Best Side Scroller Games 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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Super Neptunia RPG
Neptune, stricken with amnesia, awakes in a mysterious world where 2D reigns supreme. With a little help from her friends, Neptune embark on a journey to regain her memory, save the world, and 3D games as we know it.
My Friend Pedro
My Friend Pedro is a violent ballet about friendship, imagination, and one man’s struggle to obliterate anyone in his path at the behest of a sentient banana.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an exploration-focused, side-scroller action RPG by Koji Igarashi. Play as Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist's curse that slowly crystallizes her body. Battle through a demon-infested castle and defeat its master to save yourself, and all of humanity!
Blaster Master Zero
Mutant scum never learn! Blaster Master Zero makes its Steam debut! Blaster Master Zero is a 8-bit style top-down & sideview 2D action-adventure game that hearkens back to the golden age of the NES. The game features new gameplay elements such as improved gameplay, and a more robust scenario.
Contra Anniversary Collection
The Contra Anniversary Collection brings this classic Run and Gun franchise back to modern platforms and a new generation of gamers.
Devolver Bootleg
Devolver Bootleg contains eight original rip-offs of Devolver Digital games. Pay money for it now.
Toki
The return of the wacky monkey!Toki sets off on a new adventure! The cult action/platform game originally released on arcade machines in 1989 is back with a super-simian new version, featuring all-new hand-drawn graphics and re-orchestrated music!
DEAD OR SCHOOL
Underground dwelling girl Hisako is aiming for the surface in a zombie infested Tokyo. Hack and slash RPG! Obtain weapons and gear from enemies, and customize your skill tree to create your own unique and powerful a character!
Gato Roboto
Pounce inside of your cozy armored mech and set off on a dangerous trek through an alien underworld full of irritable creatures and treacherous obstacles in a valiant effort to save your stranded captain and his crashed spaceship.
Neptunia Shooter
Armed to the teeth, players begin as Neptune in an unworldly 8-bit space dimension ravaged by creatures who burst endless waves of bullets. Shoot, dodge, and defeat the boss in six unique bullet-hell worlds.
Hell is Other Demons
Hell is Other Demons is an action-platform shooter, with Roguelite elements. Explore a sprawling, hand-crafted world full of demons, insanely over-the-top boss fights, and a heavy synthwave soundtrack.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection
Konami's Castlevania Anniversary Collection traces the origins of the historic vampire franchise. Included is a unique eBook with details provided by developers, artists and others inspired by the Castlevania legacy which sheds a fresh light into the world of Castlevania.
Dark Devotion
Explore the secrets of a mysterious fallen temple and put your Templar faith to the test in Dark Devotion, where no sacrifice is too great in praise of your God.
Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection
8 KONAMI arcade classics of the 80s, from Nemesis to TwinBee. Including bonus eBook packed with new information never before revealed to the public.
Geometry May. I swear it's a nice free game
I swear it's a nice runner game
CounterAttack: Uprising
CounterAttack: Uprising is a side scrolling space shooter (shmup). Team up or fight solo, 1 - 4 player local or up to 8 players online coop, unlock upgrades, use powerful ultimate abilities, enhance your ship the way you want, and save the Earth from annihilation.
1 Screen Platformer
This is a SHORT, 2D PLATFORMER with TIGHT CONTROLS about exploring a single level to get past a bunch of TRAPS. There is an EASY mode and a HARD mode depending on your skill level.
Pogostuck: Rage With Your Friends
Climb a surreal mountain on a pogo stick and make friends along the way.
Touhou Luna Nights
Touhou Luna Nights is a Metroidvania title with a heavy emphasis on exploration and action. Developed by Team Ladybug, creators of multiple fantastic action games thus far.
Degrees of Separation
Degrees of Separation is a puzzle platformer where cooperation is built into every move. Two contrasting souls, Ember and Rime, fall in love, but are separated by an enigmatic force, and must use their powers to progress through a spectacular world of fantasy and adventure.
Unruly Heroes
LET'S KUNG FU THEM ALL! Play solo or co-op and take control of four unlikely heroes that battle a diverse lineup of enemies, show off your Kung-Fu skills and journey west across stunning different environments in order to hunt for the scattered remnants of the Sacred Scroll.
Strange Telephone
Strange Telephone is a 2D adventure game in which the player explores strange worlds created with merely 6 digits, and has multiple endings.
Feudal Alloy
Feudal Alloy is an epic action adventure with fish-controlled medieval robots! Explore an unusual medieval world with a fish-controlled robot, Attu. Improve your combat techniques and skills by smashing many kinds of mechanical creatures in a beautiful hand-drawn world.
Bladed fury
An action game set in the Ancient China, bringing players addictive experiences with its unique Chinese traditional art-style and sound design.
Montaro RE
The DOGE is back!
DISTRAINT 2
You are Price, a man who sold his humanity to get a partnership from a leading company: McDade, Bruton & Moore. DISTRAINT 2 follows on from the events of the first game. It's a sinister tale about restoring hope and finding your purpose.
Wenjia
Wenjia is a 2D platform game with puzzle-solving elements. Players can freely travel between two realms (the material world and the energy world), each of them with different challenges and obstacles. Players must utilize both realms’ mechanisms to reach their final goal.
Tasty Planet Forever
Bigger. Better. Tastier.
Grim Nights
Your village must survive for 13 days! Gather resources, expand, explore the underground for riches, and train soldiers to defend against hordes of the undead.
The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories
J.J. scours Memoria Island to find her best friend, who has gone missing during a camping trip. In order to save her best friend, she puts her own body and life on the line, reviving infinitely, as she presses forward. Why did she go missing? What is going on in this world?
Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
Relive the glory days of cooperative arcade games with the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle! This comprehensive collection includes seven classic titles, each with various multiplayer options and online capabilities!
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
In Mark of the Ninja, you'll know what it is to truly be a ninja. You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation.
My Memory of Us
My Memory of Us is a moving fairy tale about friendship and hope in the darkest moments of our times. Enter a hand-crafted, gorgeously animated 2D world full of adventure, exploration, stealth and puzzles. Meet the kids brought up in different worlds and help them survive during times of occupation.