Graphics in video games have slowly become a massive priority, with most triple-A video games trying to be more detailed in their presentation as a way to attract more players to experience the visual feast for themselves. But there is a lot of nostalgia rooted in the way video games used to look.
The early days of video games are filled with pixelated worlds, with games focusing more on gameplay to immerse the players. But while some are chasing the most realistic-looking products, many still love new games that decide to rely on Pixel Graphics. Luckily, there are many free games on Steam that have this aesthetic.
10 CS2D
One of the most popular first-person shooters ever made is Counter-Strike, which has become an inspiration for many games in the genre that have followed. CS2D is a free multiplayer shooter that takes the classic formula of that franchise and turns it into a top-down experience.
Having been an active game for nearly two decades, CS2D features many different modes include classic, deathmatch, and a zombie mode. Creative minds can take on the construction mode, which allows players to set up their own map layouts. There are also plenty of weapons to choose from, none of which need to be paid for.
9 Pixel Starships
Managing a spaceship sounds like a lot of work, but Pixel Starships figures out how to make it fun while also introducing concepts such as conquering factions and battling against other players in this online strategy game. Players can build their starships from scratch then use it to travel to new planets.
There are many systems that can be managed such as how much power the ship has to how recruitment for the ship is going. It is important to also try to form alliances so that way it is easier to win in battles. While it is free-to-play, there are some purchases that can be made to speed up progress.
8 Blockade
There have been many games that have taken the approach of pixel graphics in a cubic world. A free-to-play title that falls in this category is Blockade, a first-person shooter with a variety of game modes and a ton of ways to personally customize the experience.
Blockade has maps that have been created by the developer as well as many that are community driven through the Steam Workshop. Along with some competitive modes, the classic mode of the game involves building up the base and taking down hordes of zombies that attempt to kill everyone in sight.
7 Grim Clicker
When it comes to free games on Steam, there are a lot of games that fall into the idle genre, which essentially means that the player doesn't need to do much to allow the campaign to progress forward. In Grim Clicker, this kind of game is implemented into an RPG.
The goal of Grim Clicker is to explore the worlds, fight enemies, and find loot. Since the hero does not have a health bar, players can sit by while they fight on their own and choose how to approach certain combat situations. The game has some surprisingly deep systems, such as a skill tree and inventory management with layers.
6 Leaf Blower Revolution
It has become a frequent trend that chores in real life that are a hassle can be fun and relaxing when put into video games. Leaf Blower Revolution is a free-to-play offering on Steam that tasks the player to blow leaves of a screen using a powerful machine.
Despite being called an idler, Leaf Blower Revolution offers the ability to actively take out leaves under control of the player or do it automatically through idle methods. As the levels progress, players will be able to get upgrades that introduce easier ways to blow leaves away including an Autoblower.
5 Coloring Pixels
Sometimes, it is nice to sit back and play a game that is simply about coloring in the right spots. Coloring Pixels is a free Steam game that involves making pixel drawings of various objects using numbers that correspond with colors presented to the player.
Coloring Pixels attempts to be a game for everyone as it offers accessibility settings such as a dark mode or the ability to change the controls to best fit the person's needs. There are over 1,000 levels in the game, but only the first 90 are completely free.
4 Idleon
There are a lot of MMOs out there, but most of them require so much time and energy that it is hard to dedicate time to more than one. Idleon gives players the opportunity to do the usual MMO grind without needing to touch the game.
Players can make multiple characters, each with their own class to be able to work together in collecting resources and taking down powerful foes. Idleon is expansive, with 70 different places that characters can visit and a vast group of NPCs that all have specific quests to give to the characters. The characters even grind when the player is away from the computer entirely.
3 Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator
The Five Nights at Freddy's franchise has garnered a cult following over the years with its series of survival horror games based around a haunted pizzeria. While most of the games lean heavily into creepy and realistic environments, Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator is more of a lighthearted affair.
A free pixel graphics game on Steam, the game has players take on the role of Freddy Fazbear as he works on delivering pizzas to kids. Players are able to customize what toppings they want to have on their pizza, then they will play a mini-game that involves tossing the pizzas at the children.
2 Realm Of The Mad God Exalt
There are certain genres that tend to be paired with a specific type of graphics style. Bullet Hell games, which is a type of game that involves dodging hordes of projectiles aimed at the player, typically have 2D or pixel graphics. Realm of the Mad God Exalt is a pixel art, bullet hell MMO.
In the world of Oryx, players must team up with each other to take on a plethora of enemies in action-packed sequences. Characters can be assigned to one of 18 different classes, each with their own set of skills and weapons that can be used in battle. Keep in mind that this game does have permadeath.
1 Trove
Similar to Blockade in art style, Trove is one of the bigger MMOs out there as it is all about exploring and taking on a world that is driven by creations by the people who play the game. Dungeons are a key part of the game as this is where a lot of the loot can be collected and plenty of monsters are present to fight.
The game features an unlimited amount of realms, which means that players can create a realm of their own that they can build their house in and create a community of players on their own. In fact, almost everything in the game can be created from creatures to important weapons, giving the player the ability to truly craft their own adventure.