It’s 2021, and 2D games are still as popular as ever. While the past decade has seen a huge surge in the marketability of 3D games, 2D games continue to hold a large following, making them an ideal project for both budding and seasoned game developers.
So, if you’re thinking of creating a 2D game, you’ll want to use the best game engine available. This leads us to the question: Is Unity good for 2D games?
Hailed as one of the most popular platforms for game development, Unity is a cross-device game engine that supports 2D and 3D graphics, scripting through C#, and drag and drop functionality. It’s particularly popular for mobile game development and building 3D games, but it recently added a 2D pipeline to the engine.
As an experienced game development outsourcing company, NarraSoft uses it too to develop 2D games for our clients. In this article, let’s find out more about Unity 2D development, as well as the most popular 2D games made with Unity.
Is Unity Good for 2D Games?
Unity comes with tons of features, which makes 2D game creation much simpler for developers, including the ones you outsource for 2D animation. Here are some specific features developers find useful when using Unity for 2D games.
Accessible 2D Tools
Game developers need an arsenal of tools that’s readily accessible. After all, no one wants to hunt down the tools they need to turn their creative visions into a reality, especially when they’re in the zone.
Unity Editor has all the essential features at your disposal. Most of the important functions for Unity 2D development can be easily installed right from the Editor window. Whether you need to animate something on screen or create an organized canvas, all of these tools are directly accessible through the Package Manager, Asset Store, or other options in the menu.
Unity Asset Store
Game developers can use Unity to build a completely customized 2D game. But if they want to save time on producing art, visual effects, and sounds for their game, the Unity Asset Store is an invaluable resource for those eager to launch their new titles.
The Unity Asset Store provides developers with art and resources to help them speed up their games’ completion. In the Unity for 2D games section, you’ll find many low-cost yet high-quality options for environment and character art, including entire tile sets to create your game’s 2D world.
Once you’ve downloaded the assets, you’re free to reuse or customize them when you use Unity again for other 2D games.
Examples of 2D Games Made with Unity
Browse through Google Play Store or the App Store and you’ll find that some of the most popular mobile 2D games were made in Unity. For instance, Among Us by Innersloth was developed using the game engine. The mafia space game is just one of the many types of 2D games that can be created using Unity.
Let’s take a look at some of the other amazing 2D games made with Unity.
1. Alto’s Adventure
Play Store Rating: 4.3/5
Apple Store Rating: 4.6/5
Installs: 10,000,000+
Launched in 2015, Alto’s Adventure is an endless snowboarding game. Using Unity 2D, the game was created with dynamic lightning and weather effects, fluid physics-based movement, and procedurally generated terrain. The player typically taps the screen to jump and apply tricks to reach to achieve a high score and reach the goal.
Alto’s Adventure was one of the top iPhone and iPad game apps in 2015.
2. Forgotten Anne
Play Store Rating: 4.7/5
Apple Store Rating: 4.7/5
Installs: 10,000,000+
One of the most popular 2D games made with Unity, Forgotten Anne is a fantasy-adventure game focused on light puzzle platforming and meaningful storytelling. The game developers used Unity to create cross-platform builds with a simple tap of a button. They also used the game engine’s toolset to achieve the game’s enthralling cinematic quality.
3. Hearthstone
Play Store Rating: 3.7/5
Apple Store Rating: 3.6/5
Installs: 10,000,000+
Brought to you by Blizzard Entertainment, Hearthstone is a collectible card game where two opponents play in an online match. At the start, players earn a set of basic cards, which you can upgrade into “Expert” cards by purchasing card packs with real money or gold earned in-game.
The game has cards, characters, animation, visual effects, music, and sounds, which makes it one of the best examples of 2D games made in Unity.
4. Hitman Sniper
Play Store Rating: 4.4/5
Apple Store Rating: 4.8/5
Installs: 10,000,000+
Hitman Sniper is a mobile first-person shooter game. As Agent 47, players have to track their target’s movements across a large, sprawling mansion. The player unlocks new sniper rifles as they complete 100 missions.
5. Monument Valley 2
Play Store Rating: 4.8/5
Apple Store Rating: 4.4/5
Installs: 3,500,000+
Known for its incredible music and isometric visuals, Monument Valley 2 is an indie puzzle game which revolves around the story of a mother and daughter. They need to be guided through structures and mazes that are actually optical illusions and undecidable figures. Monument Valley 2 is hailed as one of the best 2D puzzle games made with Unity.
Enjoy Limitless Possibilities With Unity 2D Development
We started this article with the question, “Is Unity good for 2D games?” After going through the sections, it’s safe to say that it’s not just good for 2D game development, it might just be the best game engine for it. The proof of popular games such as Hearthstone, Alto’s Adventure, and Forgotten Anne is a testament that Unity is a reliable and solid option for you. If you have any questions about 2D game development using Unity, don’t hesitate to contact us today. As a trusted Unity game development outsourcing company, we’re well-poised to answer any concerns or inquiries.