Comic books have truly come far from their initial stardom as a medium to where we’re now gifted with entertainment media inspired by their visual art style, like the Spider-verse movies and even the recent hit sensation, Arcane.
Speaking of entertainment media, thatcomic book presentation has also been masterfully incorporated into video games. This isn’t revolutionary by our current standards, but the ones that did nail that style perfectly became some of the most cult-classic or downright influential video game titles for fans.
10 Video Games With The Most Unique Art Styles
Many players enjoy a game’s visuals above all else. Which games have the most unique art styles? This list can help players decide.
So, if you’re one to be impressed by the stylish art style of comic books or even graphic novels,strap in because I’ve prepared a personalized list of the 10 best video games with a comic book art style, some of my hand-picked ones, while some are the vast majority’s favorites in the industry.
Although many games fully embrace the art style to a full extent, some games mentioned here have loosely incorporated it, but the vision is still there at the core of them.
10The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
The Sea is Your Oyster
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Wakerhas a unique art direction that takes the world of Hyrule and puts a cartoonish spin on it,almost like you’re reliving a children’s storybook,or to put it more precisely, a playful comic book.
This cartoonish spin on the art direction also makes Wind Waker one of the rare games in the franchise that is whimsical and jolly in tone compared to the worlds inOcarina of TimeandTwilight Princess, the latter of which is more mature and (sometimes) grittier in retrospect.
The art style perfectly replicates the adventurous feeling of this game when you’re setting sail on the high seas from the opening hours with Link or exploring the numerous tropical islands of the world.
Overall, this art style, coupled with the fact that the game introduces new mechanics and elements to the gameplay, is just a testament to the developers' putting every ounce of love into this game, specifically over the other Zelda titles released before and after it.
9Borderlands
This Ain’t No Place For No Hero
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
The Borderlands seriesis truly special to me, as one of my core memories is playing it for countless hours with my friends while constantly yapping away about our lives and matters as we simultaneously plunder loot and farm away bosses.
However, the games are also unique due to their unique art style, which looks reminiscent of cell-shaded but actually usesthick ink lines and outlining that you often see in graphic novels or comic books.
Furthermore, these hand-drawn textures allow for a stylized look of the game and its characters, the latter of which is arguably the highlight, from yourdistinctive Vault Huntersto charismatic NPCs like Mad Moxxi and Tiny Tina.
AlthoughBorderlands 3’snarrative decisions were questionable and my hopes forBorderlands 4aren’t looking too optimistic, we’ll put that aside since our main focus is on games with a comic book art-style, and thankfully, the whole series fits right at home in that category.
But I advise that youjump into the series with theHandsome Collectionedition, which bundles the second game and the pre-sequel title along with all the DLC for both games.This honestly is the best bang for your buck, since I prefer these games over the third game’s abysmal writing and narrative decisions.
8Viewtiful Joe
Side-Scrolling Action Bonanza
Viewtiful Joe
One game series I often think aboutthat desperately needs a reboot or somethingisViewtiful Joe, one of the forgotten IPs from Capcom that reeks of unparalleled creativity, at least for its time of release.
That creativity is mostly thanks to its explosive art direction, which isbased on the 90s style of Japanese Manga, infused with the theatrics of Kamen Rider and Super Sentaito give this game the most eccentric presentation among Capcom’s various franchises.
10 Forgotten 3D Platformers That Need A Remake
They may not have been big hits in their own time, but the remake treatment could do these 3D platformers some good.
Plus, the game itself is easilyone of the best side-scroller action titles, so I implore you to check it out if it entices you enough. The only things holding its appreciation back from modern audiences are the lack of a current-gen console port and a bit of jank in the gameplay.
Part-Time Graphic Novel, Part-Time Graphic Shooter
An entire game that’s literally based on an actual Belgian graphic novel series?XIIIis one of those rare titles that fully incorporates a comic-book presentation with a bit of cell-shaded elements to make the game stand out as a cult classic for its fans.
The game is afirst-person shooterwithnoir-thriller storytelling that almost reminds me ofMax Payneto an extent, as you uncover the mysterious past behind the aptly named ‘XIII’ and his amnesiac awakeningsas he suddenly has the abilities of a professionally armed secret soldier.
Lastly, I highly suggest playing the older ports of the game because the current ‘remake’ on Steam is abhorrent (as you can see with theOpencritic ratings) that butchers almost everything that made the original so memorable and sometimes makes the game feel worse from both a visual and gameplay standpoint.
6The Wolf Among Us
The Melancholy of Bigby Wolf
The Wolf Among Us
Telltale’s Wolf Among Us is the prime definition of comic-book storytelling media that’s perfectly translated from that medium to a video game format that gets wonderfully complemented with some consequential gameplay.
Based on the esteemed Fables comic book series by Bill Willingham,the heart of The Wolf Among Us is its mystery murder case narrative where your choices can affect various segments and outcomes,which are all tied together with a multi-layered cast of characters and Bigby Wolf’s engaging main character being at the helm of it all.
The cherry on top of this gripping storytelling game is its noir and melancholic atmospheric presentation,which makes it not only agreat game for book lovers, but possibly the best rendition of a comic book-based game out there. Oh and, just try not to fall into a comatose like me when waiting for its sequel to come out.
5Sly Cooper
Never a Dull Moment
Sly Cooper Collection
You know I just had to mention theSly Coopergamesfrom Sucker Punch here solely because of their cartoonish animation design that is clearly similar to the early 2000s style of comic books for young teens.
The game itself is also considered one of the best action-adventure games, as you useSly and his merry band of thievesto pull off heists inconspicuously and get handsomely rewarded with all the riches you plunder from the levels.
Although the games are ‘technically’ available to play on PS5 despite some minor setbacks, if you haven’t played them yet, you’re truly missing out on the games thatpaved the foundation for PlayStation’s golden agein the industry and had one of the best uses of comic-book stylized cutscenes for cinematics.
4Comix Zone
Sketch Turner vs. The World
Comix Zone
No matter what you think of it, theSEGA Genesis was truly a trailblazer gaming console for its time, with tons of beloved titles. One game that instantly came to mind for this list, specifically from that console’s forgotten gems, isComix Zone.
Comix Zoneis an action beat-em-up similar to theStreets of Ragegames, where you take down mutants and other abominations as Sketch Turner as he survives the impossible odds of his own comic story.
That’s the main appeal of this game and what makes it unique:Comix Zone’ssetting takes place entirely in an actual comic book, from the level design where you fight enemies to the cutscene and gameplay animations, which are all rendered like comic panels.
The best part is that even if you don’t own a Genesis, the game is available on the Nintendo Switch via the SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics Collection. It is truly atreasured old-school hit that’s sadly forgotten by SEGA, that wholeheartedly embraces the comic book art style as a video game.
3Hi-Fi Rush
Happy-Go-Lucky Rockstar
Hi-Fi Rush
Who can ever forget Tango Gameworks' shadow-droppingHi-Fi Rushand the game blowing everywhere across social media platforms and game charts, amassing tons of positive reception from everyone who experienced Chai and his gang’s whimsical journey?
Besides the ingenious action-rhythmic gameplay, Hi-Fi Rush is known for its extremely vivid art style that closely resembles a comic book; I mean,you’ve even got all the comic book speech effects and bubbles that add a bit of creative flair during the gameplay.
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Critically acclaimed, and yet somehow still deep cuts.
Although the current possibility of a sequel is unclear,ever since Tango Gameworks made a comeback under Tencent, I’m just happy to see them thrive again because Hi-Fi Rush truly made everyone in the gaming community appreciate it even after years of its original release.
2Ultimate Spider-Man
An Ultimate Dose of Nostalgia
Ultimate Spider-Man
Among the few PS2 games that I cherish in my free time,Ultimate Spider-Manoccasionally pops into my mind as one of thebest open-world games on the console. It’s right up there with other childhood Spider-Man games likeSpider-Man: Friend or Foeor even the iconic movie games based on the Raimi Trilogy.
What makesUltimate Spider-Mana cut above and attain a unique identity compared to the rest of the games is awe-inspiring comic book art direction from the entire open world to even the gameplay when fighting enemies with your traditional pop-up effects, speech bubbles, and other gimmicks, especially when fighting bosses.
And here’s the most fun part: in addition to playing as Spider-Man, you also get to play as Venom, who has his own gameplay fundamentals, boss fights, and missions that contrast with the friendly neighborhood crime-fighter, making for the rare occasions where you could play as someone else other than Spidey himself.
Overall, it’sa game that emphasizes quality rather than quantity, so don’t expect a detailed open-world title like the recent Insomniac Spider-Man games.However, at least it did what Insomniac only provided us with a little taste of: allowing Venom to be a fully playable character without any restrictions.
1Gravity Rush
Forever Underrated & Underappreciated
Gravity Rush
To my grave,I’ll never forgive Sony for butchering and shutting down Japan Studios, which was responsible for the creation of various creativity-defining games for me, likeBloodborne,LocoRoco,Ico, and most specifically, both theGravity Rushgames.
Gravity Rush(Gravity Dazein Japan) is a game that I adore with all my heart, discovered through a recommendation from a friend in 2016. This game slowly grew on me with its slightly motion-sickening presentation and the most enchanting worlds I’ve ever seen in a game.
Besides the zero-gravity gameplay, the two main characters, Kat and Raven, and the world itself,Gravity Rushutilizes a series of comic book-esque panels for various cutscenes and segments that’ll initially catch you off-guard.It’s really a pleasant surprise since the art style itself isextremely quaint and cozyand goes great with the comic panels.
It’s honestly a game that I’ll continue to preach about not just because of how it completely subverted my adolescent self’s expectations, but also because of the sheer charm it possesses, and also because I’m just a sucker for entertainment media where the setting or world is in far reaches of the sky.
Whileoriginally a PS Vita title,Gravity Rushlater got a remastered version for PS4, and the sequel makes numerous advances over the original while still maintaining the alluring charm that I just mentioned.On sale, it’s a no-brainer purchase if you’re looking for some games that deserve all the love years after coming out.
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The embodiment of ‘old school difficulty.’
