2D never aged: chiselled sprites, hand-drawn animation, perfect readability. This Top 50 pays tribute to the retro games that took 2D to its peak, from run and gun to RPG. RomWize ranks them by its re-evaluated scores and specifies each one's versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Cuphead has lost none of its daring. Its 1930s cartoon aesthetic, wholly hand-painted and hand-animated, stays unique in gaming and will likely never age. The structure, built almost entirely around inventive boss fights, demands precision and memorisation, and its difficulty remains a deliberate stance that will put off hurried players. But the satisfaction of felling a boss after ten tries is intact. Two-player mode adds joyful chaos. For fans of demanding action and bold art direction, it is a peak still entirely relevant, and a showcase no screenshot truly captures."
"Link's Awakening remains one of the greatest games ever made for a handheld, and time has only confirmed its status. Shipwrecked on Koholint Island, Link explores eight dungeons of unashamed dreamlike strangeness, supported by writing that still surprises and a score etched into the medium's collective memory. The level design is remarkably precise, the inventory turns into an instrument and the ending leaves a lasting wake. Shorter than a console Zelda but utterly elegant, it stays essential for anyone interested in adventure games, in any era."
"Crafted by an inspired Konami team, Ghost Babel remains to this day one of the finest handheld takes on the Metal Gear series. The top down view brings back the tactical clarity of the original MSX game while folding in the staging and codec calls of the Solid era. The Gindra storyline is no spin off filler, the writing and difficulty curve hold up beautifully. For anyone who loves cerebral stealth or wants to explore a lesser known side of the saga, this adventure still feels strikingly relevant today."
"A Link to the Past is probably one of the greatest adventure games ever crafted, and it still feels strikingly fresh today. The two parallel worlds, the nine dungeons with unique mechanics and the environmental writing have shaped the genre for thirty years. Link's controls stay precise, the Koji Kondo soundtrack is timeless. For anyone who has never finished Hyrule on this cartridge, an absolute priority. Even veterans will find renewed pleasure in a well steered second run."
"Zelda no Densetsu - Kamigami no Triforce, known as A Link to the Past in the West, is probably one of the greatest adventure games ever crafted, and it still feels strikingly fresh today. The two parallel worlds, the nine dungeons with unique mechanics and the environmental writing have shaped the genre for thirty years. Link's controls stay precise, the Koji Kondo soundtrack is timeless. For anyone who has never finished Hyrule on this cartridge, an absolute priority."
"An indie 2D platformer by Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight offers a retro 8 bit adventure where the shovel knight Shovel Knight explores dungeons to save his beloved Shield Knight. The sublime retro pixel art direction, precise NES tribute handling and memorable chiptune soundtrack make it an absolute indie platformer reference on Wii U. For anyone fond of retro platformers or seeking an absolutely essential indie, an absolutely essential recommendation today still without any hesitation truly here indeed."
"Metroid Dread masterfully closes the narrative arc begun on NES, and does so with a briskness rare for the series. The interconnected exploration keeps all its power, but the E.M.M.I. stalking sequences inject a tension close to survival horror. The handling is remarkably precise, and unlocked abilities keep reopening the map. Demanding bosses ask for reading and reflexes. Some players will regret occasionally directive guidance, but the balance stays superb. For Metroidvania fans and the curious alike, it is one of the genre's current peaks, completely up to date."
"Hoshi no Kirby Super Deluxe, known as Kirby Super Star and Kirby's Fun Pak in the West, is probably HAL Laboratory's peak on the Super Famicom. The cartridge gathers seven different mini adventures, namely a treasure rush, a boss rush duel, a helicopter mode and several platformers, all crossable in local two player co op. The absorbed abilities finally offer rich movesets. The tech is gorgeous. For Kirby lovers or anyone after a varied, accessible 16 bit platformer, without hesitation the priority cartridge."
"Hoshi no Kirby Super Deluxe, known as Kirby Super Star and Kirby's Fun Pak in the West, is probably HAL Laboratory's peak on the Super Famicom. The cartridge gathers seven different mini adventures, namely a treasure rush, a boss rush duel, a helicopter mode and several platformers, all crossable in local two player co op. The absorbed abilities finally offer rich movesets. The tech is gorgeous. For Kirby lovers or anyone after a varied, accessible 16 bit platformer, without hesitation the priority cartridge."
