There will always be an undying love for Chrono Trigger, A Link to the Past, and Super Metroid have left their mark on gaming history with their wonderful 16-bit design, so much that even modern entries into the gaming industry have returned to this classic form.
A true classic never goes out of style, or so the saying goes. And as popular as modern visual techniques might be, there are legions of modern games, both mainstream and indie titles, that make creative use of the 16-bit medium -- proving time and time again that the retro-inspired designs hardly ever fail to please.
Stardew Valley
While some might consider this indie darling a Harvest Moon game with just a different coat of paint, lies a truly relaxing game that continues to lure gamers into a more relaxed state.
As strange as it might sound, raising a 16-bit farm and harvesting tiny pixel art produce is actually one of the most satisfying mechanics featured in recent years. It's so easy to succumb to the intoxicating virtual community of the charming little valley.
Hyper Light Drifter
In no uncertain , the visuals of Hyper Light Drifter truly tell the story. In this cyberpunk fantasy, there are no lines of dialogue, no text, no audible speech, or other forms of verbal storytelling. Everything is presented entirely in visuals alone through 16-bit imagery.
The ambiguous and ambitious adventure would be perfect for the SNES, highly appropriate since it was clearly inspired by titles like A Link To The Past. The neon hues of the glowing pixels perfectly recapture a retro-futuristic look to the game. It's a title that's left to interpretation, but one that fans of classic Nintendo games definitely need to try.
Wargroove
Wargroove is one of those indie video game titles that was designed with a great and glorious purpose. Built to be the spiritual successor to the cult classic, Advance Wars, this love letter to the days of 16-bit warfare is a strategy fan's dream come true.
If the Fire Emblem series is too much, gamers might want to give this retro-inspired title a try. And that's not even mentioning the amount of multiplayer content and customization. Don't let the cute game sprites mislead, this is a very versatile and very unique tactical title that more people should play.
Blasphemous
Metroidvanias have experienced somewhat of a recent renaissance in the past few years. With titles like Blasphemous.
This bloody and brutal title is a gruesome combination of of a classic Metroidvania title but features gory combat and grueling boss fights that would be right at home in the infamous FromSoftware series. Simply put, it's the best of both worlds.
The Messenger
The Messenger is a love letter to all things retro gaming, as it blends so many fantastic elements from both the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. Part Metroidvania, part platformer, part Ninja Gaiden tribute, this game knows what made the games of yesteryear fantastic, and only improved upon their formulae.
The best thing about the game is its dimension-shifting feature, swapping between 8-bit and 16-bit rifts, affecting the gameplay. The Messenger is a game designed by players who truly respect the artform.
Octopath Traveler
Going by looks alone, Octopath Traveler already has a few gold stars under its belt. A throwback to the days of games like Chrono Trigger, the gorgeous RPG uses a hybrid of 16-bit graphics and fully-rendered dimensions to give it a look and personality all its own.
It might cover a lot of bases that games like Final Fantasy and other JRPGs do, but it does so gorgeously well with eight playable characters and tons of replay value. The game truly defines the term "modern classic."
Dragon Quest XI (2D Mode)
From one JRPG to another, is as classic fantasy as they come, but the option to play the entire game in a traditionally 16-bit fashion makes it more than worthy of a mention on the list, especially since it looks shockingly like something that would have worked marvelously on the SNES.
This is a practice more games need to adopt. Fully-realized visuals are great, and the artwork of Akira Toriyama truly shines with the 3D character models, but the sprite work is positively superb, especially with the monster animation.
CrossCode
CrossCode is another one of those games that clearly knows what identity it's trying to have. While its plot elements might be something more modern, its presentation and gameplay are purposefully and extremely reminiscent of something out of a '90s adventure title.
Taking many cues from A Link to the Past, this anime-inspired, sci-fi Zelda-like packs quite an enormous adventure for such a stylized 16-bit package. Deceptively deep and delightfully familiar, it's got the makings of a true retro gem.
Sonic Mania
Those who do not learn from their history are doomed to repeat it, and it looks like Sonic clearly got the memo with his return to form in Sonic Mania. While the blue hedgehog's 3D titles have a very vocal fanbase, they can be hit and miss in of quality. Fortunately, Sega has gone fully retro with this incredible throwback.
The graphics, while slightly polished, definitely ring true to the presentation of Sonic's original outings on the Sega Genesis. It's a clear sign that classic gameplay and design will never die.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game
Like so many games on this list, A beat-em-up brawler with plenty of easter-eggs and references, this gorgeous movie tie-in is one of the best examples of a good game made great.
Following the events of the film, the game is a new dog learning from old tricks. While it takes a lot of influence from games like Streets of Rage and River City Ransom, it keeps things fresh by introducing RPG elements, fighting-game-worthy combos, and tons of fanservice for lovers of both the movies and the books. It's a game that knows its players.