10 Best Pixel Art Shooters - Investment Policy

In essence, the style of first-person shooter games as we know them today has been around ever since Wolfenstein 3D made its debut in 1992.

Back then, computers lacked the power we have now, resulting in all graphics being created using pixel art that moved within a three-dimensional space. Although it was basic, it managed to function effectively.

Technology has made significant strides over time, and contemporary high-cost shooter games now boast strikingly lifelike visuals.

I’ve noticed that despite the advancements in gaming technology, many contemporary shooters still hark back to their pixelated beginnings. These games encompass not only the traditional “boomer shooter” structure but also introduce a variety of unique gameplay styles as well.

In some games, they choose the traditional route, featuring 2D characters within a 3D environment, whereas others strike a balance by using 3D models that are intentionally pixelated and have a low polygon count.

I am specifically highlighting modern games that deliberately use a pixelated art style.

10. Ion Fury

Never Enough Bullets

Similar to the retro shooter genre overall, Ion Fury is known for its robustness or durability in gameplay.

Initially titled “Ion Maiden,” the game faced a legal challenge when the heavy metal band Iron Maiden filed a lawsuit against the developers. Consequently, a name change was necessary. However, despite these challenges, the game managed to thrive, ultimately proving beneficial for gamers.

In simpler terms, Ion Fury is an old-school, no-nonsense shooter game, where you’ll find yourself in spacious environments teeming with thugs to take down, along with a decent selection of weapons to help you accomplish the task.

The distinctive characteristic lies in the ammo: each firearm discharges a substantial amount of bullets, but with subtle variations, where some do so more profusely than others.

For example, your standard revolver holds multiple magnum bullets per shot. By quickly cocking the hammer (known as “fanning”), you can discharge approximately 18 rounds at a cost of only 6 shots.

In other words, your shotgun has the ability to quickly transition between functioning as a close-range automatic weapon with a compact spread of shots, and a six-shot grenade launcher for more specialized situations. Essentially, you’re equipped with the right gun and an abundance of ammunition for any circumstance.

9. Prodeus

Guns, Lasers, And More

Over time, as the shooter genre progressed, it began to surpass the traditional use of firearms. Titles such as the original Quake and Unreal Tournament introduced an array of eccentric methods for causing destruction, a concept that has been largely adopted by Prodeus and its diverse weapon collection.

As you progress through the game, the types of weapons you use become increasingly unusual and intricate.

You possess a plasma rifle equipped with an automatic targeting system for enemy detection, a peculiar extraterrestrial firearm capable of discharging enormous bursts, and a portable railgun that can launch both physical ammunition and electrical charges.

As a devoted player, I find it quite intriguing that one of the game’s seemingly ordinary weapons is none other than the super shotgun, boasting an impressive four barrels! Its exquisite engravings on the stock are a sight to behold, but in the heat of battle, those details often fade into the background.

8. Cultic

Dy-no-mite

One crucial aspect that makes a great shooter game is the sense of fulfillment from responsive feedback. To create this feeling, your weapons should appear substantial and produce powerful sounds. Games featuring historical warfare weapons often excel in providing such an experience, with Cultic serving as a notable example.

In a mob of frenzied cultists, it’s not rifles or artillery that bring order, but rather handguns, shotguns, and machine guns. Unlike traditional combat scenarios, there are no set strategies to employ in this case.

Feel free to choose your preferred strategy – whether it’s a quiet, subtle approach, a bold and obvious one, or something clever – pick the method that suits you best.

The firearms are extremely adaptable, allowing for multiple modifications including enhancements for increased damage and reduced scatter. In case of ammo shortage, there’s usually a lighter handy which makes igniting a stick of dynamite a breeze.

7. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Smells Like Heresy In Here

It’s quite enjoyable when franchises that usually focus on a single genre decide to explore other genres. For example, Warhammer, which is primarily known for strategy games and third-person shooters, surprisingly ventured into the first-person shooter genre with a deliberately retro-styled game.

Experiencing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun offers an immersive Ultramarines-themed fantasy. You’ll find yourself armed with your chainsword, reliable Bolter, and confronted by plenty of blasphemy demanding resolution.

Regardless of the absence of three-dimensional characters, the intensity of your Ultramarine is palpable as he tramples around recklessly, discharging bullets indiscriminately towards anything that might even glance at him suspiciously.

Playing a Warhammer game that centers around one aspect of its universe is quite invigorating. Instead of worrying about various factions or grappling with moral complexities, the excitement lies in picking up a Boltgun and confronting cultists head-on.

6. Chop Goblins

Delightfully Stupid

By the end of the 90s, as shooter games transitioned to fully 3D models, numerous budget titles could be found online or in hobby stores, lacking polish and often appearing somewhat haphazardly.

Instead of state-of-the-art visuals or innovative game dynamics, these games compensated by offering an unbridled, joyful chaos.

While these games were not cutting-edge in terms of graphics or unique mechanics, they provided a delightfully chaotic experience that was hard to resist.

Chop Goblins is intentionally designed with a budget appearance, reminiscent of the simple games you might find browsing online.

The assortment of weapons is peculiar and diverse, spanning from an old-fashioned flintlock firearm to a mechanized device for propelling wooden stakes. The stages traverse both time and dimension, encompassing a contemporary history museum as well as the castle of Count Dracula.

This action game is marketed as a compact First-Person Shooter (FPS), designed to be completed in a single session due to its brevity. It may not linger for long, but you might find that it’s left an enduring impression in a corner of your mind after you’ve finished playing.

5. Cruel

Still Nicer Than Most Hotels

Have you ever stayed at a hotel that was exceptionally unappealing? I’m referring to places where dusty cobwebs abound, the paint is peeling off the walls, there are strange odors lingering in the air, and it seems as if every corner could harbor some sinister characters.

Indeed, it seems you’ve come quite near to the overall feeling of what Cruel represents.

In this swift, rogue-like first-person shooter game, you navigate through a madhouse hotel level by level, breaking open doors and gunning down assailants using any weapons you stumble upon.

Expedience is the name of the game; if you’re stopping to take a breath, you’re playing it wrong.

Amongst stages, discovering soda cans enables you to reward a dog, thus unveiling fresh enhancements. However, this scenario might still seem puzzling.

You could try your luck by exploring the public restroom for additional items, but remember, there’s always the risk of encountering a terrifying creature that might immediately end your journey.

4. Fashion Police Squad

You Have The Right To Remain Fabulous

A number of throwback-inspired shooting games don’t revolve around endless violence and brutality. Instead, some of these titles challenge your marksmanship abilities for a different kind of purpose – preserving refined aesthetics and good taste.

On the Fashion Police Squad, you’re tasked with patrolling the city streets, eliminating fashion disasters such as baggy trousers and sandals worn with socks from our urban landscape.

Each gun you possess is designed to address a particular style misdemeanor, like garish colors or ill-fitting clothes. Therefore, instead of indiscriminately firing whatever weapon you’ve got, you must carefully consider your targets and decide what kind of style correction they require to look their best.

The game is remarkably vertical in nature, allowing you to swiftly unfasten your belt for traversal by swinging from lofty spots to delve into hidden corners and unearth the level’s concealed areas. One consistent feature of retro FPS games is expansive levels brimming with secrets.

3. Selaco

The Most Realistic Pixels

In the initial first-person shooter games, the artificial intelligence (AI) of the adversaries was rather basic. They would merely chase after you and open fire as soon as they spotted you, with little else to their behavior.

Although a modern game may evoke the same visual style, it doesn’t necessarily imply that all its aspects should mirror the older version.

For instance, Selaco boasts about its intelligent AI enemies that behave similarly to human players. Although they may appear as simple sprites, they possess the ability to strategize equally well. These adversaries can take cover, approach your position, and attempt to force you out using gunfire and grenades.

In other shooting games, I love diving headfirst into battle with heavy gunfire. But in Selaco, it’s a different story. It doesn’t let me be a superhero; instead, I’m just an ordinary soldier, vulnerable and squishy. It pushes me to play smarter, not harder.

2. Ultrakill

Doom By Way Of Devil May Cry

Shooter games that are fast-moving share many characteristics with another type of game: action games featuring characters such as Devil May Cry. Both genres revolve around defeating numerous enemies swiftly and stylishly, don’t they? A game that particularly emphasizes this resemblance is Ultrakill.

In the style of old-school shooting games, Ultrakill places you in intense battles against hordes of adversaries across vast, gory battlegrounds. However, what sets it apart is that your score for each level increases if you add a touch of flair to your gunfights.

Instead of solely relying on firing from a static position, try strategically switching between your weapons and coordinating their skills, while also skillfully dodging enemy attacks without incurring damage. This approach is more likely to increase your style ratings compared to simply shooting from one spot.

In Ultrakill, you need to be completely focused all the time, not only to give your best play, but also to recognize when it’s necessary to drain some health from an opponent to keep yourself alive.

1. Turbo Overkill

You Get A Chainsaw, You Get A Chainsaw

In almost every Doom game, the moment you acquire a chainsaw is a standout feature. Wielding it is like watching a destructive dance as you mow down hordes of foes. But here’s something even more thrilling than one chainsaw: four chainsaws!

In the game Turbo Overkill, you begin with chainsaws built into your legs as a unique feature, enabling you to execute the game’s signature Chainsaw Dash. This not only serves as a swift mode of traversing expansive arenas but also offers immense fun by allowing you to mow down crowds of opponents.

Afterward, you’ll get another set of chainsaws, but this time, they’re held by your arms and become stronger as you continue to use your leg-controlled chainsaws. It creates something of a circular process.

Absolutely, this game offers a plethora of cool firearms to play around with. For instance, there’s a revolver that you reload by spinning it, a shotgun modified to launch grenades, and a sniper rifle with a teleporting feature that drops enemies on the spot, a move known as ‘telefragging’.

2025-03-21 18:41