The 20 Most Beautiful Hand-Drawn Animated Video Games

About this gallery:

For this list, we’re focusing on games with the best hand-drawn animation out there. That means you’ll mostly find 2D indie gems – because, let’s be real, they’re the ones keeping this beautiful art form alive.

Think we missed a must-have game that showcases stunning hand-drawn animation? Don’t keep it to yourself – drop it in the comments and let us know!

Dragon's Lair (1983)

If you’ve ever wanted to play a 1980s cartoon where your reflexes determine whether the hero triumphs or faceplants into instant death, Dragon’s Lair is your dream (or nightmare) come true. This game was a marvel for its time, boasting hand-drawn animations from legendary ex-Disney animator Don Bluth, making it feel like an interactive movie long before that was even a thing. The gameplay is simple – press the right button at the right time or watch Dirk the Daring meet an absurdly animated demise. Despite its brutal difficulty, the game’s artistry still holds up, proving that sometimes, getting mercilessly obliterated over and over is worth it when the animation looks this good. And honestly, has any game since made failure look so stylish? | © Don Bluth Productions

Skullgirls (2012)

A fighting game with hand-drawn animation so fluid it makes even your failed combos look good, Skullgirls is a visual treat for fans of both fighters and gorgeous 2D art. The game embraces a slick, art deco aesthetic with larger-than-life characters, all brought to life with meticulous, frame-by-frame animation. Every move, every attack, every special ability is so beautifully animated that even getting completely wrecked feels like a privilege. If traditional fighters are chess, Skullgirls is an art exhibit where the paintings punch you in the face. And honestly? We’re here for it. | © Lab Zero Games

The Banner Saga (2014)

Take a Viking saga, mix in some Game of Thrones levels of despair, and animate it all with stunning hand-drawn art, and you get The Banner Saga. Inspired by classic Disney and Don Bluth-style animation, this tactical RPG turns every battle and story choice into a living painting. The way the characters move, the breathtaking Nordic landscapes, and the sheer weight of every decision make this one of the most visually and narratively powerful games of its kind. And fair warning: if you’re hoping for a cheerful, easygoing adventure, you’re about to get emotionally steamrolled instead. | © Stoic Studio

Valiant Hearts: The Great War (2014)

Who would have thought that a game with an art style resembling a children’s book would be one of the most gut-wrenching portrayals of war in video game history? Valiant Hearts blends heartwarming hand-drawn visuals with a devastating story about World War I, proving that animation can be just as powerful as hyper-realistic war shooters – if not more. Every frame tells a story, from quiet moments of companionship to the horror of the trenches. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably want to hug your dog immediately afterward. | © Ubisoft Montpellier

Jotun (2015)

What’s better than a Viking tale filled with gods, giants, and epic battles? One that’s hand-drawn with stunning animation that makes every moment feel like a moving Norse painting. Jotun follows Thora, a Viking warrior proving herself to the gods in the afterlife, and every single enemy and environment looks like it belongs on a piece of ancient mythology-inspired artwork. The game’s boss battles are particularly breathtaking – each Jotun is a massive, screen-filling creature that feels as imposing as a god should. If you ever wanted a game to make you feel tiny while looking absolutely gorgeous, this is the one. | © Thunder Lotus Games

Cuphead (2017)

If rubber hose animation and old-school platforming had a baby that absolutely wanted to destroy you, Cuphead would be it. Inspired by 1930s cartoons, every frame of this game is painstakingly hand-drawn, making it feel like you’re playing through a chaotic, vintage cartoon on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The boss battles are as beautifully animated as they are ruthlessly punishing, but somehow, you’ll keep coming back for more. It’s as if Mickey Mouse and Betty Boop decided to create a game specifically to ruin your self-esteem. But hey, at least it looks incredible while you’re suffering. | © Studio MDHR

Hollow Knight (2017)

Who knew that a game about tiny bug knights fighting existential dread in a crumbling underground world could be this breathtaking? Hollow Knight masterfully blends hand-drawn animation with moody, atmospheric lighting, making every frame feel like a beautifully illustrated nightmare (but, you know, in a good way). The enemy designs, environmental storytelling, and silky-smooth character animations make even the smallest encounters feel epic. Plus, if you ever wanted a game to lovingly lull you into a false sense of security before absolutely wrecking your spirit, this is the one. | © Team Cherry

Gorogoa (2017)

Imagine if an interactive puzzle book and a surrealist painting had a baby – that’s Gorogoa. Every inch of this game is painstakingly hand-drawn, and the way players manipulate the frames of its puzzle-based world is nothing short of magical. Instead of standard gameplay, you’re presented with beautifully illustrated panels that you must rearrange to progress. The sheer artistry on display here makes every solved puzzle feel like a triumph, both of the mind and of visual storytelling. Who knew that moving around a few drawn images could feel so profoundly clever? | © Jason Roberts

Gris (2018)

Gris isn’t just a game – it’s a watercolor painting that you get to explore, cry over, and be completely mesmerized by. This breathtaking indie platformer tells an emotional story through color, movement, and music, with each chapter slowly bringing vibrancy back into a world that starts out in muted shades of sorrow. The fluid, dreamlike animation makes every step feel like a moment of poetic beauty. It’s the kind of game that makes you sit back and just feel, which is pretty rare in a medium where explosions and boss fights usually reign supreme. | © Nomada Studio

Yaga (2019)

What do you get when you take Slavic folklore, hand-drawn visuals, and a one-handed blacksmith with the worst luck ever? Yaga, a game that embraces its fairy tale roots with bold animation and mischievous storytelling. Every character and setting is crafted with thick outlines and expressive movement, giving the whole game the feel of a fable that came to life. Plus, the choices you make actually affect the world around you – so if you mess up, expect Baba Yaga to have some thoughts about it. It’s folklore at its most chaotic, and it’s absolutely beautiful to behold. | © Breadcrumbs Interactive

Indivisible (2019)

Imagine a game where your inner demons are not just metaphorical but actual companions in battle. Indivisible introduces us to Ajna, a fearless warrior on a quest for self-discovery, who literally absorbs allies into her consciousness. The game boasts vibrant, hand-drawn animations that make each character spring to life with personality and flair. It's as if a Saturday morning cartoon decided to level up and become an epic RPG. If you've ever wanted your subconscious to be both a therapist's playground and a battleground, this is your jam. | © Lab Zero Games

Spiritfarer (2020)

Ever thought managing a ferry for the deceased could be heartwarming? Spiritfarer proves it can. You play as Stella, the cutest grim reaper ever, building and upgrading your boat to cater to spirit friends on their journey to the afterlife. The hand-drawn animations are so enchanting that you'll forget you're essentially running a ghostly cruise line. It's like "The Love Boat," but with more existential conversations and fewer disco balls. Prepare to laugh, cry, and maybe question your own mortality – all while hugging adorable spirit animals. | © Thunder Lotus Games

The Longing (2020)

If patience is a virtue, then The Longing is the most virtuous game out there. You control a lonely Shade waiting 400 real-time days for his king to awaken. Yes, you read that right – 400 real days. The minimalist hand-drawn art style perfectly captures the essence of solitude and longing. It's like watching paint dry, but the paint has deep philosophical thoughts and occasionally reads Nietzsche. If you've ever wanted a game that doubles as a meditation on time and existence, your wait is over. | © Studio Seufz

Slice of Sea (2021)

Dive into a world where a sea creature named Seaweed embarks on a dry-land adventure. Slice of Sea offers intricate hand-drawn environments that are as mesmerizing as they are puzzling. It's like someone took a sketchbook of surrealist art and turned it into a point-and-click adventure. You'll find yourself lost in its beauty, wondering if you accidentally ingested some of Seaweed's... well, seaweed. If you enjoy games that make you feel like you're wandering through an artist's daydream, this one's for you. | © Mateusz Skutnik

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees (2022)

Ever wanted to experience the life of a gibbon swinging through the treetops? Gibbon: Beyond the Trees lets you do just that, with fluid hand-drawn animations that make you feel the wind in your fur. It's an ecological adventure that raises awareness about deforestation and the plight of gibbons, all while making you look like a parkour master. Think of it as "Tarzan" meets "FernGully," but with more accurate primate physics. Just be prepared for your arms to feel sore in sympathy. | © Broken Rules

Pentiment (2022)

Step into the illuminated pages of history with Pentiment, a game that feels like a medieval manuscript brought to life – except, instead of dusty Latin text, you get murder mysteries and political intrigue. Set in 16th-century Bavaria, you play as Andreas Maler, a journeyman artist who somehow gets tangled in a web of crime, deception, and dramatic peasant disputes. The game’s hand-drawn style is inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts and early printed books, making every frame feel like an artifact from a forgotten time. But don’t let the charming historical aesthetic fool you – your decisions carry real weight, influencing generations of townsfolk and shaping the story in ways that will have you second-guessing your moral compass. Pentiment is a love letter to history nerds, art enthusiasts, and anyone who’s ever wanted to be accused of heresy in a beautifully illustrated, text-heavy adventure. | © Obsidian Entertainment

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo (2023)

Ever felt like reality was just a little too… normal? The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo disagrees, and it’s here to drag you into a hand-drawn fever dream that makes Salvador Dalí’s work look tame. This surreal point-and-click adventure throws logic out the window in favor of pure, unfiltered imagination. You control the titular Mr. Coo, an odd little man navigating a fragmented world filled with absurd creatures, mind-bending puzzles, and a whole lot of “wait… what just happened?” moments. The game’s animation is so fluid and expressive that it feels like playing through a lost golden-age cartoon, where everything is weird, yet weirdly beautiful. There’s a deeper story here – something about searching for meaning and identity – but honestly, you’ll probably be too busy marveling at the visual spectacle to worry about all that. Just embrace the chaos. | © Nacho Rodríguez

The Pale Beyond (2023)

Ever wondered what it would be like to lead a doomed Arctic expedition, slowly freezing and starving while making impossible moral choices? No? Well, The Pale Beyond is here to make you think about it anyway. Inspired by real-life tales of polar survival (think Shackleton, but with even more suffering), this narrative-driven survival adventure puts you in charge of a desperate crew stranded in the ice. The game’s hauntingly beautiful hand-drawn art captures the bleak, hostile environment perfectly – frozen wastelands, dwindling supplies, and the constant, gnawing sense that you might not make it out alive. Your choices determine the fate of your crew, so prepare for some gut-wrenching decisions. Will you be the leader who keeps morale high and rations fair? Or will you start making… tougher calls? The game is stunning, gripping, and just stressful enough to make you rethink ever going on a winter hike. | © Bellular Studios

Nine Sols (2024)

Nine Sols is what happens when cyberpunk, ancient mythology, and absolutely jaw-dropping hand-drawn animation collide at full speed. Created by Red Candle Games (known for the horror masterpiece Detention), this game takes a bold leap into an action-packed world filled with deadly combat and deep lore. You play as a vengeful hero on a mission to overthrow the ruling class of a long-forgotten civilization, battling monstrous enemies in a side-scrolling action experience that blends Sekiro-style precision combat with fluid, dynamic movement. Every frame is a work of art, capturing the game’s unique blend of sci-fi and ancient aesthetics. The world is both vibrant and eerie, filled with towering ruins, strange relics, and a sense that something truly massive is lurking just beneath the surface. If you’re looking for a game that’s equal parts stylish and intense, Nine Sols should be on your radar. | © Red Candle Games

Neva (2024)

From the creators of Gris – one of the most visually stunning games of the past decade – comes Neva, a game that already promises to break your heart in the most beautiful way possible. The game follows a young woman and a majestic wolf-like creature as they traverse a breathtaking, yet dangerous world. The art style is just as hand-crafted and fluid as Gris, with sweeping landscapes, hauntingly elegant animation, and moments that feel straight out of a moving painting. But beyond the visuals, Neva is about love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds we form with those who walk beside us. Expect emotional storytelling, mesmerizing environments, and a soundtrack that will probably have you crying over a fictional animal within the first hour. Nomada Studio has already proven they know how to craft games that feel like interactive poetry, and Neva looks ready to continue that tradition. Just… get the tissues ready. | © Nomada Studio