The best side-scroller games

A side-scroller (or horizontal scrolling) is a video game in which the action is shown in a side perspective and the environment scrolls mainly on an horizontal axis. Characters usually have to move from the left to the right side of the screen to go on in the game.

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Axe of Rage

DOS1989 Palace Software

If Conan had a bad day and took it out on a few dozen goblins, you'd get something close to Axe of Rage. This 1989 DOS hack-n-slash isn't exactly subtle—you're a barbarian, there’s an evil warlord, and everything must ...

Super Star Wars

DOS1992 LucasArts

Commander Keen: Keen Dreams

DOS1992 id software

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

Windows XP/98/951995 Activision

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a platform video game that was originally released in 1994. It is a sequel to the classic 1982 game Pitfall! but features updated graphics and gameplay mechanics. The game was developed by Activisio...

Captain Comic 2: Fractured Reality

DOS1990freeware

Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos

DOS1990 Tecmo

The Untouchables

DOS1989 Ocean Software

Time Slaughter

DOS1996freeware Bloodlust Software

Metal Mutant

DOS1991 Silmarils

Alien Rampage

DOS1996

Alien Rampage (1996) is what happens when Duke Nukem gets stranded on a hostile alien planet and decides subtlety is for cowards. It’s a side-scrolling shooter dripping with gore, attitude, and the occasional terrible pun. E...

Ardentryst

Windows 10/11Linux2009

Ardentryst is the indie platformer that tried really hard to be a Metroidvania and kinda pulled it off. With anime-style art, RPG elements, and two playable characters, it’s got ambition pouring out of its pixelated pores. T...

Prehistorik

DOS1991protected Titus Interactive

Iron Blood

DOS1996 Family Production

Sopwith

DOS1984freeware BMB Compuscience

Mortal Kombat 3

DOS1995protected Midway Manufacturing Company

Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting action game developed by Midway Manufacturing Company and released by GT Interactive Software in 1995 for DOS and Windows as well as for many other platforms. Mortal Kombat 3 is the third chapter of t...

Bad Dudes VS Dragon Ninja

DOS1988protected Data East

Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the president? If that line doesn’t make you want to punch a ninja through a hotdog stand, nothing will. Bad Dudes VS Dragon Ninja is peak 80s: mullets, muscles, and more side-scrolling be...

Super Mario Fusion: Revival

Windows 10/112011freewareremake

Super Mario Fusion: Revival is a freeware fan-made game project that aims to combine elements from various classic video games, primarily the Super Mario series and the Sonic the Hedgehog series, into a single game. It's esse...

Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle

DOS1991protected id software

Framed

DOS1995 Machination

Mega Man 3

DOS1992 Hi-Tech Expressions

Xatax

DOS1994 Pixel Painters Corporation

The Great Giana Sisters

DOS1987remake

The Great Giana Sisters is a platform video game developed by Time Warp Productions and published by Rainbow Arts. It was originally released in 1987 for the Commodore 64 and other platforms, and later unofficially ported to MS-DO...