Summary
- Stylized visuals in games can be appealing and easier on the eyes, offering a unique presentation style.
- Games like Ultimate Spider-Man and The Walking Dead draw strong inspiration from comic book art styles.
- Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game and Borderlands showcase distinct comic-like visuals with unique character designs.
While many big, triple-A games have hyper-realistic graphics, it isn’t a requirement. Highly stylized and colorful visuals are still a viable option for many games. In fact, this type of presentation can make a game easier on the eye. Of course, these unrealistic art styles aren’t all the same.
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PostsComic books clearly inspire some of them, as they look like they have been ripped straight from one. Most of this comes from the character models and environments. However, they sometimes include additional effects, speech bubbles, and comic panels that assist with this comic look. Here are some of the most notable games that look like comics.
9 Ultimate Spider-Man
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Action-Adventure Systems Released September 22, 2005 ESRB T // Language, Violence Developer(s) Treyarch Publisher(s) Activision Engine Insomniac Engine v.4.0 Franchise Spider-ManWHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALEven though Spider-Man originated from comics, most of the games involving the web-slinger don't look like comic books. One that does, though, is Ultimate Spider-Man.
The game's visual similarity to the comics primarily stems from its cel-shaded art style, which is featured in both gameplay and cutscenes. Cutscenes also feature comic panels as the action moves in and out of them, creating a cool-looking effect. Even the boxes with objectives and tutorials that pop up seem inspired by comics in both the general design and the font for the text.
8 Comix Zone
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Beat 'Em Up Systems Released March 11, 1995 ESRB e Developer(s) Sega, Sega Technical Institute, Atari, Sonic Team Publisher(s) Sega Engine sega Multiplayer Local Co-OpWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALAt the start of Comix Zone, your character is drawing a comic until the main villain of the book appears and drags you into it. From there, you have to figure out how to get out.
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PostsThis doesn't just mean you're fighting through levels that have a comic-inspired style. You're actually making your way through a comic book, meaning you're climbing between different panels. Also, the villain from earlier is drawing enemies for you to face as you're playing.
7 The Walking Dead
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Like Follow FollowedThe Walking Dead
Graphic Adventure Horror Systems Released April 24, 2012 ESRB Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language Developer(s) Telltale Games Publisher(s) Telltale Games, Skybound Games Engine Telltale Tool Number of Players 1 Steam Deck Compatibility Verified PC Release Date April 24, 2012WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALSome people forget that The Walking Dead was originally a comic book. After all, it was the TV series that made the franchise popular. Yet, Telltale didn't take much from the show when making The Walking Dead. Instead, the developers were clearly inspired by the comics. This is evident in the game's art style, which resembles the style found in those books.
The character models resemble people, but they aren't fully realistic. Thick lines are used for their facial features and creases on their clothes, which gives a sort of hand-drawn comic feel.
The Walking Dead's art style changed as the seasons went on, but it still always looked comic-like.
6 Hi-Fi Rush
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Like Follow FollowedHi-Fi Rush
Action Systems 4.5/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 89/100 Critics Rec: 95% Released January 25, 2023 ESRB Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language Developer(s) Tango Gameworks Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine Unreal Engine 4WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONHi-Fi Rush is among the best games on the Xbox Series X|S for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is the game's presentation. The art style has a distinct comic feel to it, as do many of the over-the-top character models. Plus, when you hit people, big cartoonish effects appear, which also resemble what you see in a comic.
The story is similar to what you'd see in a comic book, too, as it's about a guy who gets a music player embedded in his chest during surgery and must fight the corporation responsible for doing so. So, it is a very wacky narrative.
5 Madworld
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Hack and Slash Beat 'Em Up Systems Released March 10, 2009 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Sexual Themes, Strong Language Developer(s) Platinum Games Publisher(s) Sega Engine Apex Multiplayer Local MultiplayerWHERE TO PLAY
PHYSICALNot every comic book has bright and vibrant colors. Some of them use a black-and-white color scheme. The same can be said of the action game known as Madworld, which is all in black and white, except for people's blood, which is still red.
Most of the game's character models are rugged and over-the-top. They aren't meant to look very realistic. The thick lines and dark shading give them and the enviroment a comic-book look.
4 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game
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Beat 'Em Up Systems 3.5/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 78/100 Critics Rec: 74% Released August 10, 2010 ESRB T For Teen due to Cartoon Violence, Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity Developer(s) Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Chengdu Publisher(s) Ubisoft Engine unityWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONOne of the best video games based on a comic is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. Many might know of the franchise because of the movie starring Michael Cera. Yet, this game is based on the Scott Pilgrim comic.
Therefore, it shares a similar art style to the one from the comic. It isn't exactly the same, as the video game version has a more pixelated motif. However, they're still quite similar in appearance, especially when it comes to the character models.
3 Framed
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Puzzle Systems Released November 12, 2014 ESRB nrWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALSince it was originally released on mobile, Framed isn't very famous. Yet, it is a very creative and unique puzzle game. In it, you control the panels of an animated comic book, and you must rearrange them so that the scene plays out correctly.
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PostsFor the most part, you're trying to create a path for your character to escape the cops and get to safety. The character models aren't necessarily what you expect from a comic book, as they're plain, black silhouettes; however, the inclusion of the panels still gives it a comic book feel.
2 Borderlands
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Like Follow FollowedBorderlands
Action RPG FPS Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 77/100 Critics Rec: 88% Released October 20, 2009 ESRB m Developer(s) Gearbox Software Publisher(s) 2K Games, Feral Interactive Engine Unreal Engine 3 Multiplayer Local MultiplayerWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALBorderlands is set on a dangerous planet filled with violent people and bloodthirsty creatures. So, it should be one of the scariest planets in gaming. Yet, the game has a light-hearted and comical tone. The game's visual style helps with this, as everything from the character models to the enviroment to the weapons looks like it comes from a comic book.
There are a lot of black outlines and plenty of color. Additionally, many of the characters have disproportionate bodies, with some having extremely skinny arms and others overly muscular ones. All of this helps with making the game look like a comic.
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Next9 Comic Books That Deserve A Video Game Adaptation
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