Best Retro-Style Console Exclusives on Switch and Xbox

A loving homage to the NES era, featuring tight platforming, challenging difficulty, and a charming pixel-art aesthetic. The game expands beyond its 8-bit roots with a deep campaign and cooperative multiplayer, standing as a definitive modern retro experience.

While featuring modern graphics, this precision platformer channels the spirit of classic NES games with its tight controls and unforgiving difficulty. It tells a heartfelt story of self-discovery, wrapped in a tight, 8-bit inspired pixel art style that feels timeless.

This action-adventure RPG blends classic console RPG elements with modern design, featuring a fixed camera perspective and charming pixel art. It offers deep character development and environmental storytelling, reminiscent of late 90s JRPGs but with contemporary pacing.

The spiritual successor to the classic Sega Genesis beat-'em-up series, featuring hand-drawn animation and a modernized combat system. It stays true to its roots while adding new mechanics, offering a nostalgic yet fresh arcade experience for co-op players.

Part of the long-running handheld series, this title brings Shantae to a full-size home console with refined Metroidvania elements. It features beautiful pixel art, humorous storytelling, and a soundtrack that perfectly captures the vibrant, retro adventure feel.

This reverse-horror game flips the script by having players control the monster in a pixel-art sci-fi setting. It draws heavy inspiration from 90s PC classics like Shadow of the Beast, offering visceral combat and atmospheric exploration in a nostalgic package.

A strategic card-battler and RPG hybrid with distinct 8-bit and 16-bit visual modes that shift based on gameplay context. Its deep narrative and dual-lane combat system offer a unique retro aesthetic combined with complex strategic depth rarely seen in modern indies.

Created by ex-Rare developers, this 3D platformer is a direct tribute to the N64 era, featuring smooth gameplay and vibrant worlds. It captures the charm and challenge of classic 3D platformers while introducing modern mechanics to keep the experience fresh and engaging.

This stylish action platformer combines neo-noir aesthetics with 16-bit era gameplay mechanics and instant-death combat. Its pixel art is stunning, and the time-manipulation mechanics add a layer of strategic depth that honors classic beat-'em-up and platforming traditions.

A turn-based RPG that pays homage to classic SNES titles like Chrono Trigger with its active time battle system and pixel art. It features modern quality-of-life improvements, beautiful animations, and a heartfelt story that appeals to fans of 90s Japanese RPGs.

Although visually distinct, its procedural rogue-like structure and mythological themes echo classic dungeon crawlers. The tight combat, responsive controls, and iterative design feel like a modern evolution of arcade and console classics, wrapped in high-fidelity art.

A Metroidvania platformer inspired by the Touhou Project and classic games like Castlevania. It features precise controls, challenging level design, and a vibrant pixel art style that captures the essence of late 90s platformers with a modern twist.

This game starts as a classic 8-bit ninja platformer and evolves into a complex Metroidvania with meta-narrative elements. Its design pays homage to games like Ninja Gaiden and Kid Icarus, offering tight gameplay that respects its retro inspirations while innovating on them.

A brutal post-apocalyptic RPG that uses early 90s console RPG mechanics and aesthetics to tell a dark, complex story. It mimics the limitations and style of the SNES era, providing a raw, unfiltered experience that feels both dated and deeply original.

Co-founded by Kazuma Kaname, this Metroidvania is a direct spiritual successor to the Castlevania series on SNES and PlayStation. It features extensive item collection, character building, and 2.5D pixel art that perfectly captures the gothic horror vibe of classic horror-platformers.

A unique creative adventure that mixes point-and-click exploration with painting mechanics, all presented in charming pixel art. It feels like a modern take on classic RPGs, encouraging creativity and exploration in a world where color is literally power.

A fishing adventure game with a retro aesthetic that gradually introduces cosmic horror elements. Its low-poly, early 3D style evokes PS1-era games, creating a sense of unease and nostalgia that enhances the mysterious and slightly terrifying gameplay loop.

This game combines dungeon-crawling roguelikes with shop-keeping simulations, rendered in vibrant 3D with retro-inspired UI and sound effects. It captures the loop of classic action RPGs while adding a unique economic layer that feels like a modern twist on old-school gameplay.

A dark, atmospheric Metroidvania with heavy religious iconography and beautiful, intricate pixel art. Its gameplay and visual style draw from Spanish folklore and classic horror, offering a grim, challenging experience that feels like a lost classic from the 16-bit era.

An isometric adventure game that mimics the style and UI of classic NES manual-heavy games like Zelda II. It uses retro aesthetics and cryptic instructions to guide players, creating a sense of discovery and puzzle-solving that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

A 2D interpretation of the Souls series, featuring dense pixel art and punishing combat mechanics. It channels the challenging design and atmospheric storytelling of classic console RPGs, offering a dark, difficult experience for fans of retro-inspired action games.