Games that are modern but nail that Retro feel just right

[Bakuma1997]

Freedom planet fells like someone tried to make a Sonic game with the gameplay ideas he liked it to have and he succeded with glowing colors

 

[KaiserMk7]

Can "Octopath Traveler" and those SquareEnix titles with that particular kind of graphic ("Triangle Strategy"), and also other new rpgs with that pixelated style be considered "modern with a retro feel"? They remind us of the earlier FFs and rpgs, but with more and more details in every character sprite and in the backgrounds and all the quality-of-life improvements that won't make modern players go away.

I'm totally spoiled because FF8 has been my first videogame so I don't like very much the "old" graphics and games older than ps1 ones (though I've played FF1 on psp), but for example I've watched a family member playing Octopath (first one) and I thought it was nice.

If I recall correctly, Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, and Bravely Default II (maybe not) are from the same specific team/studio under Square Enix.

 

[PSVitaForever]

If I recall correctly, Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, and Bravely Default II (maybe not) are from the same specific team/studio under Square Enix.

It's possible. I have mentioned those games because they immediately come to my mind when thinking about "modern title with retro style". Browsing the eshop I saw a lot of games with a style that I would define "retro" (pixelated, etc), but I'm not really into that, so I can't mention them. Those Square Enix titles are simply more famous than, let's say, indie games that maybe are even better.

 

[ThunderBoy]

Formula Retro Racing

 

[SliperyHippo]

There's this indi studio called Sokpop games, i think it's just two or three friends, but they make these little micro games that are super stylized or often are of dead generas, like their game chatventures which is a multi user dungeon!

 

[Illuminary]

If you’re into platformers, these are my picks.

Cavern of Dreams.

Corn Kidz 64.

 

[Bakuma1997]

These cute N64 esque games where nothing goes wrong

 

[Turbo Kid]

The Messenger - Ninja Gaiden, but not as brutally hard and with way more movement options. Also has wonderful lore, world building, and a fantastic sense of humor, while also being very philosophical. It has the best shopkeeper since Resident Evil 4...and cool hats.

Smelter - Plays like a Mega Man X game (the main character feels kind of like Zero) mixed with Actraiser

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider - Mega Man X meets Shinobi, a game that feels like both a SNES game and a Sega Genesis game

Kaze and the Wild Masks - The gameplay perfectly captures the feel of the SNES era Donkey Kong Country games.

While Final Fantasy seems to keep moving further and further away from its roots, I tried playing a little bit of FANTASIAN Neo Dimension and it took me back to old school Final Fantasy from the PS1 days

Pumpkin Jack is clearly channeling MediEvil from the PS1

 

[Miles Miles]

Sonic Mania

 

[resketreke]

Alwa's Awakening is another one. In fact you can buy the NES ROM to play it on real hardware (or emulated).

Also, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Earthion yet.

 

[Captain Murphy]

Frogatto and Friends is one of the most beautiful examples of retro style pixels done right. Got a bitching little soundtrack too!

Ngl I'm not really sure why this one didn't become more popular.

 

[KholdStare24]

A Robot Named Fight!
- a Super Metroid inspired clone. Beautiful pixel art

 

[diet_orange]

UFO 50 and Spelunky most definitely

 

[aquova]

Freedom planet fells like someone tried to make a Sonic game with the gameplay ideas he liked it to have and he succeded with glowing colors

My first thought was also Freedom Planet. A Genesis loveletter bringing in elements from Sonic, Ristar, Gunstar Heroes, Sparkster, and a few others games

I'll throw in Hollowbody: https://www.gog.com/en/game/hollowbody

View attachment 93241

Wow, I'd not heard of this. This looks sick.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

My first thought was also Freedom Planet. A Genesis loveletter bringing in elements from Sonic, Ristar, Gunstar Heroes, Sparkster, and a few others games.

I know why FP2 didn't click on me: they nerfed/removed the "Treasureness" from it...

 

[aquova]

I know why FP2 didn't click on me: they nerfed/removed the "Treasureness" from it...

You and I are apparently the only people who didn't like it lol. I really can't put my finger on it, but after being so excited for FP2, I just found it a bit of a let down, I much prefer the first one.

 

[TacoMeister]

I enjoyed 30XX quite a lot, tries to be a MegaMan X/Zero roguelike. It falls short in some aspects but I still enjoyed it.

And I absolutely love Shantae games.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

You and I are apparently the only people who didn't like it lol. I really can't put my finger on it, but after being so excited for FP2, I just found it a bit of a let down, I much prefer the first one.

It's weird, when FP2 had its first demo in 2017 I kinda liked what they've done.

The dodge button should've made the game more engaging and Milla got a massive buff yet this lacks something.

Also maybe the whole "Episode" type of progression on the map was weirdly implemented.

 

[Bakuma1997]

Sea of Stars feels like if Square actually bothered to make Super Mario RPG 2

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

I don't know that I'd count mine, as it isn't as modern as it used to be, but I adore New Super Lucky's Tale.

Everytime I play it, it gives me flashbacks to those early 90's/00's 3D platformers, like Super Mario 64, Spyro, Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, Sly Cooper etc.
I've been hanging for a sequel to NSLT for ages now! but I guess they only like remaking it and porting it.