Nintendo Switch

Switch games with handdrawn art styles you could recommend?



I’ve been playing a good amount of [Shantae Half Genie Hero](https://youtu.be/gCqFPPDzCzw) to cool down in between TOTK sessions, and the 2D art is an absolute treat for the eyes (in more ways than one). The 2D animated portraits in [Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp](https://youtu.be/fftL_XeK2qU), done by the same developer WayForward, are also delightful paired with the funny dialogue exchanges. Although, plenty of people have expressed their grievances with the 3D style that the rest of the game goes for. As you can see though, different genres can still lend themselves to an art direction like this, and WayForward I feel is the prime example here.

Some others that look enticing to me based on their handdrawn styles include [Streets of Rage 4](https://youtu.be/gSMzRJupwy8), brought to us by the same publishers as TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, and [Chicory: A Colorful Tale](https://youtu.be/XisVOrFQH7M). I’ve also heard many wonderful things about [Gris](https://youtu.be/QfDwo7MIqJ4) and admittedly got emotional over the reveal of their next game [Neva](https://youtu.be/LiVRCNCDHKU). It’s just that I don’t really know what either play like at the moment. Of course stuff like Rayman Legends, Hollow Knight, and Cuphead should all go without mentioning in this regard.

Edit: Lotta people are saying Okami but I dunno if I would call that artstyle “handdrawn.” Still a gorgeous game tho.

Edit 2: Shit I forgot about Skullgirls!!

by Asad_Farooqui

30 Comments

  4. Datansaniel

    You need to check out Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. A fantastic game with a wonderful artstyle.

  6. jesternarf

    13 Sentinels, especially on a Switch OLED.

  8. 6DuckysInATrenchCoat

    I know you mentioned it but I got hollow knight today and oh. my. GOD! ITS AMAZING

  12. ron_mcphatty

    Rayman Legends is pretty special. It’s also regularly discounted and with excellent multiplayer support, definitely worth picking up for some refined platforming fun.

  13. Dukemon102

    – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Not TGAA Chronicles, that one is mostly full 3D)
    – The World Ends With You: Final Mix (Play it on handheld mode with a stylus)
    – Digimon Survive

    Partial 2D:

    – NEO The World Ends With You (Character portraits)
    – Persona 3/4/5 Royal (Mostly the character portraits, battles and gameplay will be 3D)
    – Danganronpa Decadence (Characters are 2D, the backgrounds are 3D)

    Ori and the Blind Forest & Will of the Wisps supposedly used hand-drawn graphics for the backgrounds, but the game looks like stylized 3D to me, so I’ll just mention it just in case.

  15. Roximum

    That’s a pretty good one to start with! I’ll recommend Hollow Knight, Cult of the Lamb, Yomawari Long Night Collection, Cuphead, Monster Prom, Dream Daddy, and the crowning jewel, The World Ends With You!

  16. youngkitkat

    Hollow knight is one of the best looking games I’ve ever played along with cup head

  19. notmakingtherapture

    Spiritfarer! It’s kind of like Stardew valley or animal crossing but has more action sequences and story elements!

  20. OhhhhJay

    The new Bayonetta Origins game is beautiful, and Okami HD is great if you haven’t yet experienced it. Both are ‘3D’ games, though (though the bayonetta is kind of isometric 3d).

  21. TurboNinja80

    Monsterboy and the Cursed Kindom. Beautiful, and amazing game to boot.

  22. julezcow

    Spiritfarer is such a beautiful little gem of a game. It’s a management-like game like Stardew Valley with a beautiful story and hand-drawn-looking art.

  23. plusultraaah

    Ni No Kuni – beautiful JRPG with artwork by Studio Ghibli. It feels like you’re playing inside an anime.

  24. foggybass

    Jotun is an awesome hand-drawn game with all the voice acting done in old-Icelandic

  25. zoozoo4567

    It’s ~~not~~ *hand drawn*, ~~per se, but~~ the Ori Collection is gorgeous and has a very unique aesthetic. I feel like if you’re looking for visual showpieces, it deserves a mention.

  28. funsohng

    Vanillaware games. I think Switch has 13 Sentinels, Dragon’s Crown and GrimGrimoire. GrimGrimoire has a really lengthy demo on eShop too.

  29. jw13

    Yoku’s Island Express! It’s easily one of my favorite games.

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