The technological progress of video game graphics has been impressive over the last decades. We've gone from the early 2000s retro jankiness to ultra-realistic character models that border on being a bit uncanny. We have ray tracing, realistic reflections, incredible hair animations, and even pores on character skins. Of course, most gamers aren't running their single-player titles at such settings, except maybe for a cheeky photo or two, but still. The strides in graphics are remarkable.
That being said, you don't need to have all these hyper-realistic things to sell a game. In fact, on the PC gaming side, we're witnessing the start of an opposite trend now, as prices for PC parts in particular are on the rise: games that are smaller in scope, and can be run even on older systems. Beyond that, just having a really solid gameplay loop that's fun and addictive and doesn't crutch on microtransactions or shallow content is bound to get anyone excited, regardless of how detailed or realistic the graphics are. If you don't believe me, here are the games that became major successes without featuring demanding graphics.
Vampire Survivors
Highly Addictive Retro-style Bullet Hell
If I had to point out one game that unexpectedly took the world by storm and was a simple and humble as possible with its design and graphics, Vampire Survivors would come to my mind first. This is a treasure trove not just for anyone who enjoys a good bullet hell game or a roguelite, but to anyone who misses the days of old arcade games. A simpler time, truly.
The premise is pretty simple, but (and you're warned) extremely addictive: you're dropped into the world, and you need to survive against hordes of enemies for as long as possible. In between rounds, you can use the gold you earned to upgrade yourself. There are power-ups, unlockables, treasures to find, and more.
Ultrakill
A Love Letter For Quake And Doom
No one can deny that games like Doom and Quake still have their charm today, and it's why it's interesting that even newer titles like Ultrakill are taking inspiration from that janky, retro style to deliver an incredibly fun experience. Ultrakill is pretty much exactly what the name implies: carnage.
You fight against hordes of demons and other hellish creatures like you're the Doom Guy, and their blood allows you to heal yourself. The maps and enemies all have a wonderfully old-school look that any long-time FPS game fan will be able to recognize. It's bloody, it's bright, and it's vibrant, and its action-packed gameplay won't leave you wondering why it doesn't look like a modern triple-A game.
Crow Country
Leaning Into Old-School PS1 Graphics
Another trend that's becoming bigger and bigger in recent years is going for retro graphics on purpose, either because they convey nostalgia or because they're meant to convey the uneasiness that came with older games. This is particularly effective in survival horror games, and it's in part why Crow Country became so big. It has all the elements of an early PS1 horror game, akin to Silent Hill or Resident Evil.
You go on to investigate a spooky, abandoned theme park, which just sounds like something straight out of Silent Hill 3. Even as someone who didn't get to play console games during this era, I can see why players find this game an explosion of nostalgic joy. It also helps the story's rock-solid, peppered with some really cool puzzles.
RimWorld
Simple But Effective Graphics For A Super Fun Colony Sim
RimWorld's sprites have become somewhat iconic in video gaming throughout the years. Most players, whether they've played the title or not, will probably recognize the characters and their cylinder-shaped bodies with heads attached.
Simple, right? The environments are like that, too, a 2D procedurally generated world where you manage your brand-new colony and decide its path forward. There's a simple yet effective charm in the art style, and because of the highly addictive and unpredictable nature of where each playthrough might take you, it doesn't need something more advanced.
Terraria
Vibrant 2D Pixel Goodness With Personality
Terraria's art style is absolutely one of its strongest points, guaranteed to charm a lot of players who like the retro RPG pixel art look. It's a very simple game with a ton of small details baked into its textures, the character models, and the hundreds upon hundreds of items you can come across. It's essentially a 2D Minecraft, except characters aren't bound by block textures, and it pushes a bit further into the whole RPG aspect of gameplay.
You're dropped into an open-world sandbox, and from there on, it's really up to you what you'd like to accomplish. Build a house, room the game's NPCs, discover and fight the game's eldritch-tier bosses... Terraria is all about the player making their own path, and because of that design choice, it has stayed popular for a long time.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
