated in all of gaming.

[@tiagocosmos]

Eastward is at the very neart top of my wishlist in second place (first place is Hollow Knight Silksong OBVIOUSLY) but again, also looking forward to Osteoblasts which comes out on February 12th and it's a gorgeous pixel art rpg where you play as a skeleton.

[@Valiantiron]

added a couple of these games to my wishlist. Thank you!

[@charlesolivierwm]

Great list, a lot of them sound promising! I always love great indie games on my Switch.

[@usedfuzzbox]

Eastward has been on my wishlist for so long now it seems......simply gorgeous looking :D

[@Jusangen]

Gestalt looks pretty cool! And eastward. Thanks for posting man! I'm a new pixel artist and this gives me a lot of inspiration.

[@andreguimaraes7503]

Nykra, radio the universe and EASTWARD are the ones i hope are out this year, i’ve been looking towards them since their first times here at this amazing channel! Thanks once more for another great video!

[@GetIndieGaming]

Thank you. Appreciate the feedback.

[@ghosthuntinbun5947]

I've been following one of the artists for garden story on twitter for a while so psyched to finally see it finished

[@skeletankmcgraw7343]

Definitely Eastward and Bushiden for me. There were some others here I thought looked promising, but I will have to see more about them later when they get closer to release.

[@TheBlackatdz]

bushiden pixel art and animation is out of this world, looking forward to play it.

[@jameshitt3263]

Outstanding. I love being a 2d pixel game player. I must admit, when I didn't see The Drifter on the list, my heart dropped. I hope Powerhoof surprises me and completes it this year.

[@umeshkhanna]

When I saw first few seconds of the video, Instant subscribed. I have been playing games from past 26 years. Love all retro games especially pixel art meteoroid games.

[@GetIndieGaming]

Awesome, thank you!

[@AmberyTear]

Woah, I haven't heard about any of this but at least 5 titles look appealing to me personally. Thanks!

[@Harrod371]

Good list, there's only two other pixel art games from the top of my head that I'm really looking forward to. Undungeon and There is No Light

[@Morraak]

SO CLOSE TO 100K! Woot! Happy for you guys, you deserve it.

[@Lexyvil]

I'm so glad retro-styled or pixel art styled games are so much appreciated. I feel like we're getting spoiled by the sheer quality of many of these games.

[@michaelcorrigan6577]

Lots of cool games coming out. I love it ! Thanks for the video

[@Claymanfilms]

Its funny that Eastward was supposed to release last fall now I'm just wondering when it will ever come out... Super exited for that one!

[@aletanook]

Eastward is most most anticipated game of the year. Soooo can't wait!

[@00sarvottam00]

Good collection as usual. Pixel art games you recommend almost always go up on my wish list. Thanks mate. And cheers

[@GetIndieGaming]

Thank you. We loved pulling this one together.

[@supermariosunshin131]

Always great to see promising games with the pixel art style realesing in the year.

[@absence9443]

Love those lists! One about the kinda genre of What The Golf or Later Alligator (whatever genre they fit in) could be interesting too. Though I'd assume that the love for pixel-art probably dominates :P [ 300 more subs to go, weehee! ]

[@amywong3146]

I'm so excited for BACKBONE. It's set in the more rundown part of the downtown in my city. They got A LOT of it so accurate and I love the dystopian style that was added.

[@Felipef12]

Looking forward to play Radio The Universe and Eastward. Great video as always!

[@GetIndieGaming]

Thanking you 😀.

[@wrightstuffmusic]

Backer on Cleo! Cannot wait for this :)

[@sehrschee]

Truly Amazing List. Very Well Done.

[@jpbaiano1]

Nice one! Tnx for the video, man

[@ScreamsInCaves.]

Thanks for the amazing video! :)

[@Leosalvaje_]

Great video! I love pixelart! Mostly in 2D plattformers, looks like classics. It feels like you can play with the pixel art but in a hi-bit game!

[@hundreds.spiral]

thank you for making this video, i was searching for "radio the universe" i just forgot the title XD

[@IamJacksColon4]

Finished Narita Boy, loved it. Looking forward to Eastward, it just looks amazing.

[@neo7538]

"which one are you going to pla-" ALL OF IT

[@fabiobezerra9569]

Your channel is just awesome!.. Thank you very much for all your great work and i wish you all the best of success. ✌️😁

[@nicodemous52]

I played the Smelter demo a while back and had a short exchange with the developer on either steam or discord. The city builder part kind of reminds me of the fairy/ant villages in Breath of Fire. A ton of folks say Actraiser, but I never played it. The platforming was great though. The city builder/defense part I can take it or leave it, mostly leave it.

[@shayspott3]

I’m highly interested in about 20 of these great list I wonder if these are still on schedule for release anytime soon 🤔

[@st24046]

I would add: Underground Life, coral island and pirate peachleaf

[@indiewithme]

Eastward is the game i'm really looking forward, with that kind of art and graphic, it's just so amazing, marvelous 😍😍

[@DISCO-munication]

This 11:31 looks like Shovel Knight homage, I like it~ My best picks are Flynn, Nykra, Narita Boy, Eastward and Chained Echoes!

[@isto_inc]

I got a chance to play backbone at pax prior to the entire world shutting down and Hooo wee! Their water on pavement looks so good.

[@GetIndieGaming]

The water work and soundtrack is so good on this one.

[@adaalonso]

I would like to play backbone. But is not in Spanish at the moment. And I know the importance of that type of game. Also the pixel art is beatuful, reminds me The last night

[@pandarouge21]

the lighting in that game is really nice too!

[@elcheshireilustracion9396]

Ah, Eitr. So it wasn´t just my imagination. One of this days I´ll play it, I´m sure. Pretty much all of this are being added to my watchlist. Love the varied style and aestethic, and above all, the sheer talent to use such a limited medium in such creative ways. Toodee and Topdee is so original! Love the pun, too.

[@flyingmousegaming1168]

Personally Backbone was pretty refreshing for me although some of the puzzles were a bit confusing :)

[@David8p]

I was waiting for this game all my life and I did not know information but when I saw this top

[@mezakb8272]

Some of these games are straight up , work of art. Btw , you haven’t done a stream in a while , it would be nice if you do one for the 100k subs.

[@GetIndieGaming]

Hi there. That is the plan yep. I’ll do a stream once (and if) we tick over the 100k. We are also planning on more livestreams in a channel content refresh that’s coming soon.

[@imperiartegames]

Very beauty and nostalgic games!!

[@slydrakee2631]

My only wish concerning pixel art is to be able to playe "the last night" one day :(

[@GetIndieGaming]

You, me and so many others.

[@atoaster2070]

Yeah, Eitr too.

[@GetIndieGaming]

Oh goodness yes to this one too.

[@Luna-ii4mx]

Me too, im still waiting for that game 😞 its the best looking ever and I love the cyberpunk theme

[@arsaland9301]

I just hope I can play it on pc

[@neenaw]

This is a damn good list!

[@chickenstripsp4222]

I love this style !

[@gauravbiyani350]

The day I started creating games by myself I fall in love with pixel art games and these pixel art games looks more fascinating than those high graphic games.

[@pandarouge21]

so many good looking games, really hope I'll get to play all of these

[@strangewayfaringstranger]

I love all these type of games. They tend to have quite the emotional reaction to me, sometimes through story or something so simple as just scenes in a game. Sometimes I like them better than bigger AAA titles. I'd say for sure it depends how i'm feeling that day, or even week.

[@Krondelo]

A lot of these look great! Eastward looks like a must-buy though.

[@OldKingMaple]

Some of these look like real gems, thanks for making this video, got my eye on Turnip man and Backbone lol.

[@NikolasKarampelas]

I don't even like pixel games, yet I added a handful from that video on my wishlist. I just wised more of them to be available at gog.

[@lailoca]

I would love to see a video about pixel games for Xbox One. Great video, btw :)

[@fairy.015]

eastward and backbone is smth u play on a quiet rainy night im sold

[@kelorean159]

oh wow! 2021! what a year u might be. so many games!!!!

[@soul6858]

Chinatown Detective Agency and Backbone looking fire!! will definitely be playing them

[@justinpaglia616]

Congratulations on 100K subs!! You guys deserve it, amazing channel. Onwards to 200K!

[@GetIndieGaming]

Thanks so much!

[@emersonguerra2772]

Lunark remembers me the game Flashbak. And Backbone feels like the Blacksad comic series. Just love It!

[@andrejw545]

Nice Video! Still work in progress but that do you think of the pixel art in Rogue's Awakening?

[@ichweissnicht6888]

Eastward. Wishlisted the moment i heard its gonna be on steam. not sure if i get it for switch or pc tho

[@bodhicara]

Just finished playing EASTWARD. It was great!

[@scangittman9952]

Narita Boy is damn near perfect. The story is bonkers, the music is excellent, the animation is buttery smooth, and the artwork is definitely pleasing to look at. Kudos to the developer and staff that made that game. Truly a work of art.

[@GetIndieGaming]

Yup. It’s a fab, fab game. Loved it.

[@Flackon]

Hope to hear something about The Last Night this year

[@cqllel5186]

Pixel Art is the best art style. True beauty comes from simplicity. Our creativity truly shines when our resources are limited

[@hugoacevedo4812]

Never seen Eastward before, looks amazing tho. Feeling worried for NaritaBoy maybe is too much hype. Waiting for Radio the Universe like for 8 years, I remember the first trailer and I was hooked...finally seems at reach.

[@peettaliquet]

Great video.

[@ziuber18]

What a streak of that I'd like to get. Boy, I'm hoping I will have the time to play at least some of them.

[@zuma573]

The backbone is awesome, absolutely getting it

[@mikeuk666]

love pixel games & looking forward to Team17 Rouge Heroes on the 23rd

[@blairwhitley4826]

Backbone looks amazing!

[@Terranigma23]

So hype about Eastward. Did you know there is a monster catching side game (Pokemon) in Eastward game ahah. 😁

[@maxp4604]

I plan on playing backbone and Eastward

[@matheusnico1as]

so hyped for radio the universe and eastward

[@Lock2002ful]

Pixel Art is just beautiful, especially classic 16 bit or more modern style pixel art graphics with newer shaders and what not.

[@ziyaadkaroodien2852]

Nice list for 2021 thus far. Patiently waiting on Eastward

[@GetIndieGaming]

That one should do so well on the Switch. Perfect place for it.

[@ziyaadkaroodien2852]

@@GetIndieGaming all the reason for me to get a Switch again. That and the most anticipated BOTW sequel. Currently playing 198X, absolutely brilliant. I'm loving it

[@JJ4509]

No Place for Bravery reminds me a lot of Hyper Light Drifter, looks like a great time!

[@Rime_Di_Michelangelo]

I love pixel art, I'm glad to see it's still thriving 😊

[@user-yd5ow4bk1g]

I love pixel games a lot, I expect to experience amazing graphics and gameplay role play a lot. 🎉

[@LuanaSantos-rl4sb]

this channel is awesome

[@indorijugaadgaming]

me too, I love these sprite style graphics

[@joshua.johnson]

A lot of modern games are like moving art. I got into the genre with Hyper Light Drifter and of course playing Nintendo growing up

[@amikay4974]

A good one also is Fire Scout, really nice design

[@sam-nc5ou]

Backbone looks so good!