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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Livestream: Escape from Hotel Izanami
In this side-scrolling action-adventure game, you'll need to scour the inside of an abandoned hotel, looking for clues to solve the mystery of the hotel and ensure your escape from a mysterious, murderous mascot intent to kill.
Mighty Goose
Mighty Goose is a fast paced run & gun shooter starring a bounty hunter Goose. Use epic weapons and devastating war machines to battle against screen filling bosses and hordes of enemies!
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection
Watch as this nostalgic yet completely reimagined storybook world unravels before your very eyes. Taking cues from both Ghosts 'n Goblins and Ghouls 'n Ghosts and giving birth to something entirely new, Resurrection is a title worthy of its name.
The Longest Road on Earth
A thoughtful and deeply personal title with stripped-down mechanics. The lack of dialogue or text allows you to create your own narrative through your time with four characters. Each short story will allow players to be swept away by the haunting lyrics of over twenty original, nostalgic songs.
R-Type Final 2
R-Type has returned! The legendary side-scroller is back and better than ever with beautifully rendered 3D graphics, exhilarating shoot-'em-up gameplay, and a multitude of stages, ships, and weapons that will allow you to conduct a symphony of destruction upon your foes.
Switchcars
In a science experiment gone wrong, there's only one way to survive - traverse dynamic environments in over 1300 realistic vehicles, as fast as possible.
Slow and Steady
Slow and Steady is a game where you make the slowest tortoise ever reach the finish line.
Bacon May Die
Chaotic bacon-flavored beat'em up with plenty of enemies to smash around
The Little Red Lie
2D side scrolling, adventure, horror game where you avoid monsters and solve puzzles.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page
A short, fully voiced, story-first adventure across two worlds. Rearrange words into platforms in Izzy’s diary, then wield word magic to shape your path in the fantasy she writes. Gentle puzzles, watercolour wonder, and a bittersweet story of family, loss, and healing.
100 hidden mushrooms
Hidden object game in a fairytale setting. Black and white hand-drawn visual style. A very difficult game for any age!
Tadpole Tales
A tiny 2D Hand-drawn "Clean 'Em Up" game about a tadpole cleaning rivers and fighting pollution.
Space Gladiators
Ever dreamt of being a space potato? Now’s your chance! Space Gladiators is a 2D hand-drawn roguelite platformer following a bunch of captives fighting their way out of a planet prison. Defeat hordes of aliens in the gladiatorial arenas and earn your freedom!
Introvert: A Teenager Simulator
One of the new guys in school tells you he’s going to shoot up the school if he doesn’t make friends in 5 days. Discover the decisions, people, situations you will encounter while playing and trying to make friends of your own and living your own life.
100 hidden snails 2
Hidden object game in a surreal style. Extremely hard!
The Legend of Karl
The Legend of Karl is a 2.5D hack and slash platformer. You'll master various weapons while exploring the deep diabolical world. A quest struggling between Good and Evil, fight for Justice and what you Believe!
Battlecruisers
A visually stunning RTS where players battle to build the ultimate automated floating Ultraweapon. Outsmart players or AIs by building a strategically superior Battlecruiser. Step aboard for unique, hand-drawn misadventure on Flooded Earth, explosive gameplay, and an addictive soundtrack. And nukes.
100 hidden mice
Hidden object game in the laboratory setting. Black and white hand-drawn graphics in a cartoon style. Difficult and interesting! Very large location!
Wizards
Artillery tactics games are back! Grab some friends and get ready for an all out Wizard war! Create your own way of play with tons of unique spells to choose from. With randomly generated terrain and unlimited combinations, you'll never know what will happen next. Completely free to play.
100 hidden aliens
Hidden object game in the cosmic setting. Black and white hand-drawn graphics in a cartoon style. Game for all ages.
100 hidden eternals
Hidden object game in a surreal style. Black and white hand-drawn style. Animated puzzles. Mind blown.
Unto The End
Master tactical sword fighting combat, or discover ways to avoid bloodshed. A journey that trusts you from beginning to end.
100 hidden birds
Hidden object game in the cartoon city style. Ultra hard! Really very difficult!
100 hidden snails
Hidden object game in a surreal style. Extremely hard!
Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe
Control "The Nerd" in a retro-inspired action platformer! It's two games in one, remixed and rebalanced to bring you the ultimate experience of Nerd Rage. Featuring stylized pixel art inspired by classic games, a highly energetic soundtrack, and challenging levels -- plus a special NEW chapter!
9 Monkeys of Shaolin
The true rebirth of iconic beat 'em up genre in vein of old-school video games! As a simple Chinese fisherman Wei Cheng you have to avenge the death of your friends and family slaughtered in a pirate raid at your peaceful village.
Mess Adventures
An abnormal adventure game in nonsensical style. It contains a variety of game elements (even fighting battles, tank battles, puzzles,sokobans, flying shooting, etc.). It is very suitable to recommend it to friends who you want to prank them, live broadcast, or entertain yourself.
Soldat 2
Soldat 2 is a 2D deathmatch shooter with real guns, ragdoll violence and physics-based movement. Based on classic Soldat with team game modes, ranked multiplayer, bots and built-in customization and level editing. Made by MM - creator of the original.
Spirits Abyss
Spirits Abyss is a roguelite platformer with destructible terrain. Cast into the Abysm you must explore its diverse depths battling phantasmic meanies and plundering its useful treasures to find a way home... but does something nestle beyond the realmic veil of death?
Vibrant Venture
Vibrant Venture is a singleplayer 2D adventure platformer game featuring a quirky cast of characters! The game features four playable characters with multiple unique abilities that can be combined for extremely versatile, fluid and fun movement!
Panzer Paladin
Hop in the Paladin power armor, seize melee weapons from the demonic invaders and give them a taste of their own medicine!
Primal Light
Inhabit Krog, a mysterious blue creature in a red loincloth, as he traverses a labyrinth of ladders, levers, traps, and monsters. Explore the nooks and crannies of a bizarre and evocative world as you hack and slash your way to victory, leaving a graveyard of grotesque bosses in your wake.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2
The ultra-refined 2D side-scrolling action you remember from "Azure Striker Gunvolt" is recharged and better than ever! In Gunvolt 2, series anti-hero Copen joins the fray as a playable character! Copy abilities from defeated boss characters and use them as your own!