Relentlessly Stylish

A list of games whose style can't be denied. Whether through its characters' fashion, over the top action, a stand-out UI, striking sound design, or the overall presentation, these titles can't be judged just based on their story and gameplay alone; they're elevated by being cool. Or at least, what I think is cool lol

Metal Max Xeno
Metal Max Xeno
S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International
S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International
Splatter
Splatter
Deathverse: Let It Die
Deathverse: Let It Die
Captain Rainbow
Captain Rainbow
OutRun 2 SP: Special Tours
OutRun 2 SP: Special Tours
Orphen: Scion of Sorcery
Orphen: Scion of Sorcery
Kung Fury: Street Rage
Kung Fury: Street Rage
The House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn
The House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn
Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore
Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore
Monster Party
Monster Party
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
A jazzy, poetic street racing RPG, complete with a Final Fantasy style world map that you drive around and get into random battles in (which are races that begin after an FFVIII-style screen wipe). Plenty of racer punks with interesting style, a super cool UI, and an amazing soundtrack
Illbleed
Illbleed
Mister Mosquito
Mister Mosquito
Virtua Fighter 4
Virtua Fighter 4
Rain
Rain
Baroque
Baroque
Pandora's Tower
Pandora's Tower
Ehrgeiz
Ehrgeiz
The 3rd Birthday
The 3rd Birthday
Some pretty sweet aesthetics trapped in an unfortunate game
.Hack//G.U. Last Recode
.Hack//G.U. Last Recode
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden
Shinobi
Shinobi
Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts
Tokyo Jungle
Tokyo Jungle
Darkstalkers 3
Darkstalkers 3
Bloody Roar 2
Bloody Roar 2
The Bouncer
The Bouncer
A cinematic SquareSoft beat 'em up where Tetsuya Nomura goes absolutely nuts with his character designs. The big bad is blonde Sephiroth in overalls, the soundtrack is in-your-face, and overall the game is short, sweet, silly and stylish.
Rez Infinite
Rez Infinite
Rez
Rez
Gitaroo Man
Gitaroo Man
Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions
Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Resident Evil Outbreak
Resident Evil Outbreak
Um Jammer Lammy
Um Jammer Lammy
Shadows of the Damned
Shadows of the Damned
Let It Die
Let It Die
Chibi-Robo!
Chibi-Robo!
Zone of the Enders
Zone of the Enders
The Darkness
The Darkness
Onimusha: Warlords
Onimusha: Warlords
Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story
Yakuza 5
Yakuza 5
LSD: Dream Emulator
LSD: Dream Emulator
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct
Killer Is Dead
Killer Is Dead
Ridge Racer Type 4
Ridge Racer Type 4
Yakuza 4
Yakuza 4
Tekken Tag Tournament
Tekken Tag Tournament
Def Jam: Fight for NY
Def Jam: Fight for NY
Mega Man Legends
Mega Man Legends
Persona 3
Persona 3
SoulCalibur III
SoulCalibur III
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Thumper
Thumper
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
No More Heroes III
No More Heroes III
Dino Crisis
Dino Crisis
Lollipop Chainsaw
Lollipop Chainsaw
Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe
Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve
Asura's Wrath
Asura's Wrath
Lost Judgment
Lost Judgment
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2
PaRappa the Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper
NEO: The World Ends with You
NEO: The World Ends with You
Killer7
Killer7
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Returnal
Returnal
Tekken 5
Tekken 5
Vanquish
Vanquish
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
P.T.
P.T.
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio
Catherine
Catherine
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Shin Megami Tensei V
Shin Megami Tensei V
Resident Evil
Resident Evil
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Tekken 3
Tekken 3
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Ōkami
Ōkami
The World Ends with You
The World Ends with You
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII
Persona 4
Persona 4
No More Heroes
No More Heroes
Need for Speed: Underground 2
Need for Speed: Underground 2
Bayonetta 2
Bayonetta 2
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Max Payne 3
Max Payne 3
Devil May Cry 4
Devil May Cry 4

11 Comments


I'd argue Tekken 7 with it's hitsparks and extreme camera angles and rage arts deserves to be here instead of 3

2 years ago

but 3 has way better visuals and cinematics, plus the replay feature and tekken ball/force modes

2 years ago

also where is ninja gaiden?

2 years ago

Vagrant Story and maybe FFXII
Both TWEWY games absolutely fit the bill

2 years ago

i'd nominate every supergiant game to a degree, but transistor and pyre more so than the rest

2 years ago

Not sure if you're even taking recommendations on this so if not, cool list and feel free to disregard! But I'd say if Max Payne 1 & 2 are on here than 3 might be too, given that it's even more aggressive about its styling, though in a different direction
@SuperSpeedRaven @C_F @PKMudkipz @Midrulean @Lynxelot @DJSCheddar, excellent points and suggestions, added some of those!
jet set radio/splatoon

2 years ago

REZ peak aesthetics

2 years ago

Nier Replicant


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