Summary
Open-world games need to do something special to stand out, instead of fading into obscurity with the many other middling titles in this genre. Something as simple asa striking art stylegoes a long way in making the game look like a million bucks.
Given how visually distinct comic books are, it’s easy to see why games that evoke this art style are all the more notable. The open-world games that utilize cel shading and look like comic books end up being all the more notable, as a result.
Ultimate Spider-Manis perhaps the most overlooked game featuring the titular webhead. MostSpider-Mangames didn’t have a good reputation before Insomniac got the opportunity to develop a Spider-Man game, which is perhaps whyUltimate Spider-Mandidn’t get the time of day.
Given that this was made by the same developer asthe laudedSpider-Man 2game, it’s easy to see why fans will still have a great time if they give this title a shot. Despite some wonky combat, swinging inUltimate Spider-Manstill feels great and is a huge part of what makes this game so special.
Fans who want to step into the shoes of their favorite Z Warriors and take on countless threats will love whatDragon Ball Z: Kakarotbrings to the table. Players start from the very first arc in Z and eventually reach all the way to the end of the Buu Saga.
It’s no coincidence that a game that is based on a legendary manga looks strikingly similar to Toriyama’s art style. Beating up lowly villains and unlocking powerful transformations in fights never gets old inDragon Ball Z: Kakarot.
Borderlands 2is the best game in the seriesfor many fans. The writing is at its peak in this title, with the cel-shaded visuals looking better than ever.
Screenshots ofBorderlands 2look straight out of a comic book at times, with the hyper-stylization being a key component of what makes this such an unforgettable experience. Teaming up with other players and taking out enemies with a mix of firepower and unique abilities never gets old and makesBorderlands 2a special, must-play game for fans of co-op FPS games.
Given how most racing games were looking a bit too similar to each other,Need for Speed Unboundtook a bold approach and decided to implement stylized cel-shaded visuals.The end result is a beautiful racing gamethat is a blast to play through, even if the gameplay can be a bit too grindy at times.
Players must avoid the cops at all times on high heat and win as many races as possible to make bank and acquire better cars. It’s a slow and arduous process, which is why players appreciate that the visuals do their best to stand out and keep fans engaged as they go through the weekly grind and strive to make progress in the story.
Ni no Kuniis one of the most beautiful video games that comes packed with a heartbreaking story. It helpsthat the cel-shaded visualslend a comic book vibe to the game and allow players to get immersed in the title’s beautiful narrative.
Seeing Oliver head to an entirely different world to revive his mother makes him an easy character to root for, with the game’s combat being simple yet fun to play through.Wrath of the White Witchis pretty much the complete package for fans who love charming JRPGs, and it’s a shame that the sequel failed to emulate the first game’s brilliance.
While the modernZeldagames also incorporate a cel-shaded art style,Wind Wakeris considered by many to be the title that truly emulates the style of a comic book. Toon Link divided fans back in the day,only forWind Wakerto age gracefullycompared to other titles in the series.
Exploring the high seas as Link, completing dungeons, and making progress in the story feels great as the protagonist slowly but surely gets stronger after tackling each ordeal. Fans who want to check out the best classicZeldaexperience will findWind Wakerto be right up their alley.
