"hand-drawn"

2017 · Run and Gun · PC / Steam

Cuphead is a game built on two pillars, and both are exceptional. The hand-drawn 1930s animation style remains unlike anything else in gaming, and the boss fights deliver the kind of challenge that makes victory feel earned rather than given. Local co-op adds a layer of chaos that changes every encounter. The run-and-gun platforming levels don't reach the same heights as the boss battles, and the difficulty will push some players past their breaking point. But for anyone who wants a game that demands everything you've got and rewards you with some of the most creative, gorgeous encounters ever designed, Cuphead delivers in a way very few games can.

2024 · Action Platformer · PC / Steam

Nine Sols is a beautifully hand-drawn action platformer that builds its entire combat system around parrying and talisman detonation, creating fights that feel like violent puzzles. The boss encounters are exceptional, the art direction is stunning, and the Chinese mythology-inspired setting gives it a cultural identity that stands apart from the crowd. Brutal difficulty and some pacing issues in the story keep it from universal appeal, but players who click with its deflection-focused combat will find one of the most satisfying action games in recent years.