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Look, I’m not saying I’m not amazed that games have reached this era of visual hyperrealism where I can count the individual hairs in your character’s nose. It’s an impressive feat, no doubt. But I’m still one of those people firmly in the camp of stylized and exaggerated over indistinguishably lifelike and authentic.
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I’m far more interested in a game’s art direction—think the elegant brushstrokes of Okami, the striking impressionism of Disco Elysium, or almost any RPG from gaming’s 16-bit era. That last one is my real weakness, though. Secret of Mana rewired my brain.
And like so many of you, an adoration for the pixely visuals of 8-bit, 16-bit, and even 32-bit games has followed me into adulthood. Modern releases channeling those aesthetics may no longer be limited by the machines they’re running on, but I’m still floored by the detailed pixel-work in games like Hyper Light Drifter or Replaced.
That’s why I’ve dedicated today’s quiz to games with striking pixel art styles. Some of them are far more traditional than others, staying true to their 8- or 16-bit aesthetics, while others are more inspired by the era. You’ve got 10 minutes to name all 15 games based on a single, cropped screenshot.
Good luck, and when you’re done, let me know your score and some of your favorite pixel art games. I’ve got a long list of games I haven’t used stored away for future quizzes, so maybe you’ll see your favorite included next time.
