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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Young Souls
Young Souls is a gorgeous 2D brawler meets story-rich action RPG. Fight hordes of belligerent goblins, level up with hundreds of weapons and accessories, explore, and journey between worlds, as rebellious twins battle their way to save their foster father.
Heroine Anthem Zero 2 : Scalescars Oath
ZERO 2 is an ARPG with intriguing storytelling, an unpredictable battle system, and endless heartfelt adventure. The story includes multiple subtle metaphors for the relationship between God and humans.
Touhou Mystery Reel
Touhou Mystery Reel is a 2D platformer action game with special combat system. You can experience exciting battles and interesting stories in the game. There will be different endings of the stages. The player has the freedom to choose either to fight the powerful bosses or to take "shortcuts".
Grapple Dog
Jump, Swing and Zip your way through colourful worlds and exciting challenges in this unique 2D action-platformer! Master the power of the Grapple on your adventure to save the world!
Gods of Sand
Train gladiators. Manage a ludus. Fight in the arenas. Conquer the tower. Gods of Sand is a gladiator manager with intense turn-based combat, inspired by the Swords and Sandals series, in a dark and unforgiving setting.
100 hidden fish
The fish hid. Try to find them all! A very large location.
Blind Fate: Edo no Yami — Dojo
Dive into a world that mixes Sci-Fi and ancient tradition. Slash through robots with a trusty katana, use hi-tech implants to navigate the surroundings, dodge enemy attacks, and land devastating finishers. Reclaim the past following the way of the Japanese samurai in the fantastic period of New Edo.
Sucker for Love: Prelude
Preform a series of scary rituals to win over an eldritch cutie and win a smooch!
One Hand Clapping
One Hand Clapping is a vocal 2D platformer. Solve puzzles, by singing or humming into your microphone, and find confidence in the power of your voice as it changes the world around you.
The Savior From Above
A sidescrolling 3D adventure shortgame that combines multiple genres and features various action and puzzle sequences. Its artistic approach is supported by powerful visuals, intense atmosphere and a unique game narrative on the boundaries of science-fiction and fantasy.
UDONGEIN X
Help Reisen Udongein Inaba navigate through 14 action packed stages in this exhilarating 2D Bullet Hell Platformer based on Touhou Project!
SiNiSistar Lite Version
A simple 2D action game centered on themes of masochistic tendencies, yearning for death, as well as despair at being attacked by terrifying beings.
MARSUPILAMI - HOOBADVENTURE
Discover the Marsupilamis as you have never seen them before in an adventure full of surprises!
Evil God Korone
An unexpected collaboration from Tsugunohi, the game where horror invades daily life, and VTuber Inugami Korone, from VTuber group hololive. Inugami Korone, who has been live streaming many horror game, has become an evil goddess and taken over Tsugunohi. Now, chop your finger and give it to her.
Flesh Water
This is your last day as a worker for a pet feeding service, and depending on how the day goes, your life. Prepare the final meal for a client's odd pet that lives in an abandoned pool all while trying to make it out safely and avoid mistakes.
They Always Run
Become Aiden, a three-armed mutant who hunts the most dangerous bounties in the galaxy. Catch, slice, dice and destroy enemies in this exciting 2D platformer with a space-western setting.
Nuclear Blaze
A unique 2D firefighting platformer from the creator of Dead Cells, featuring devastating backdrafts, exploding walls, and expected cat rescues. Battle your way through a mysterious government facility, striving to keep the blaze under control.
100 hidden dogs
Hidden object game in the alien setting. Black and white hand-drawn graphics in a cartoon style. A large location and cute dogs.
100 hidden birds 2
Hidden object game in the cartoon city style. Animation and puzzles. Very large location. Ultra hard! Really very difficult!
Peace, Death! 2
Peace, Death! 2 is a midcore turn-based logic game where you send clients to Hell, Heaven, or Purgatory and help members of the Reapers Union as they work towards their great cause!
Wife Quest
A retro platform, side-scrolling game with gorgeous pixel art. Help Mia rescue Fernando, her husband, who has been kidnapped by a Dark Elf named Morganna and her pack of Monster Girls.
Steel Assault
Punch, whip, and zipline your way through a post-apocalyptic America in this 16-bit retro-style action platformer! Play as Taro Takahashi, a resistance soldier on a revenge mission against the dictator who lords over the ashes.
Actraiser Renaissance
Heaven, earth and mankind - Create and destroy everything according to your will! Experience the revival of the '90s classic hit "Actraiser"
Listen to the Wind
"Listen to the Wind" is a side-scrolling hack-and-slash game with counter attacks as the game's core mechanic. It takes pace during the Ming dynasty Jiajing era where you'll be battling Japanese pirates. It features unique martial art heroes and a story branching gameplay.
Flynn: Son of Crimson
Our valiant hero Flynn possesses the ability to influence a mysterious energy and modify his style of combat, transforming him into a force to be reckoned with. Inspired by the golden age of the SNES, Flynn: Son of Crimson is the 2D action adventure that’ll take you right back to the 90s!
El Shaddai ASCENSION OF THE METATRON HD Remaster
El Shaddai, originally released in 2011, is a unique third-person action adventure filled with a deeply artistic world-building, outstanding aesthetics and thrilling battles. Experience an incredible mix of 2D-like platformer action and a colorful 3D world in an exceptional setting.
Song of Iron
Behind you lies a trail of broken helms, shattered shields. You hold the axe of a fallen foe. Worn and dented, it will suit it's purpose. What lies ahead is still a mystery. Your goal is not.
100 hidden rams
100 hidden rams is a hidden object game in a village setting. Black and white hand-drawn graphics in a cartoon style. Interesting and difficult! The clouds are flying by!
Mayhem Brawler
Mayhem Brawler is an urban fantasy themed beat 'em up that brings back the 90s arcade vibe to present day. With comic book style art and kick-ass soundtracks, it offers a unique experience that you can tackle solo or as co-op with friends while defining the next step in the story with your choices.
Tsugunohi
One of the most terrifying J-horror games of all time is coming to Steam at long last. What's more, all you have to do is make the player walk to the left!? This collection includes the seven initial works of the popular Tsugunohi series, as well as an entirely new episode.
Simple Fish Adventure
Simple Fish Adventure is an unusual short physics-based platformer. Jump like a fish, think like a fish, be a fish! Overcome obstacles and suffer. Also includes co-op for up to 4 players.
Toodee and Topdee
A cosmic turbulence caused the 2D Platformer and the Top-Down Puzzler dimensions to merge! Switch between Toodee and Topdee and their unique perspectives to overcome hard-as-nails challenges, solve mind-melting puzzles and defeat huge bosses.
100 hidden cats 2
Hidden object game in the city setting. Black and white hand-drawn graphics in a cartoon style. Ultra hard! Really very difficult!
Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 2
A young girl needs to find her friends, unravel a dark mystery and escape the clutches of her cursed toys.