The Best Hand-drawn Games

Update : My Lovely Empress added at rank #36.
1

TOEM (2021)

View Similar Games
90
Review score
Logo of TOEM Screenshot of TOEM Screenshot of TOEM Screenshot of TOEM

PC Windows Linux Mac OS Xbox Series X/s Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch Xbox One

Embark on a heartwarming journey in TOEM, a delightful photography game set in a magical black-and-white world. Help quirky characters, solve puzzles, and capture the beauty of your surroundings with your camera. Enjoy the relaxing landscape, chill beats, and the freedom to explore at your own pace. Despite its short length, TOEM's charming and pressure-free gameplay will leave you wanting more.


What we like:
  • Sweet art style
  • Cute music
  • Engaging and addictive gameplay
  • Freedom to complete quests at own pace
  • Dense and filled with opportunities for photography
What could be improved:
  • Relatively short game
  • Limited camera movement
  • Absence of a fast travel system
  • Almost entirely in black and white

  • editing
  • hand-drawn
  • photo
  • relaxing
  • cute
  • exploration
  • puzzle
  • adventure
  • soundtrack
  • photography
  • cozy
  • wholesome
  • music
  • funny
  • nature

2

Nine Sols (2024)

View Similar Games
88
Review score
Logo of Nine Sols Screenshot of Nine Sols Screenshot of Nine Sols Screenshot of Nine Sols

Mac OS Nintendo Switch Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox Series X Xbox One PC Windows

Nine Sols is a lore rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer featuring Sekiro-inspired deflection focused combat. Embark on a journey of eastern fantasy, explore the land once home to an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero’s quest to slay the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm.


  • metroidvania
  • hand-drawn
  • souls
  • platform
  • sekiro
  • mythology
  • deflection
  • cats
  • sci-fi
  • arts
  • story
  • martial
  • fantasy
  • 2d
  • lore

3

The Wild at Heart (2021)

View Similar Games
88
Review score
Logo of The Wild at Heart Screenshot of The Wild at Heart Screenshot of The Wild at Heart Screenshot of The Wild at Heart

Xbox One Xbox Series X Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS

The Wild at Heart is a beautiful and joyous tale of discovery, full of quirky characters, exploration and puzzles. You play as Wake, a young scallywag searching for excitement who stumbles upon an adventure to save the world and reunite the Greenshields. With its hand-drawn art style, mysterious creatures and day-night cycle adding tension to the gameplay, you'll be sure to have some exciting escapades!


What we like:
  • Quirky characters with unique traits
  • Beautiful artstyle
  • Light combat & puzzles that increase in difficulty
  • Day-night cycle adding tension to the gameplay
What could be improved:
  • The standard loop:go here - do that
  • Parts of the narrative are well-honed

  • puzzle
  • hand-drawn
  • crafting
  • fantasy
  • story
  • action-adventure
  • adventure
  • supernatural
  • emotional
  • time-management
  • pikmin
  • 2d
  • atmospheric
  • survival
  • rich

4

Creaks (2020)

View Similar Games
91
Review score
Logo of Creaks Screenshot of Creaks Screenshot of Creaks Screenshot of Creaks

Mac OS IOS iPhone PC Windows Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch

The ground starts shaking, light bulbs are breaking - and something rather unusual is happening right behind the walls of your very room. Equipped with nothing but wit and courage, you slowly descend into a world inhabited by avian folk and seemingly deadly furniture monsters.


  • hand-drawn
  • puzzle
  • surreal
  • stylized
  • supernatural
  • platform
  • atmospheric
  • linear
  • cartoony
  • relaxing
  • 2d
  • mystery
  • story
  • dark
  • single-player

5

The Star Named EOS (2024)

View Similar Games
83
Review score
Logo of The Star Named EOS Screenshot of The Star Named EOS Screenshot of The Star Named EOS Screenshot of The Star Named EOS

Mac OS Xbox One Xbox Series X Playstation 5 PC Windows Nintendo Switch

The Star Named EOS is a story-rich puzzle adventure built around photography. Recreate compositions of past photos to uncover the truth of a family mystery. Experience a harmonious mixture of beautiful hand-drawn art and engaging puzzles on a journey of reminiscence.


  • puzzle
  • hand-drawn
  • point-and-click
  • story
  • anime
  • hidden-object
  • narrative
  • mystery
  • emotional
  • narration
  • fiction
  • first-person
  • linear
  • stylized

6

Saviorless (2024)

View Similar Games
84
Review score
Logo of Saviorless Screenshot of Saviorless Screenshot of Saviorless Screenshot of Saviorless

j PC Windows Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch Mac OS Linux

Saviorless is a stylish dark fantasy action-platform game. Features two distinctive main characters on their quest to escape from a cursed land known as the Smiling Islands.


  • platform
  • hand-drawn
  • 2d
  • fantasy
  • dark
  • narration
  • hack-and-slash
  • conversation
  • surreal
  • atmospheric
  • stylized
  • self-narration
  • narrative
  • puzzle
  • multiple-endings

7

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees (2022)

View Similar Games
77
Review score
Logo of Gibbon: Beyond the Trees Screenshot of Gibbon: Beyond the Trees Screenshot of Gibbon: Beyond the Trees Screenshot of Gibbon: Beyond the Trees

IOS iPhone Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees is a hand-drawn adventure following a lost gibbon as they embark on a dangerous journey into unknown lands. Master the gibbon’s art of brachiation (swinging from branch to branch) at high speed, building momentum, pulling off spectacular somersaults. Race to freedom in liberation mode, or play through an hour-long narrative that captures the real struggle of living creatures.

Buy

  • nature
  • emotional
  • hand-drawn
  • platform
  • 2d
  • family-friendly
  • story
  • narration
  • colourful
  • atmospheric
  • action-adventure
  • relaxing
  • exploration
  • cute
  • procedural

8

Cozy Grove (2021)

View Similar Games
81
Review score
Logo of Cozy Grove Screenshot of Cozy Grove Screenshot of Cozy Grove Screenshot of Cozy Grove

Xbox One Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 IOS iPhone Mac OS PC Windows

Cozy Grove offers a charming, narrative-driven island-style setting game where you play as a Spirit Scout who helps ghosts trapped on an island. With a range of activities such as fishing, crafting, and collecting resources, this game has an unexpected depth with ghost bear characters having their narratives ranging from comedic to bittersweet and impactful.


What we like:
  • Adorable cast of characters
  • Beautiful hand-drawn visuals
  • Charming soundtrack
  • Deep layer of complex themes
  • Available on multiple platforms
What could be improved:
  • Lack of cross-save functionality
  • Smaller scale compared to Animal Crossing
  • Limited storage
  • Time-limited quests
  • Limited play each day

  • relaxing
  • crafting
  • hand-drawn
  • life-sim
  • simulation
  • inventory
  • cute
  • real-time
  • cozy
  • narrative
  • collectathon
  • isometric
  • story
  • resource
  • difficult

9

Alien Hominid HD (2023)

View Similar Games
88
Review score
Logo of Alien Hominid HD Screenshot of Alien Hominid HD Screenshot of Alien Hominid HD Screenshot of Alien Hominid HD

Xbox One PC Windows Xbox 360

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!


  • cooperative
  • hand-drawn
  • run
  • old-school
  • aliens
  • boss
  • side-scrolling
  • local
  • gun
  • 2d
  • shoot-em-up
  • scroller
  • shooter
  • action
  • arcade

10

Afterimage (2023)

View Similar Games
75
Review score
Logo of Afterimage Screenshot of Afterimage Screenshot of Afterimage Screenshot of Afterimage

PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox Series X/s

Afterimage is a Metroidvania game where you play as Renee, a young girl who survived an attack and sets out on a journey to regain her memory. Battle fierce enemies and explore the ruins of Engardin with over 200 different equipment options and deep RPG mechanics, crafting a unique gameplay experience. The stunning hand-drawn art style and original orchestral soundtrack add to the immersive experience.


What we like:
  • Smooth and responsive combat
  • Excellent exploration and enormous map
  • Exciting weapon and skill progression
  • Varied enemy design
  • Nice visuals and relaxing soundtrack
What could be improved:
  • Difficulty ramp-up can feel abrupt and inaccessible areas can be frustrating
  • Lack of minimap can be inconvenient
  • Poorly made quests and bad progression system
  • Poorly designed boss fights except for a few

  • metroidvania
  • platform
  • souls
  • boss
  • hand-drawn
  • 2d
  • exploration
  • rpg
  • anime
  • multiple-endings
  • scroller
  • lore
  • action-adventure
  • hack-and-slash
  • combat

Not seeing your game?