Side Scroller Hidden Gems on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated side scroller games.
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Ark of Charon
Build a mobile fortress on the back of a giant and mysterious walking Tree and embark on a journey in this merge of tower defense and colony simulation.
Clock Tower: Rewind
The 16-bit nightmare returns. Survive, hide, and avoid the deadly Scissorman in this legendary horror classic.
Super Mining Mechs
Build your own Super Mining Mech and explore the underground in search of new natural resources. Customize your mech with unlockable parts to dig deeper than ever - by yourself or with up to 7 friends in online co-op multiplayer! So, what are you waiting for? There’s mining to be done!
Vasilisa and Baba Yaga
An adventure game based on the Russian folktale "Vasilisa the Beautiful". A scary story about the journey to the mistress of the forbidden forest for magical powers.
AWAKEN - Astral Blade
Weave your own story in this dark fairy tale. In the mysterious ancient ruins, you will adventure with Tania to reveal her origins and fate. Is there any chance of survival in the darkest and desperate place?
Iron Meat
Iron Meat is a run-and-gun arcade shooter that immerses players in an apocalyptic future overrun by "The Meat," an iron-ravenous mass mutating everything in its path. Blast your way through retro-inspired stages and bosses to uncover the shocking horrors behind secret experiments on the Moon.
Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn
After 34 years in the shadows, prepare to see this legendary action adventure in a new light! Looking and playing better than ever before, Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn is Tengo Project’s remake of a cult classic, that the fans have been waiting for.
Slash/Jump
How do you platform if walking and jumping aren't an option? With a sword of course! Bounce and slash your way through this short and sweet, uniquely controlled precision platformer!
Kitsune Tails
Run, jump, and dash across a land inspired by Japanese mythology and untangle the love triangle between three young women on a journey of self discovery. Explore the complicated relationships between kitsune and humans through classic platforming action.
TRADESMAN: Deal to Dealer
Travel. Buy. Sell. Protect. Fight. Do Quests.
Creepy Tale: Some Other Place
Creepy Tale is a mysterious adventure rich in riddles and eerie atmosphere. An autumn morning promised a quiet fishing trip, but events took Martin to "some other place." Find the way home, uncover loads of secrets, and save everyone that you can.
With My Past
"How should I face my past in my ever-changing life? "Collaborating with the shadow of the past to unravel allegorical puzzles, confront inner struggles, and explore the path of self-growth.
Virtua Unlimited Project
Virtua Unlimited Project is a 2D pixel-art style ACT game featuring VTuber characters. With classical platformer gameplay, challenging combat, and retro game feelings, VUP presents you a surreal, virtual world in which you will play as Aizawa Kana to venture and seek the truth beneath.
Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU
Wield the dance of the shaman. Reclaim your father’s spirit. Brave the beautiful and treacherous land of Kenzera with the God of Death in Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU, a metroidvania-style adventure crafted by Surgent Studios.
Akatori: Сhapter One
Join young Mako as she ventures into a wild world of exploration and finds a mysterious bird companion. Navigate through two distinct realms with your staff and face off against an ancient sentinel in this prologue to the action-packed metroidvania Akatori.
The Mildew Children
Featuring a blend of 2D adventure and visual novel, The Mildew Children is a grim tale about a village inhabited only by children who follow savage pagan traditions. A young witch named Kyrphel, along with her sisters, are bound to perform a macabre Ritual in order to save their village.
Grim Realms
A dark fantasy colony sim - will your colony end the Dread Storm and redeem mankind, or will they harness the dark powers for themselves? Guide your villagers as they struggle to stay alive in a world overrun by the undead.
Skelethrone: The Prey
This game is a challenging 2D action platformer with RPG elements inspired by games like Castlevania and Dark Souls. Skelethrone: The Prey is a free prequel to the main game, setting the stage for the events that will unfold throughout Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona campaign.
Contra: Operation Galuga
The legendary Contra series returns! This reimagining of the classic run-'n'-gun action game from the ‘80s features new stages, new enemies, new play mechanics, and co-op combat for up to 4 players!
Berserk Boy
BERSERK BOY is a high speed action packed Platformer, with Metroidvania elements. Packed with vibrant and stylish pixel art. Go Berserk! as you change into different forms and use the power of Lightning, Fire, Ice, Air, and Earth to save the planet!
The Mobius Machine
Discover a vast alien world. Fight the ferocious local fauna and killer machines. Reveal its secrets and find a way to escape. The Mobius Machine is a side-scroller action adventure, with an emphasis on free-form exploration and intense combat.
Sonder
Experience an innovative co-op adventure where two players have to work together. Engage in collaborative puzzle solving and dynamic combat with each player having unique abilities. Delve into a psychological narrative that explores the essence of humanity.
Cat Search In The Wild West
105 Cats are hiding in this old western town! Can you find them all? Sit back, relax, and explore this hand-drawn western town.
Age of Advent
Welcome to the Age of Advent! Play four minigames based on the members of hololive -Advent-! Save the Moai with Bijou, make a soup with Nerissa, try not to crash with FUWAMOCO, and avoid the gaze of Shiori!
Furi Demake - The Chain
Fight your way free in this 8-bit-inspired version of Furi's first boss fight against The Chain. Frantic action, nervous controls, a blend of shoot and sword fight reimagined in 90s style. Only 1 boss fight! A gift to Furi’s fans.
Valfaris: Mecha Therion
Therion returns as the hunt for Lord Vroll continues. Pilot an advanced machine of death and destruction in this explosive 2.5D side-scrolling shoot ‘em up, and sequel to the critically acclaimed Valfaris. Strap in and unleash mecha hell!
The Elephant Collection
Say helloaphant to jmtb02’s classic series of elephant games–now remastered into one elephant-sized package!
Alien Hominid HD
The 2D side-scrolling shooter from The Behemoth is back! With your mighty blaster and a group of mysterious kids by your side, destroy the agency and reclaim your spaceship!
The Mildew Children: Chapter 1
Featuring a blend of 2D adventure and visual novel. Chapter 1 is the very beginning of the grim tale about a village inhabited only by children who follow savage pagan traditions. A young witch Kyrphel, along with her sisters, are bound to perform a macabre Ritual in order to save their village.
Draw
Welcome to the world of Draw, a 2D sidescroller and visual novel! Armed with nothing but a pencil, play as “Stickman” as you explore a brand-new world. Solve puzzles by drawing into the game, meet new friends while dodging scribble monsters, and make memories that’ll never be erased!
BIT.TRIP RERUNNER
The classic rhythm platformer is back as BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER! The fun of the original now sports fresh mechanics, art, and soundtrack – plus RUNNER MAKER, which allows you to create custom levels. A must-play for rhythm newbies, experts, and everyone in between.
Fading Afternoon
Seiji Maruyama is a middle-aged yakuza recently released from prison. Known as "Gozuki" (one of the demon generals from Buddhist mythology) he is the power that his oyabun counts on. But there is one thing his aniki is not taking into account: Maruyama is getting old.
