Pretty games with 2D characters and 3D environments

This is my jam. I love them. ...I'll play more of them. one day.

Definitely taking suggestions! I'd love to see more games that do this.

Roughly chronologically ordered, but series grouping takes priority.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Live A Live
Live A Live
Demon Turf: Neon Splash
Demon Turf: Neon Splash
Triangle Strategy
Triangle Strategy
Demon Turf
Demon Turf
Here Comes Niko!
Here Comes Niko!
Paradise Killer
Paradise Killer
Not 100% comfortable including this, but it does technically count... barely
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart
Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart
Is this a separate game? I've never played it
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor
Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Yume Nikki 3D
Yume Nikki 3D
DuckTales: Remastered
DuckTales: Remastered
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Pokémon White Version 2
Pokémon White Version 2
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Not 100% comfortable including this, but it does technically count
Pokémon Black Version
Pokémon Black Version
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
Pokémon Platinum Version
Pokémon Platinum Version
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters
Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters
Ys Origin
Ys Origin
Sonic Robo Blast 2
Sonic Robo Blast 2
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
The King of Fighters XI
The King of Fighters XI
Ys: The Oath in Felghana
Ys: The Oath in Felghana
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
Phantom Brave
Phantom Brave
Sonic Battle
Sonic Battle
Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
Ragnarok Online
Ragnarok Online
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
Paper Mario
Paper Mario
Not 100% comfortable including this, but it does technically count
Breath of Fire IV
Breath of Fire IV
Pac-Man World
Pac-Man World
Pac-Dots, Fruit, Pac-Man's perfectly spherical body

The latter part is the only reason this counts and Super Mario 64 doesn't.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Chocobo Racing
Chocobo Racing
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
In battles
Chocobo's Dungeon 2
Chocobo's Dungeon 2
Radiant Silvergun
Radiant Silvergun
Xenogears
Xenogears
Tomba!
Tomba!
Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon
Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon
Grandia
Grandia
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Azure Dreams
Azure Dreams
Moonlight Syndrome
Moonlight Syndrome
Breath of Fire III
Breath of Fire III
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
In battles
Mischief Makers
Mischief Makers
Blood
Blood
Doom 64
Doom 64
Umihara Kawase Shun
Umihara Kawase Shun
Found this through making this list and I love it now
Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64
I really don't want to include this
PaRappa the Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper
Twilight Syndrome Kyuumei-hen
Twilight Syndrome Kyuumei-hen
Twilight Syndrome Tansaku-hen
Twilight Syndrome Tansaku-hen
Doom II: Hell on Earth
Doom II: Hell on Earth
Doom
Doom
Not exactly the aesthetic I think for "2D sprites on 3D", but definitely important and influential!

19 Comments


2 years ago

kino list

2 years ago

paper mario/bug fables

2 years ago

Sonic rush does the exact opposite of this lmao

2 years ago

Paradise Killer and Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor

2 years ago

@JaxMagnetic Yeah, and so do a lot of DS games in general (New Super Mario Bros.) and late 90's JRPGs (Final Fantasy). I'm honestly not a big fan of it in 3D, because it really messes with my spatial awareness if done improperly

2 years ago

Tomba!

Tomba 2 doesn't count as it is all 3D

2 years ago

Yeah!! Wasn't there an indie game inspired by it too?

2 years ago

Breath of Fire 3 and 4 look great!

2 years ago

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2 years ago

Oh this is a great list lol
Ducktales Remastered, Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart, Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero, Starfy, and uhh does Sonic Battle count?

2 years ago

Sonic Battle probably counts more than Mario Kart 64 and Paper Mario! Which Starfy game are you talking about?

1 year ago

Live A Live remake and the upcoming Dragon Quest 3 HD Remake would also count for this list

1 year ago

KOF XI

1 year ago

Good lord I was in the middle of making this exact list and then found out not only you already did it, but I already gave it a like!

1 year ago

Commonplace!!!

1 year ago

This comment was deleted

1 year ago

Some of those Nippon Ichi games like Phantom Brave do this

1 year ago

Bernband
Oneiric Gardens
No Escape Saga
Gun Godz
Yume Nikki 3D
10 Beautiful Postcards
Goblet Grotto
A True Western Romance (briefly)
This Is Infinity
Universal History of Light (kind of? maybe?)
Djimmi The Great and Grim Matchstick fights from Cuphead.


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