Great 2.5D games on Steam that deserve more attention

Perspective can change everything about a game. How it feels to move, fight enemies, talk to NPCs, and just experience the atmosphere of a game is altered by changing perspectives. Whether a game is played top-down, over-the-shoulder, isometric, 2D, or 3D, its dimensions can either add to or detract from gameplay.



2.5D games walk an interesting line both visually and mechanically and often produce amazing games as a result. The 2.5D genre has spawned unique platformers, RPGs, and survival games. With so many great games out there, it’s easy for many to slip through the cracks. Here are some of Steam’s best unsung 2.5D games.

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7 Klonoa Phantasy Reverie series

First published in 1997, the Clonoa franchise is anything but new. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie series combines two games from the series: Klonoa: Door to the Phantomil and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil! It’s about saving the world in a cute, lively way that only mascot platformers can.

Featuring updated graphics, adjustable difficulty sliders, and Moo Costume DLC thrown in for good measure, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie series is the best way to experience this 2.5D platformer. All the costumes in the world wouldn’t be enough to save the game if its core gameplay was weak, however Klonoa Phantasy Reverie series executes his cute mascot nonsense with perfect precision.

6 story walker

Relaxed puzzle and item collecting game story walker is about a magician who enters the world of books to collect elves. This unusual premise sets the backdrop for a tranquil, contemplative journey. It’s important to note that the game is only available in Chinese, so those who don’t speak that language will have trouble understanding much of it.

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story walker is easily recommended for its artwork alone. With an illustrative pop-up book aesthetic and hypnotic music for the environments in which the protagonist moves, the game is a treat for the senses. Although the lack of an English localization has dampened the game’s appeal, story walker is also in its current form a unique and beautiful experience.

5 big earth

A 2.5D puzzle platformer, big earth depicts a future where Earth’s resources are depleted, and only by recovering seeds and precious energy can the player restore a dying world. The game’s diminutive protagonist is dwarfed by the surrounding plants and animals and immediately gives off a powerful force Grounded mood, but those of the great earth Platform gameplay stands on its own.

The most incredible feature of the game is its art. Its environments are recreated from over 15,000 photographs of plants, animals and insects found in wildlife sanctuaries, creating a realistic look that stands out from a legion of competitors. Given the game’s strong art, that’s a welcome surprise big earth allows players to hide the HUD and take photos, saving the best parts of their experience forever.

4 falling behind

Driven underground by an ecological catastrophe, the last remnants of humanity must journey back to the surface and fight through an army of robots to return to the world they once left. falling behind is a procedurally generated roguelike, so Each journey through these subterranean chambers is different.

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With a jetpack, upgradeable gear and over 50 skills to unlock, the player has a lot on their side. You’ll need it because the bosses and enemies don’t go down easily. falling behind also includes six different character classes – from the stealthy technophobe to the teleporting holomaster – ensuring each run through these procedural levels is even more unique. Navigating the levels can take some getting used to, but the payoff is a roguelike experience like no other.

3 Deathlight: Director’s Cut

There are zombie games for every player taste. Tense survival horror? Squad based action? Post-apocalyptic trader simulation? There’s all that and more in the zombie genre. Fusion of stealth, combat, puzzles and even platforming, Deathlight: Director’s Cut covers many areas of gameplay without dropping the ball in any of them.

Seattle in the 80s during a zombie apocalypse is tough, especially since the character is decidedly human: when a person couldn’t plausibly do something in real life, the main character comes into play cover can’t either. With no super powers or even a double jump to help players get through difficult levels, cover presents a realistic (though not too difficult) challenge. Exciting and atmospheric, Deathlight: Director’s Cut does everything it takes and more.

2 Prince of Qin

Prince of Qin is an unabashedly retro RPG with all of the unique strengths, quirks, and flaws that come with it. Lead a team of five heroes and Finding the right balance of skills, abilities, and elemental attacks to defeat your enemies is a huge challenge.

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Perhaps the game’s most compelling element is its accurate depiction of the Qin Dynasty, giving the game considerable appeal for fans of the history and architecture of the period. Along with Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors, even those unfamiliar with the timeline will find plenty to enjoy in this dense RPG. The dialogues, animations, combat system and setting make fans of retro RPGs feel right at home, which in itself is enough to recommend the game.

1 ANNO: mutationem

Action RPG ANNO: mutationem is arguably one of the most attractive 2.5D games on Steam. That’s a bold claim considering the sheer number of great titles in the genre, however It’s hard not to be immediately blown away by the game’s unique blend of 2D and 3D art. especially when it’s in motion.

The game is the cyberpunk story of Ann, a lone wolf in a metropolis who plays practically every major cyberpunk trope. While the game may not break new ground with its themes, its aesthetic and mechanical execution are not only incredible on their own, but come together seamlessly to create a unique cyberpunk experience.

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https://gamerant.com/great-25d-games-steam-deserve-attention-underrated/ Great 2.5D games on Steam that deserve more attention

TaraSubramaniam

TaraSubramaniam is a Interreviewed U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. TaraSubramaniam joined Interreviewed in 2023 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with me by emailing: tarasubramaniam@interreviewed.com.

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