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When games made the shift into full 3D, there was a general sense that 2D gaming was dead - that no one would be interested in playing on a flat plane when newer games were offering so many degrees of movement. That assertion was totally wrong, though.
While some genres were only able to develop in full 3D, others - like platformers or fighting games - still benefited from the limits imposed by a 2D perspective, which allowed developers to focus on making satisfying mechanics. Instead, the technological boost was used to create gorgeous 3D environments that you navigate on a 2D plane, giving rise to some incredible hybrids of game design.
10 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
The Donkey Kong Country series has always been a standard-bearer for 2D games with 3D graphics; the original games on the SNES pushed the system's technical limits by prerendering its characters and environments in full 3D.
The revived Donkey Kong Country games developed by Retro Studios carry on the legacy, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze might just be the peak of the entire series. Its gorgeous graphics, creative level design, and tough-as-nails gameplay make it a modern platforming classic.
9 Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
The 32-bit era was loaded with experimentation, as developers used the upgraded technology to explore the possibilities of 3D space. But among the Crash Bandicoots and Bubsy 3Ds of the era were games that carried on the tradition of 2D platforming; instead of using 3D to experiment with new control schemes and ideas, they used the boost in graphical fidelity to create atmosphere and storytelling.
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is one of the best examples. The first installment in the Oddworld series, Abe's Oddysee follows the titular Abe as he platforms through a dystopian universe to save his species. Its brand of dark humor is emphasized by a 3D look that marries cartoon energy and grimy architecture.
8 Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
The Klonoa series has had a rough time over the years. Even though the games are charming as heck, Namco's fuzzy whatsit has never been a big commercial force. Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil was out of step with the times when it was released on the PS2, as its bright, energetic vibe contrasted with the trend towards grittier, darker games.
The game flopped commercially, and secondhand copies will cost you a pretty penny these days. It's a shame, because Klonoa 2 is an absolute delight, using its side-scrolling perspective to show you levels that loop around and over each other. Hopefully, this series gets the success it deserves.
7 Shadow Complex
Metroidvanias are a dime a dozen these days; the indie gaming boom has brought us numerous classics in the side-scrolling adventure genre, including another game that you might see later on this list.
Shadow Complex was one of the originators of the Metroidvania renaissance, releasing as an Xbox Live Arcade exclusive back in the late 2000s. You play as a normal guy infiltrating a shadowy organization (some might call it a... complex) in order to save his girlfriend, and its mixture of 3D environments, gritty action, and absurd powerups makes it a treat for anyone who's into this kind of game.
6 Dragon Ball FighterZ
To anyone who grew up around the turn of the millennium, Dragon Ball Z was the anime to beat; it was violent, it was colorful, and it was just plain cool. If you ever fantasized about being Goku and going Super Saiyan on your enemies as a kid, Dragon Ball FighterZ is probably as close as you can get.
A deep and beautiful 2.5D fighter, Dragon Ball FighterZ was so good that it even overshadowed the most recent release of the legendary Marvel Vs. Capcom series. It seems Goku really can beat all the superheroes - that's another playground argument settled.
5 Kirby's Return To Dream Land
Kirby And The Forgotten Land finally brought the pink puffball into full 3D, but we can't forget about how the little guy kept the 2D dream alive for years before. Kirby's Return To Dream Land, the venerable series' Wii installment, is a prime example of how good the 2D Kirby games can be.
It features some of the most gorgeous graphics to grace Nintendo's waggle machine, replete with bright colors and fluid animation, while its gameplay provides an excellent dose of the classic Kirby formula. If you're craving a more old-school kind of Kirby game, you can't go wrong with this one.
4 Nights Into Dreams
Despite Sega's success during the 16-bit era, their 32-bit Saturn flopped about as hard as a console can flop, and a big reason for its failure was Sega's inability to produce a true 3D Sonic game for the system. Instead, Sonic Team created Nights Into Dreams, a unique side-scrolling platformer that lets you fly through levels as the titular, androgynous dream denizen Nights.
Its 3D graphics were precedent-setting at the time of its release, while its gameplay remains unlike anything else; and while it couldn't quite save the Saturn, it rightfully remains hailed as a classic.
3 OlliOlli World
The old-school extreme sports formula emphasized a sense of grit and vulgar humor to go along with its sick tricks, but OlliOlli World sets itself apart with a surreal, colorful cartoon style.
Its cel-shaded 3D graphics are a great accompaniment to its lighthearted story, but don't be fooled - its side-scrolling levels let you pop into and out of the foreground to find multiple paths, challenging you to get the best score possible. OlliOlli World represents the best of what skating games can offer in the modern era.
2 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Just in case you've been living under a rock for the past console generation, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the newest installment in Nintendo's beloved fighting game series. You'll challenge your friends (or strangers, if you're playing online) to furious, frantic battles to the death in side-view arenas that mix platforming movement with fighting-game strategy.
This installment features a massive roster of fighters - including, finally, Sora! - and arenas, making it the biggest and best entry in the series to date.
1 Metroid Dread
The Metroid series was one of Nintendo's biggest properties back in the 2000s, with classics like Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion bringing Samus Aran's galaxy-hopping adventures to new audiences. But the 2010s saw the series go dormant, and fans were left wondering when the iconic bounty hunter would return for more Morph Ball-rolling, species-destroying action. Metroid Dread answered the call in style.
It's the first true HD Metroid game, and it's probably the most beautiful entry in the series to date, using 3D environments to build an impressive and foreboding atmosphere as Samus races to escape the planet ZDR. The game wraps up the 2D Metroid saga, a story that began way back on the NES, and it represents the final evolution of what the series can do.