Best games with low graphics

The technological advancement of video game graphics has been impressive in recent decades. We've gone from early 2000s retro humor to ultra-realistic character models that border on being a little weird. We have ray tracing, realistic reflections, incredible hair animations and even pores on the characters' skin. Of course, most gamers don't release their single player titles in this setting, except maybe for a cheeky photo or two, but still. The advances in graphics are remarkable.

That being said, you don't need to have all this hyper-realistic stuff to sell a game. In fact, we are now witnessing the beginning of the opposite trend on the PC gaming side, as the prices of PC parts in particular are rising: games that are smaller in scale and can be run on older systems. Other than that, just having a really solid gameplay loop that's fun and addicting and doesn't burden you with microtransactions or shallow content is sure to excite anyone, no matter how detailed or realistic the graphics are. If you don't believe me, here are the games that have been hugely successful without having demanding graphics.

The surviving vampires

Highly addictive Bullet Hell in a retro style

If I had to highlight one game that unexpectedly took the world by storm and was as simple and modest as possible in its design and graphics, The surviving vampires I would think first. This is a treasure not only for anyone who enjoys a good bullet hell or roguelite game, but for anyone who misses the days of old arcade games. A simpler time, indeed.

The premise is quite simple, but (and be warned) extremely addictive: you are thrown into the world and must survive against hordes of enemies for as long as possible. Between rounds, you can use the gold you earn to upgrade. There are upgrades, unlockables, treasures to find and more.

Ultrakill

A Love Letter For Quake And Doom

No one can deny that games are liked Fate and Earthquake they still have their charm today, which is why it's interesting that even newer titles like Ultrakill take inspiration from that hot retro style and deliver an incredibly fun experience. Ultrakill is pretty much exactly what the name suggests: a massacre.

You battle hordes of demons and other hellish creatures as if you were the Doom Guy, and their blood allows you to heal. All maps and enemies have a wonderfully old-school look that any long-time FPS fan will recognize. It's gory, it's bright, and it's alive, and its action-packed gameplay won't leave you wondering why it doesn't feel like a modern triple-A game.

Crows of the earth

A nod to old-school PS1 graphics

Another trend that has been getting bigger and bigger in recent years is retro graphics on purpose, either because it conveys nostalgia or to convey the restlessness that came with older games. This is particularly effective in survival horror games, and it's partly why Crows of the earth he became so big. It has all the elements of an early PS1 horror game, similar Silent Hill or Resident Evil.

You proceed to explore a creepy, abandoned theme park that 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 gamers find this game an explosion of nostalgic joy. This also helps the story to be rock solid, peppered with some really cool puzzles.

RimWorld

Simple but effective graphics for a super fun colony Sim

RimWorld's goblins have become somewhat iconic in video games over the years. Most gamers, whether they've played the title or not, will probably recognize the characters and their cylinder-shaped bodies with attached heads.

Simple, right? The environments are also like that, a 2D procedurally generated world where you manage your brand new colony and decide its path forward. The art style has a simple but effective charm, and due to the highly addictive and unpredictable nature of where each playthrough can take you, it doesn't need anything more advanced.

Terrariums

Vivid 2D pixel goodness with personality

Terrariums the 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 lots of little details baked into its textures, character models, and hundreds and hundreds of items to come across. It's basically 2D Minecraftexcept the characters aren't bound by the block textures and it pushes the whole RPG aspect of the game a bit further.

You are thrown into an open sandbox and from that point on it is really up to you what you would like to achieve. Build a house, place game NPCs, explore and fight eldritch-level game bosses… Terrariums it's about the player making their own path, and this design choice has kept it popular for a long time.

Undertale

Its peculiar art style is as memorable as its story

If you were around in the era of RPG Maker titles that appeared more than fifteen years ago, you might find some similarities and Undertale. It's an indie title through and through, simple on the surface but extremely deep and layered at its core. The art has its own distinct signature, the goblins are absolutely charming and a testament to an RPG era long gone.

While many people adore Undertale's crazy, 2D style, the real problem is the gameplay and story. Don't let the game fool you. There's a lot going on beneath the surface, as your choices have lasting and important effects on every playthrough. Even the combat has a certain freedom that you simply don't find in many modern games, allowing you to resolve the conflict without ever killing anyone. It challenges many familiar tropes and themes in RPGs and is a must for any video game enthusiast.

Project Zomboid

Part of the reason I got eyeballs Project Zomboid was his artistic style. I'm not a huge fan of zombie survival, with games like Dying light being “just fine” in my books. Project Zomboidthough it immediately charmed me with its isometric POV and old-school color palette. It really takes you back to gaming days The Sims 1and even the blurry character models ooze beautiful nostalgia.

More than that, it's such an addictive game that lets you define exactly the kind of zombie apocalypse experience you want. The world is really huge, with loot randomly generated in each run, so you won't know exactly what to expect in each run. Your task is to survive as long as possible against hordes of zombies. Given the flexibility that the sandbox has, this is definitely a game that has perfected its gameplay loop.

Return of Ogre Dinno

Colorless but fully engaging and full of mystery

We've seen a lot of very retro and simple graphics and art styles here so far, but let's take it a step further and say there's no color in this next game either. It is Return of Ogre Dinno for you, and that alone might turn some players away from it, but it's another example of a game that's so incredibly well-crafted that it doesn't need to wow you with graphics. Or maybe you'll find that its unique style is perfect for you?

Your task is to investigate what happened to the merchant ship Obra Dinn, which disappeared some time ago and has now returned to its original port. There's a fair amount of mystery involved and you'll really have to use your wits to get to the bottom of it. Overall, it's the perfect experience for anyone who loves puzzles and wants a good challenge, but not something overly long. Just be warned: once you finish it, you'll definitely wish you could play it again blindly from the beginning. That's good.

Cave of Qud

Low resolution, great gameplay

What could be more retro than a retro green UI Cave of Qudand its extremely pixelated, low-res textures? It's as simple as graphics can be, and the best part is that it still manages to deliver an absolutely incredible roguelike RPG experience that will wow people. Now, a word of warning, this is not a game that holds your hand, but it is a game with a procedurally generated open world that feels alive and dynamic.

A living, breathing realm where you'll find all the essential elements of a successful RPG, with quests and points of interest to explore, as well as a surprisingly deep layer of lore. The game is as complex as its graphics are simple, and thanks to quite a variety of character creation, you won't be bored for long with this game.

Grandma is you

A fresh and challenging puzzle game that is simple

As a Finnish player, I couldn't finish this list without shouting Grandma is you. This game will drive you crazy as you progress through the many levels, but it brings some fresh gameplay elements to keep things interesting. It's all about manipulating your victory conditions, but changing the blocks of the level to see how they all interact until you solve it all.

You will need a fair amount of patience, but nothing is as rewarding as Grandma is you. And of course the art style: it's a mix between a super low-res style Cave of Qud with eccentricity that I saw Undertale. That distinct, handcrafted quality is what makes it super charming and almost endearing, and it's a throwback that will remind you of the old Pac Man titles.