In a world of cutting-edge CGI and 3D graphics at every turn, sometimes it can make more of a statement to go back to basics regarding gaming artwork. Talented artists now have a chance to showcase their art in a n🐽ew medium - not in a mu🥀seum or gallery, but through video games.

RELATED: Most 💖Graphicall𒅌y Impressive Nintendo Switch Games, Ranked

Hand-drawn graphics have recently surged in popularity, with over 3,100 Steam titles listed under the Hand-Drawn tag for PC gaming alone and countless more for Nintendo Switch releases and other consolꦉes. Whether it's small-scale indie games or full-blown triple-A titles, there are plenty of games with unique hand-drawn graphics for gamers to add to their burgeoning collections.

Updated January 1, 2023, by Chris Sanfilippo: Hand-drawn graphics have stood the test of time in the video game industry due to their ability to depict art styles and gameplay mechanics in ways 3D graphics never could. So, in our latest update, we decided to look to the past and future with the inclusion of a Triple-A classic, a pivotal indie gem, and two groundbreaking recent launches!

14 🍎 Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator💝

Hand-drawn artwork for Potion Craft Alchemist Simulator

This crafting puzzle simulation game developed by Niceplay Games places players in a small medieval town. Budding alchemists are 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:tasked with learnin꧙g an🔯d brewing potions for the lo🌞cal townsfolk, managing the townsfolk's needs while maintaining their reputation, with the final aim of crafting t🙈he illusive Philosopher's Stone.

Inspired by medieval art styles, the graphics are unique and bewitching, from the character art to the intricate detailing of the Alchemy Map, where new potion recipes are unlocked. Players can also design unique potion bottles and vials, customizing their concoctions to suit t𝕴♔heir shop.

13 Gorogoa

The gear effect of the bells in Chapter Four of Gorogoa.

Annapurna Interactive is renowned for publishing gorgeous immersive adventures. One of its first titles, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Gorogoa, exemplifies the company's commitment to unique gaming experiences with moving storytelling. This interactive graphic novel follows a young boy throughout his life as he confronts a mysterious monster known only as Gorogoa. Players solve puzzles by rearranging images in a two-by-two grid and uncover the mystery behind the odd behemoth.

Artist Jason Roberts hand-drew everything in Gorogoa with painstaking detail. Throughout his enveloping tale, you'll find influences ofꦜ artists like , , , and . Additional artistic notes were taken from two-dimensional Byzantine art, grounding Gorogoa in a timeless and relatable world.

12 🌱 Hollow Knight

Hand-drawn artwork for Hollow Knight

This popular and notoriously tricky adventure platformer from Team Cherry is well-known for its iconic 2D hand-drawn art style. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Hollow Knight follows your journey through the dark and ancient ruins of Dirtmouth, side-scrolling through caves and tunnels to find your path throu🍸gh the darkness and locate hidden treasures.

As well as the atmospheric painted landscapes, the hand-drawn character designs and animations for the unique cast show extreme attention to detail. For 𒈔fans of gothic, brooding, and yet adorable art, this onꦜe is for you!

11 Cuphead

Hand-drawn artwork for Cuphead

You'd be hard-pressed finding an art style more recognizable than that of Cuphead. This challenging action-platformer is heavily inspired by early cartoon artwork from the 1920s and 1930s, known as "Rubber Hose,𝄹" such as that of Walt Disney's Steamboaꦚt Willy.

The game's artwork uses all the same practices of tᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚhe time, from watercolor backgrounds to traditional hand-drawn cel a🙈nimation. The character designs range from Cuphead and Mugman to a vast array of highly detailed and over-the-top antagonists, with fights all set to original jazz recordings to set the scene.

10 🍒 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

A group of students look up at a giant mech in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

When it comes to hand-drawn video games, Vanillaware touts an esteemed reputation. This Japanese studio is known for its compelling 2.5D graphics that pair hand-drawn sprites with a skeletal system that produces seamless animation. However, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim marked a significant turning point for the company. Unlike past fantasy titles such as Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown, 13 Seꦆntinels told a complex sci-fi tale that pushed🧸 the studio beyond its perceived limitations.

RELATED: 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Every Game By Vanillaware, Ranked

13 Sentinels is an engulfing ode to 80s kaiju films with a head-turning twist. Unlike the more colorful backgrounds of VanillaWare past, 13 Sentinels depicted muted cityscapes highlighted by superb lighting effects. Furthermore, the game's character designs take inspiration from Akira Kagami, a prominent manga artist of the 80s. Finally, the game utilized a combination of 2D and 3D assets to bring the massive robotic sentinels to life!

9 Wildermyth 💃

Hand-drawn art for Wildermyth

Launched in June 2021, this party-based RPG uses procedural storytelling, tactical combat, and "choices matter" decisions to change the course of your character's journey and the cast of characters that join your quests. Reminiscent of tabletop gaming, the♌ 2D hand-drawn graphics are charming and immersive.

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Wildermyth brings iterative storytelling to a new peak with a vast range of new and exciting characters. From the rag-tag team of people who join your quest to the refreshing and quirky villains you encounter on the road, plenty of hand-dജrawn characters will capture your heart.

8 Spiritfarer🦩 🃏

Hand-drawn artwork for Spiritfarer.

This tearjerker of a game is a cozy management simulation revolving around death. However, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Spiritfarer's glorious artwork is breathtaking, using colorful hand-drawn art and character animation rather than a dark, grim graphic style.

Emotions run high in this heartfelt and moving story about life, death, and everything beyond, with a host of fantastical animal characters to keep you company and assist you in guiding recently deceased spirits to the afterlife. Customization𒆙 options for yourꦦ character and boat also mean that you can enjoy all of the beautiful artwork at its finest.

7 Ender Lilie꧙s: Quietus of the Knights

Hand-drawn artwork for Ender Lilies Quietus of the Knights

This award-winning game has an Overwhelming Positive rating on Steam with over 10,000 positive reviews, and even just a glimpse of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ender Lilies will be enough to tell you why. Set in a fantasy world ravaged by evil, this 2D action RPG pits you against deadly enemies in challenging 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Metroidvania-style battles to solve the kingdom's mysteries.

Each landscape, character, and animation is painstakingly drawn by hand, reminiscent of similar challenging games like Hollow Knight and Bloodstained. Ender Lilies is perfect for fans of dark fantasy and emotional, heartfelt games with a great atmospheric soundtrack.

6 Street Fighter 3 🐠

Q and Ryu facing off in Street Fighter 3: Third Strike

holds a reputation as the franchise's most underrated series of games for several reasons. The most prominent factor was the game's roster, which swapped out many of the renowned world warriors of Street Fighter 2 with a new cast of characters. Additionally, the game added highly technical elements, including its precise parry system, thus making it less accessible to newcomers. Finally, in a landscape that was shifting favor to 3D polygonal games, Capcom decided to keep Street Fighter 3 2D.

Thankfully, this decision was the right call because Street Fighter 3's hand-drawn graphics are some of the best in fighting game history. The series utilized Capcom's new CPS-III arcade hardware, allowing developers to create higher-detailed sprites. For instance, each character contains between 700 and 1,200 hand-drawn animation frames. Plus, the game set a genre standard by running at 60 frames per second. So sm🍸all elements, from simple gestures to flowing clothing fabric, are sights to behold!

5 Tale𒈔 Of Immortal

Hand-drawn artwork for Tale of Immortal

This open-world sandbox RPG takes its inspiration from Chinese mythology and culture. Originally published exclusively in Chinese, Tale Of Immortal was later up⛦dated with an English language patc🍸h in August 2021, opening up the highly stylized game to a broader global audience.

Tale Of Immortal uses hand-drawn art for each mountainous and seascape environment, inspired by ancient Chinese tapestries. The characters you encounter on the path to your destiny are also beautifully hand-crafted. Choices matter in this game, with difficult decisions and unexpected consequences e🐼very step of the way.