We are often warned to judge a book by its cover, and that is absolutely true. Those who are shallow enough to do so often miss much inner beauty and substance. That being said, there are some games that are so amazing that a single screenshot or a few seconds of trailer is enough to keep you invested.
Fall in love with 5 ugly games
These games may not look like it – in fact, they are a little ugly – but their gameplay is so good that you will still fall in love with playing them.
Tragically, some great games don't get the love at first sight adoration they deserve. There are always great games that fly under the radar, and we're going to highlight a few that, through no fault of their own, did just that.
Neva
If you have Neva heard about it, you should try it
Nomad Studios Pig where first released in 2018, an acclaimed platformer title with beautiful hand-drawn visuals and an equally amazing soundtrack. The game ties both of these elements together in the central mechanic of the song, and how it can restore life and lush color to a world from which it has faded. Six years later, the studio came back with Neva, a game that just doesn't seem to have attracted the same level of fanfare.
The story revolves around a young woman, Alba, and her wolf companion (the titular Neva). This title embraces a similar dreamlike, fluid aesthetic, where a lush and colorful world is corrupted by a force that manifests itself as dark, shadowy enemies that the duo must defeat. Combat isn't the most involved, but it has its own style, and the passage of time is reflected in the changing of the seasons, seamlessly changing the color palette of the world as the game progresses. It may be somewhat short-lived, but the gorgeous animation and art make up for it Neva a thrill to see in motion.
Gravity Rush
A colorful and chaotic cacophony
The PlayStation Vita was a pretty formidable system when it arrived (first in Japan in 2011), with its main weakness being that it lacked major exclusive features. A great Vita-only title, until its remaster a few years later, was Gravity Rush. The unique concept took full advantage of the system's capabilities to guide Kat through the city of Hekseville and the surrounding regions of the World Pillar through her command of gravity. Touchscreen controls are particularly prominent in the Vita version, with maneuvers including twisting and shaking the system to change the direction of gravity and direct evasive moves in battle by touch.
Kat feels wonderful and a little chaotic to control, and this, along with the game's heavy action focus, is complemented by the art style. There is an instantly identifiable look Gravity Rush, and it works so well. It's a perfect fit for the stylized approach, and it's a shame the franchise's future hangs in the balance. 2017's PS4 sequel Gravity Rush 2, may have been the end of the line.
BloodRayne: Betrayal
A brutal, handsome brawler
Hack and slash titles and brawlers lend themselves so well to a stylized, exaggerated look. It really makes the action pop, and each strike feels that much more visceral. BloodRayne: Betrayal is very aware of this and uses its lovely 2D art to great effect. The BloodRayne games are well-known for their gore and high-octane action (as well as for the beloved vampire Rayne), and although Betrayal was a completely different direction for the franchise, it did a fantastic job of sustaining it.
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The game originally launched in 2011 for Xbox 360 and PS3, before being reborn a full decade later as BloodRayne: Betrayal – Fresh Bites. It is the story of the conflict between Rayne and Kagan, her formidable father, whose castle Dhampir struggles to infiltrate and bring down in a Castlevania-like fashion. The remastered version tried to address some criticisms of the original game, mainly the frustrating difficulty, but it didn't set the gaming world on fire in either iteration. Still, the health-draining mechanics and fast-paced, responsive action keep it engaging for genre fans. Needless to say, it looks grotesquely beautiful too.
East
Pushing Pixel Art to its limits
Indie developers have really taken a liking to pixel art in recent years. However, this is not to say that the style doesn't still look incredible when used effectively. East presents the story of John and his adopted daughter Sam, who get caught up in the mystery of a certain Miasma that threatens the world. It's fairly traditional RPG in some respects, with an engaging combat system and classic urban exploration focus. Whether you're fighting in real-time (managing a frying pan) or talking to the locals, it's great with East is how alive its world is.
There's rich detail in the graphics, with effects layered on top of the 2D pixel art to really emphasize every animation from characters and enemies, each with their own unique personality and bizarre details. It's a world you'll want to pause to take in every inch of as you travel east on your one-of-a-kind train.
Chipped steel
A beauty you wish you had more time to admire
In an FPS, there usually isn't much time to focus on the smaller details. A developer might lovingly create the small details on an office desk, for example, but when blasting your way through the building, you'd probably never even notice them. IN Chipped steelthen the most impressive details and effects are made part of the action itself.
The indoor environments have something of a futuristic, metallic vibe that could potentially have made them feel a little samey and uninspiring. This is intentional though, ensuring that every neat pop of windows, glow of bright neon lights and colorful explosions draws the eye as much as possible. The game has relentless energy, and all this is reflected in the amazing effects on the screen at all times.
The pedestrian
At first glance the 2021s The pedestrian sees… well, pedestrians in their photos. The environments look realistic and ordinary, with street scenes, office spaces and other everyday places. However, what you will quickly realize is that the action of the game is what happens against these backgrounds. You'll want to look closer as some of life's details play out in stunning detail against these dioramas, but if you do, you'll lose focus on what really matters here: the puzzles in the foreground panels.
Puzzle game where the rules are constantly changing
Players need to stay sharp when it comes to the following puzzle game – the rules are constantly changing!
The contrast of the simplified visualizations in these panels, against the world in the background, is incredible. Snookum Arts really created something special here, and the transition between these panels as you lead the characters between them is a work of art in itself. The pedestrian quickly ramps up in difficulty, and beginners may need some guidance at times, but it's never anything short of transfixing.
The wayless
Forge your own beautiful path
The wayless share much in common with Ori and the Blind Forest. While it's an open-world adventure rather than a Metroidvania like Ori's Journey, it also explores the tragedy of a very unnatural disaster befalling nature, and the quest to restore some light and hope to a seemingly doomed forest.
The goal of The wayless is for the great visuals to tell and guide the story, and they do this very well. The bond between the protagonist and their winged companion is generally unspoken; taking control of the duo means embracing a freedom and agility missing from many open-world titles. The best visual design and sound design can touch the player's heart without the need for lengthy dialogue and exposition, and the fierce, bright colors of fire and calamity here, contrasted with the peaceful, earthy tones of the surrounding forest, really emphasize that.
Sable
A mind-blowing experience
Some players absolutely enjoy an experience that Trip. If you want to be blown away by non-stop action, you're in the wrong place, but for a slow, thoughtful, philosophical slow burner, there isn't much better. Sable is cut from a similar cloth, a game that perhaps didn't get a fair shake at launch in September 2021 as it was plagued with numerous technical issues. The concept is still intriguing though, and it's truly a wonder to behold.
Sable, the young protagonist, embarks on The Gliding, a journey that members of the Ibexii clan take part in at a certain age. It's their elaborate way of choosing a career, essentially, and it starts an open world journey in the purest sense. Simply getting out and traveling the world is your goal, and the Sable has a nifty little ride to do it with. Traveling across a fairly barren planet in your vehicle, with everything so highly stylized, is reminiscent of traveling the planet in the original Borderlands. The gameplay, which consists of light platforming and travel, makes it a really slow burner that can be frustrating. However, for those players who appreciate this type of title, it can prove to be as captivating as it looks. Open world games are all about immersion, and this does a great job of that too.
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