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[MADGAME]

Not sure why, but I'm on a huge hand-drawn game kick right now and would appreciate some feedback. I'm looking for recommendations on good games with sick hand-drawn art, preferably on PS4. So far I've been recommended:

• A Boy and his Blob
• Aaru’s awakening
• Alien Hominid
• Ballpoint Universe Infinite
• Banner Saga
• Bastion
• Baten Kaitos
• Battle Chasers
• Battleblock Theater
• Braid
• Breath of Fire IV
• Candle
• Castle Crashers
• Cuphead
• Child of Light
• Curse of Monkey Island
• Darkest Dungeon
• Dragon’s Crown
• Dragon’s Lair
• Drawn to Death
• Dust: an Elysian Tale
• Fran Bow
• Hardcorps Uprising
• Hidden Folks
• Hollow Knight
• Kuso
• Love
• Muramasa: The Demon Blade/Rebirth
• Neverending Nightmares
• Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
• Ori and the Blind Forest
• Morphopolis
• Pyre
• Rayman Legends
• Rise & Shine
• Salt & Sanctuary
• Season’s After Fall
• Skullgirls
• The Inner World
• Transistor
• Valiant Hearts
• Wonder Boy The Dragon's Trap
• Wario Land Shake It

Let's hear some suggestions, any genre of game. Gifs would be great if you got 'em. Even if the game isn't on PS4 but the art is amazing, let's see it!

EDIT: Adding GAF's kick-ass suggestions to the list

 

[Clockwork]

Cuphead.

Too bad it's not on PS4.

 

[Elixist]

Hollow knight. Ori

 

[Kimawolf]

Cuphead is an AMAZING looking game. Definitely recommend it.

Im not even sure how they did this. Looks like Walt Disney era stuff.

 

[MADGAME]

Cuphead.

Hollow knight. Ori

No lie, Cuphead and the Ori games are what have an Xbox one S/X on my radar right now, they both look amazing.

Cuphead is an AMAZING looking game. Definitely recommend it.

Im not even sure how they did this. Looks like Walt Disney era stuff.

I'm dying to play it. This style of cartoon was still on tv when I was a kid, but was in black and white on UHF channels. Need to play this!

 

[HenryEen]

I see you already have Child Of Light on your list. That was the one that comes to my head when I read your title.

 

[gamz]

Obviously Cuphead.

 

[pcostabel]

Valiant Hearts is another of the Ubiart games. Great art style and good gameplay.

 

[Ostrava04]

Skullgirls

 

[Kimawolf]

Skullgirls

ooh yeah Skullgirls!

 

[Ruff]

Anything by Supergiant games

 

[Justinh]

No lie, Cuphead and the Ori games are what have an Xbox one S/X on my radar right now, they both look amazing.



I'm dying to play it. This style of cartoon was still on tv when I was a kid, but was in black and white on UHF channels. Need to play this!

Cuphead is seriously great. It looks fantastic and plays fantastically as well. It seemed to run just fine for the brief time I played it on my Surface Pro 2 if you can manage playing it on a computer.

https://i.imgur.com/TzDxf0O.gif

https://i.imgur.com/Q3F1QmJ.gif
(2 gifs are very brief parts of two bosses in the second area. Even though I think they were in pre-release footage, I didn't want to spoil you if you didn't want that)

On PS4 though... I'm pretty sure Skullgirls is highly regarded and is hand drawn if you got a fighting game itch that could use some scratching. Another one. I loved The Inner World, which is a charming point 'n click game with hand drawn art. Honestly, I don't think the art is impressive as Cuphead (or course though...), but I just loved the time I spent with it. The sequel just came out and if you buy the physical copy on PS4 at least, it comes with the first game too. (edit: damn, beaten on Skullgirls while typing)

Here's a story trailer for the first game
and
Here's a story trailer for the sequel

 

[Ryu Hayabusa]

First of all Cuphead. it's a real interactive cartoon.

Some games we have not mentioned

Ori and the Blind Forest

Aaru’s Awakening

Ballpoint Universe: Infinite

Castle Crashers

 

[Schlomo]

Aaru's Awakening is beautiful with a unique style. It's a very hard trial and error type of game, but I thought it was a lot of fun.

 

[Justinh]

Gak!

How'd I forget about Castle Crashers!?

 

[BizarroPete]

Rayman Legends

 

[MADGAME]

Awesome recommendations, keep them coming. Can't explain this hand-drawn kick I'm on right now but looking to beef up the representation in my library.

Hollow knight.

Totally on my radar if I either end up getting a Switch down the road or if it comes to PS4.

I see you already have Child Of Light on your list. That was the one that comes to my head when I read your title.

Yup, only had one recommendation but it sounds solid, looks great, and it's an RPG!

Valiant Hearts is another of the Ubiart games. Great art style and good gameplay.

Can't believe I forgot about this one, thanks!

Skullgirls

Nice callout, never got around to playing this so shame on me. It's only $7.49 on PSN sale right now. BOUGHT!

Anything by Supergiant games

Will look into their games, thank you.

Aaru's Awakening is beautiful with a unique style. It's a very hard trial and error type of game, but I thought it was a lot of fun.

Have not heard of this, will look into it now.

 

[flashman92]

Hardcorps Uprising is handrawn sprites on 3D, I think

 

[SuperMega]

Rise & Shine? It's all handdrawn, almost no repeating elements in the backgrounds at all.

 

[MoogleMan]

Dust: an Elysian Tail

 

[Kas]

I'm pretty sure Braid fits here.

 

[L.O.R.D]

Neverending Nightmares

 

[Robot Carnival]

you have Odin Sphere on there already, so maybe try out the other Vanillaware games like Muramasa and Dragon Crown? both are beautifully hand drawn, and if you have a Vita you can get both on it.

 

[FMbarbarian]

Salt & Sanctuary is fun of you are into the idea of a side scrolling souls game. Please don’t get it purely for the art because it’s not great.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

a boy and his blob
dragons crown

 

[BouncyFrag]

The Banner Saga. Link to the animation process:
http://stoicstudio.com/animation-process/

 

[Martinski43]

Well Cuphead is simply the GOAT when it comes to this in gaming.

 

[Ouija Luigi]

There's also Fran Bow if horror is your thing. Looks like a twisted children's book.

 

[MADGAME]

Rayman Legends

One of my personal faves. Charming art style and so fun on the Wii U. I have a young son and he always wants to watch the soccer mini-game.

Hardcorps Uprising is handrawn sprites on 3D, I think

you have Odin Sphere on there already, so maybe try out the other Vanillaware games like Muramasa and Dragon Crown? both are beautifully hand drawn, and if you have a Vita you can get both on it.

Aww yeah these two are compelling me to dust off the PS3. Hardcorps giving me Contra vibes. I think I actually downloaded Dragon's Crown when it was a PS+ freebie but never played it. What'sWrongWithYou.gif Wait, just read it will be released on PS4 as 'Dragon's Crown Pro' which supports 4k and the soundtrack re-recorded with an orchestra so I will wait for that version. Nice!

Rise & Shine? It's all handdrawn, almost no repeating elements in the backgrounds at all.

Whoa, first time I'm seeing this one. Looks beautiful.

Dust: an Elysian Tail

a boy and his blob
dragons crown

I'm pretty sure Braid fits here.

Anything by Supergiant games

Added to the list, thank you!

Neverending Nightmares

Wow looks unique, have not heard of this so I watched a non-spoiler vid and the music, art style, the way the bottom of the screen is dark and gradually works it's way up is intriguing. Also read the game was inspired by the dev fighting a mental battle. Think this one is getting bought.

Salt & Sanctuary is fun of you are into the idea of a side scrolling souls game. Please don't get it purely for the art because it's not great.

Thanks for the feedback. Still leaning toward snagging this one!

The Banner Saga. Link to the animation process:
http://stoicstudio.com/animation-process/

Banner Saga
This has been on my list for quite some time, and I never got around to purchasing despite multiple sales on multiple platforms. Now there is a sequel out too. Will pull the trigger during the next sale that comes around.

There's also Fran Bow if horror is your thing. Looks like a twisted children's book.

Most definitely my thing, and never seen this one before. Looks great, thanks!

 

[MoogleMan]

Some great stuff in here. I love the same kinds of games.

 

[Mayor_McCheeze]

Darkest Dungeon is pretty dope.

Been playing Battle Chasers a lot myself. I think it uses that ubiart thing. Looks beautiful and satisfied my “hand drawn” game itch.

Both on PS4.

 

[Newk86]

Breath of Fire IV on PS1 has a hand drawn look to it that is really cool.

Edit: Not sure if this counts because it's 3D. To me it looks like a painting though the majority of the time, plus the colours are great so I'm going to post it.

 

[ThatsMytrunks]

I hand drew everything in LOVE and kuso, but that's probably not the style you're looking for.

 

[boon]

Wario Land Shake It!

 

[Willenium]

Alien Hominid!

 

[Ombra]

I hand drew everything in LOVE and kuso, but that's probably not the style you're looking for.

Thats actually pretty fly, simple style with a neat aesthetic

 

[EverydayBeast]

David Jaffe’s drawn to death. I had it stationed in my rotation all summer. Great pick up and play shooter.

 

[pretty done]

Hardcorps Uprising is handrawn sprites on 3D, I think

This game is so damn good too. Shame it's only on last gen consoles with no PC release.

 

[Blam]

Come on people. What about Battleblock Theater.

 

[DangerMouse]

Breath of Fire IV on PS1 has a hand drawn look to it that is really cool.

Agreed. Really liked that game as well.

Darkest Dungeon is pretty dope.

Been playing Battle Chasers a lot myself. I think it uses that ubiart thing. Looks beautiful and satisfied my “hand drawn” game itch.

Both on PS4.

Playing Battle Chasers too, I agree, I think it's gorgeous.

 

[Chaper]

Candle. Its handmade in watercolors.

https://youtu.be/BKp87REJ54U

 

[Xtyle]

Breath of Fire IV on PS1 has a hand drawn look to it that is really cool.

Edit: Not sure if this counts because it's 3D. To me it looks like a painting though the majority of the time, plus the colours are great so I'm going to post it.

Never played it or the series...would you recommend it as a first entry?

 

[PhantomZhu]

Braid
Cuphead
Dragon's Crown
Dust: an Elysian Tale
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Ori and the Blind Forest
Rayman Legends
Transistor

These are not just some of favorite 2D games, but favorite games period, know they've already been suggested, but cannot recommend these enough!

 

[EVO]

Not on PS4 but Hidden Folks:

Morphopolis:

 

[Santar]

Curse of Monkey Island, my favorite point & click adventure game.
It's beautiful and chock full of funny moments, everyone should play it!

 

[Typhares]

I haven't played it myself yet but Seasons After Fall

 

[killatopak]

Add Dragon's Crown and Princess' Crown to the list of Vanillaware hand drawn games.

 

[FinalAres]

Oh man I thought this was going to be a thread asking people to recommend games through hand drawn art.

 

[Thornton Reed]

The original, Dragon's Liar

 

[Newk86]

Never played it or the series...would you recommend it as a first entry?

Yep, one of the best on the system. It's a self contained series like Final Fantasy or maybe Zelda with only minor or periphery stuff appearing across the games (eg. chocobos, Link, Zelda etc). You don't need to have played any others. I'm confident it will hold up, I think the art style does anyway and it's on my list to replay it.